US 'intoxicated' by power: Gorbachev

[Wetzelbill]

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who triggered the demise of the Soviet Union's Communist empire, said in an interview that the United States was "intoxicated" by its power and should not impose its will on others.

"This talk of pre-emptive strikes, of ignoring the UN Security Council and international legal obligations -- all this is leading toward a dark night," Gorbachev told Time magazine.

"I think some people may be pushing president Bush in the wrong direction," he said of the US leader.

"America is intoxicated by its position as the world's only superpower. It wants to impose its will.

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=116764

[Earth_First]

1. A dark night, and darker days ahead for sure... n/t

[Canuckistanian]

2. Intoxicated? This administration is outright plastered

And, just like a drunk, refuses to listen to reason, does incredibly stupid things and is oblivious to the "morning-after" consequences.

And there will be a morning after.

[monktonman]

7. There will be a morning after.

and they'll claim they blacked out and dont remember a thing.
I use that excuse all the time!

[RethugAssKicker]

3. Had to hear this on the turkish press!

I wonder if we'll hear this on the MSM. Nope... I don't think so!

[Wetzelbill]

6. I think CNN has an article up too

I'll have to go back and look. I started typing out a paper so I haven't got around to reading it yet.

[hyphenate]

4. Gorbachev always was

a pretty good guy overall. As intelligent as he was practical, he speaks the truth with utter simplicity. We already know that GWB is hated the world over, but it takes an outsider to state it in cold facts.

[Guaranteed]

5. Good word. nt

[arewenotdemo]

8. Bush isn't being "pushed" in the wrong direction

He's a complete idiot with a real talent for choosing it.

[goclark]

9. After reading another thread

where Obama speaks to a "12 step program" I'm getting a new spin.


Do you think that politicians are finally coming out with little hints that BUSH is a DRUNK?

That would be wonderful.

Here we have a Russian leader that sure should know about George "12 Step" Bush.

[cliss]

10. I'm not sure if this is an accurate statement,

"The world's only superpower". I don't think that's true. It would be more correct to say "a superpower that's bankrupt and has the most armaments".

That would describe the situation more accurately. It gets a little more dicey when you look at it that way.

[sweetheart]

11. military superpower

It means, that when the smoke clears, "our" generals
will still be alive a mile underground after all the
american cities are vapourised. Then there will be
plenty of new property development opportunities in the
nuclear-devastation of western europe and the USA, all
due to the need some reckless seekers of the night,
in piloting their 757's.

[gordianot]

14. The Russians appear to be taking a page out of Teddy Roosevelt's book.

They have a big stick and use it very quietly.

Roosevelt targeted his comments to European Colonialist,who were eventually supplanted by American Colonialist.

Super powers are developing elsewhere as we threaten everyone in sight. Eventually Bush Co NeoCons will be recognized as uniter's.

[Wetzelbill]

16. yes, just look at Latin America

the one thing that united all of those Leftist movements has been Bush. Now you have people friendly to both Castro and Hugo Chavez winning elections. Mexico is going to have a Leftist President pretty soon. Bush made the Domino theory come true by being dangerous and stupid.

[gordianot]

18. Absolutely correct.

We are headed to the ash heap of history for many of the same reasons the old Soviet Union went that way while seeking a Communist Afghanistan and military supremacy.

[Wetzelbill]

19. one thing that may save us

is the U.S. doesn't have some of the inherent flaws that the old Soviet system. The oppression, intense supervision of the state in every facet of life, excessive centralization of power etc. Although, Bush has created a slippery slope in many of those areas as well. Many Neocons are former Communists. They look at conservatism in a view like Marxism-Leninism. They believe that a more secretive inner party should make decisions while an outer one should carry them out. Many early editors of William F. Buckley's National Review are former Communists. Then you have a group of former Trotskyist intellectuals within the movement too. A strong belief in power and especially secretive power. Read Plato's Republic, look at the character Thrasymachus, take his view of justice, and you pretty much have a neoconservative. It's also one reason why history is going to look back at this era and wonder how the hell anybody let these nutballs get into power.

[Patsy Stone]

12. I agree with Gorby!

"America needs to get over that."

Hi, Wetzelbill! K&R.

[lovuian]

13. Gorbachev is seeing Bush going to WWIII

its like Hitler was intoxicated with his power...

[Just Me]

15. The foolish neocons believe in their own benevolence.

That's wherein the intoxication lies.

What's discouraging is that the other two branches have utterly failed in holding them accountable for their abuses and crimes. What's depressing is,...they KNEW the other two branches would bend/break to their will.

tsk tsk

If the rule of law were applied, matters would be significantly different.

[David__77]

17. BS... Bush isn't being "pushed." he's a war criminal.

Maybe Gorbachev should have foreseen this when he destroyed his country.

[madmark]

20. The pnac'ers and neocons are drunk with the power mr. Gorbachov;

but most Americans are not. There is a difference.

[MiniMe]

21. The US isn't intoxicated by power, the administration is

[Terran1212]

22. When a Soviet Leader is telling you you're intoxicated with power

I think you'd better listen...

[Wetzelbill]

23. especially one who was the leader in the era Gorby was

that guy has seen a thing or two, no doubt. :)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

24. I have much more respect for Gorby than I have for anyone in DC

He always struck me as a man who was trying to do good against great odds.

A pity there's nobody in Washington to emulate him.

[Blue_Tires]

25. that's an understatement