As is that of:
Guatemala
The Scily Isles
Andorra
Canada
Monkbegton-on-Sea
and
Germany
Your point is???
No its not ⌠its just a little more ambiguous and undefined⌠you donât want to piss to many people and country off when you are not a power houseâŚ
How about the Taiwan Relations Act and the One China Principle⌠I mean which one is it⌠both one or neither???
Nz doesnât give a damn about other countries sizes - we do whatever we want - Nuclear free Pacific is a prime example of this - America kicked up a big stink about it but we told them to go take a long walk off a short pier.
Yeah. And isnât it amazing that the big bad unilateralist cowboy US actually honors NZâs demand. I mean, everyone knows that the US always does whatever it damn well pleases.
And the next time the Japanese get frisky maybe (if youâre lucky) you can get a job sharpening their samurai swords. NZ really isnât worth the Americans even mussinâ their hairâŚbut Singapore is a different matter. Good food AND good beer! 
And BTW, if NZ is really so BIG AND INDEPENDENT, when are you going to tell BEIJING to âtake a long walk off a short pierâ and recognize Taiwan? Hmmm???
Hot Dini, glad to see you were banned.
NZ doesnât allow Nucâs inside our waters and other countries followed us. The US is on a power trip and is just a little boy waving a bigy shou stick. The Japanese, oh please, beleiving the Yanks own PR again. The great battles that the US claims credit for in movies⌠they werenât even there⌠Monte Casino for example, the NZ war machine cleared that out for the most part.
Geez, Americanâs have their heads too far up their own asses to see daylight.
As far as NZ recognising Taiwan goes ⌠Why should we??? China is a huge trading partner and weâll do whatever we like. (Just kidding) Thatâs politics and our PM is a Woman - Go figure.
Ooooh! Careful Bassman, youâre just asking for Dubyaâs trained part man-part feline to start clawing at your balls. Down, boy! Get back into your basket!
Another witty post, totally lacking in substance, from the hilarious Sandy.
Sandy, why should anyone refrain from responding to any post on this board? Is this board only for like-minded individuals? Are you not interested in discussion? If not, why does this board exist?
Golly gosh⌠Iâm shakingâŚNot
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about?[/quote]
Talkinâ about my balls gettinâ clawed. Not a nice thought.
Again, another post of substance
Bassman, Iâm sorry to see you wallowing in the gutter with Sandman. 
I thought you were a man of God. You might want to re-read the book of Matthew:
âYou have heard that it was said, you will love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who speak evil of you, do good to those who hate you . . . for if you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?â
Or if you prefer Buddhism, Taiwanâs Master Cheng Yen:
âEven though reason is on your side, you must be soft-spoken; even though justice is on your side, you must be forgiving.â
Have a nice day.
[quote=âMother Theresaâ]Bassman, Iâm sorry to see you wallowing in the gutter with Sandman. I thought you were a man of God. You might want to re-read the book of Matthew:
âYou have heard that it was said, you will love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who speak evil of you, do good to those who hate you . . . for if you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?â
[/quote]
If I love you I will correct you in your error. Do not be deceived but delight in the truth. Mother Theresa, I am human and I call a spade a spade, being a âman of Godâ as you put it does not mean that you let people walk all over you. Before you come back with âand the meek shall inherit the earthâ, I think you should be aware that the Greek for âmeekâ does not mean a no back bone jelly fish man. Meek actually means âpower under controlâ. I may even start flipping over the money changers tables in the temple today.
I thought all the replies to my post were brilliant. Really first rate. All right on the money. I have read them, re-read them, and re-read them again and again.
Just for fun!!!
Thanks for taking the time to reply - I am overbowled by you all.
oh, and there is nothing in the gutter about my post.
the us 5th army lost 107,144 men at monte cassino. i think that means that they were there.
also, the algerians and moroccans of the french expeditionary force are usually credited for making the breakthrough in the battle.
and of course, the most memorable scene from the battle is the polish regiment raising their flag on top of the hill. in fact, i believe the poles suffered more casulties in the decisive battle than the kiwis did in the inconclusive battle a few months previous.
maybe new zealand needs to update its textbooks.
Why? Donât you like the âmarketplace of ideasâ?
The Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy was actually four battles, or assualts. The first battle of Monte Cassino took place in January and February, 1944, British and American Divisions attacked the Gustav Line with little success. The U.S. 36th Division was nearly annihilated while the U.S. 34th Division fought to the Abbey walls but was ultimately forced back. The French Expeditionary Force had some success but was ordered to turn south and aid in the American attack on Monte Cassino.
bassman, the US wasnât even there?
The 2nd and 3rd battles took place in March 1944, and was the responsibility of the New Zealand Corps made up of New Zealanders (including Maoris), British, and Indians (Sikhs, Punjabis, Mahrattas, Rajputs and Gurkhas of Nepal). After months of fighting, the soldiersâ declining morale demanded the destruction of the Abbey and overwhelming consensus held that soldiersâ lives were more precious than stone and brick. In mid-February 1945, the Abbey was bombed by over 200 U.S. large and medium bombers. Immediatetly after the bombing, German Paratroopers occupied the Abbey ruins and held it for three more months.
bassman, I thought you said the New Zealanders cleared out the Abbey? I guess you were wrong again, eh?
The 4th battle took place in May 1945. The Americans attacked on the coast to the west; the French moved through the Arunchi Mountains; the British advanced across the Rapido River and into the Liri Valley and then turned towards the Monte Cassino high ground; the Poles stormed the Germans in their Abbey strong hold and suffered enormous losses.
bassman, I guess its you who has his head way far up your arse, eh? How does it feel to be so completely ignorant and wrong? Does it cause you to pause, and perhaps rethink some of your opinions regarding the âignorantâ Americans?
Nah!!! Ignorance is bliss, right?
Tigerman,
Thanks for a long and exhaustive history lesson. My facts come from someone who was there. Americans were you may say âon siteâ, however being on site and actually being involved and doing anything practical are two entirely different things. History of this historic battle has been distorted beyond all recognition. The Americans arrived on the scene, in almost every instance, after all the hard work had already been done. With their slicked back hair and cocky attitude cruising in to steal the glory.
I guess when your history is collected from a propaganda machine instead of the âhorses mouthâ, those on the scene, I guess you may feel that my opinion is wrong. Could be, but when you have researched it from several independent sources from different nations, admittedly not Americans, you come out with a completly different story from the history books. In many times and in many battles the U.S claimed the victory when they did nothing, some airstrikes were even credited to Americans when they didnât have a plane within a hundred miles.
Not saying that Monte Casino is completly without U.S involvement, they were there, but not âthereâ, if you get my drift. There was a lot of calling out for a helping hand but they didnât come in until they could claim a victory, steal the glory, and guarantee some great propaganda movies for the future generations of Americans who believe this greatest American Hero kind of garbage.
Oh and read again ⌠" the NZ war machine cleared that out for the MOST PART"
Didnât say they did it alone, but it is well known that the NZ Maori Corps were some of the most feared soldiers and were even known to put Americans in their place, they beat the living daylights out of many a big mouthed American.
Donât think that I am American bashing, I like many Americans, but I wonât accept brainwashing on the American scale.