So when do we invade Thailand?

[valve bouncer]

Gotta keep freedom alive, ya know.
World reaction is bordering on indifference which begs the question, are some coups justified?

[BurlyShirley]

**** thailand. Been there. not worth saving.

[valve bouncer]

Well you went to Pattaya, that's like coming to the monkey and concluding that the web-site is retarded because the first post you read was from N8.

[I Are Baboon]

Invade Thailand? But they don't have oil.

[llkoolkeg]

Gotta keep freedom alive, ya know.

The hell with freedom! Gotta keep stick alive, as in Thai Stick. :biggrin:

[Jeremy R]

Gotta keep freedom alive, ya know.
World reaction is bordering on indifference which begs the question, are some coups justified?

This is their 17th coup since World War II.
Big fans of the coup.
Coupsters, if you will.
If Thailand were a car, it would be the Coup De Ville.

I think the indifference stems from the quantity.

[$tinkle]

yee-haw! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060919/ap_on_re_as/thailand):

Sondhi, who is known to be close to Thailand's revered constitutional monarch, will serve as acting prime minister, army spokesman Col. Akarat Chitroj said. Sondhi, well-regarded within the military, is a Muslim in this Buddhist-dominated nation.

i'm sure there's nothing to worry about here, if you discount applying sharia in bankok, outlawing buddhism, & ignoring the fact that 1700 people have been kilt in thailand in muslim-related violence since 2004.

whatever you do, don't bring up spreading islam by the sword.

[when do we start radiation therapy?]

[Westy]

yee-haw! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060919/ap_on_re_as/thailand):

Sondhi, who is known to be close to Thailand's revered constitutional monarch, will serve as acting prime minister, army spokesman Col. Akarat Chitroj said. Sondhi, well-regarded within the military, is a Muslim in this Buddhist-dominated nation.

i'm sure there's nothing to worry about here, if you discount applying sharia in bankok, outlawing buddhism, & ignoring the fact that 1700 people have been kilt in thailand in muslim-related violence since 2004.

whatever you do, don't bring up spreading islam by the sword.

[when do we start radiation therapy?]


Muslims are making people wear kilts? I didn't think there were many islamic Scotts.

[$tinkle]

they live in haggistan

[valve bouncer]

This is their 17th coup since World War II.
Big fans of the coup.
Coupsters, if you will.
If Thailand were a car, it would be the Coup De Ville.

I think the indifference stems from the quantity.
First in 15 years though. I don't think Thailand can become a proper democracy until the King's power is lessened, in reality not constitutionally. The amount of king worship the Thais show is not conducive to a strong democracy.

[Jeremy R]

First in 15 years though. I don't think Thailand can become a proper democracy until the King's power is lessened, in reality not constitutionally. The amount of king worship the Thais show is not conducive to a strong democracy.

Does the king have the power or is it the military?
I am not familiar with their government stucture,
just their delicious curry dishes.:biggrin:

[valve bouncer]

Does the king have the power or is it the military?
I am not familiar with their government stucture,
just their delicious curry dishes.:biggrin:
Thai food rules, at least in Thailand it does.
this might explain a few things. From www.theage.com.au


While Thailand's constitutional monarch is yet to comment, many see his hand in the PM's ouster, writes Jocelyn Gecker in Bangkok.

FOR many in Thailand it was a clash between two men: an arrogant prime minister and a humble king who always wins.

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has yet to utter a word about the dramatic coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. But speaking out is not the style of the 78-year-old monarch, who despite age and frailty has shown that he remains the country's most powerful man.

On the books, the bloodless coup was a military affair led by army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, but it remains unclear exactly what role the king played in removing Mr Thaksin. The palace says it was not involved in events, but many Thais, along with political commentators and experts on the monarchy, see it as another example of the constitutional monarch's behind-the-scenes power, which he has exercised sparingly but effectively.

In his 60-year reign, he has seen 17 military coups, 20 different prime ministers and 15 constitutions. The Thai constitution grants little formal power to the monarch, but King Bhumibol exercises enormous moral authority based on the devotion he inspires in his subjects.

One of the undercurrents to the months of turmoil has been the king's unspoken but obvious dissatisfaction with Mr Thaksin, analysts say. It is this that partly triggered the troops' move.

"The forces loyal to Sonthi have acted in defence of the king and taken Thaksin to task for his perceived illegitimacy," said Titinan Pongsudhirak, a political analysts at Chulalongkorn University.

"If the king didn't give a nod, this never would have been possible," said Sulak Siwalak, a prominent social critic and author of books on the role of the monarchy in Thailand.

"Thaksin failed to realise that the king has been on the throne for 60 years and he's no fool. The man is old and Thaksin thought he could play around with him - and it was a dangerous game," Mr Sulak said. "He felt he could belittle the king, and that's something the king cannot stand."

No single event led to Mr Thaksin's ouster. A series of missteps had prompted many to accuse the Prime Minister of challenging the king's authority - an unpardonable act in Thailand. Since he took office in 2001, Mr Thaksin has steadily eroded the independence of institutions that were meant to act as checks and balances on executive authority.

The most notable example is how he flooded the Senate with his loyalists and placed his supporters on such bodies as the elections commission and the constitutional court.

Mr Thaksin also defied months of street protests and demands for him to resign amid allegations of corruption, election violations and a worsening Muslim insurgency in the country's south.

Chief among Mr Thaksin's flaws, in the eyes of the palace and many Thais, was his personality. The tycoon-turned-politician proved to be ambitious, conservative and strong-willed, refusing to correct himself when his policies backfired - particularly in the case of a strong-armed military approach to violence in the south, where more than 1700 people have died in the past two years. Critics call him self-centred and arrogant.

He was also accused of stifling what was once one of Asia's freest media and of allowing his business and political cronies to reap enormous gains from corrupt policies. Some say the palace was infuriated by Mr Thaksin's apparent attempt to steal the spotlight during the king's lavish June celebrations for his 60 years on the throne, breaching protocol by greeting visiting royals ahead of the Thai monarchy.

The king could be described as Mr Thaksin's opposite.

"The king clearly cares for his subjects. He is a simple person. He is genuine, and genuinely selfless. He doesn't indulge himself in a lot of his wealth," said Paul Handley, author of a controversial new biography, The King Never Smiles, which portrays the king as a major player in Thai political developments during the past few decades.

Mr Handley said the king was also "stubborn and hard-headed and doesn't really accept critiques of his own view of how the country should develop".

Although a constitutional monarch with limited powers, the king is held in reverence by almost all Thais because of his lifelong dedication to helping the country's have-nots. Regarded as semi-divine by some, the king spent decades mingling with common people in backwater villages where he seeded hundreds of development projects. He believes that Thais and their leaders should adhere to Buddhist principles - that people should live simply, not strive for excesses and not flaunt their wealth.

The king rarely enters the political sphere, but when he does, everyone listens and obeys - something Mr Thaksin found increasingly difficult to do.

"Thaksin showed a certain lack of regard for the king and the palace's desires. And he showed a lot of independence, which the palace saw unfavourably," Mr Handley said.

In April, the king made a rare television appearance, prodding Thailand's top courts to intervene to resolve a political deadlock: the kingdom has had a caretaker government and no working legislature since April 2 elections, which were boycotted by the opposition.

The nation's top judges annulled the vote, paving the way for new polls later this year. "The anti-Thaksin forces in the top levels of government realised Thaksin could still be prime minister after the new election and they were fed up," Mr Handley said.

AP, GUARDIAN

[MMike]

Coup coup cachoo.....

This is their 17th coup since World War II.
Big fans of the coup.
Coupsters, if you will.
If Thailand were a car, it would be the Coup De Ville.

I think the indifference stems from the quantity.

[BurlyShirley]

Well you went to Pattaya, that's like coming to the monkey and concluding that the web-site is retarded because the first post you read was from N8.

They eat fried grubs, and there's coke and pepsi signs every 4 inches there. I saw all I needed to.

[Secret Squirrel]

Thai food rules, at least in Thailand it does.

I live 5 blocks from a Thai restaurant. The wife and I started going there before we went on our honeymoon (destination: Thailand) and we thought the food was awesome at this restaurant. We were afraid that we wouldn't like it once we had actual Thai food. Turns out, it's freakin' authentic. Almost no difference (aside from a few proprietary ingredients you can't get in the U.S.....but whatev.)....it's great!! Hmmmm....now I'm hungry....damn....:banana:

I'm so becoming an ex-pat and living there. On an island....with a nice beach....and naked women....lots of naked women....it will be glorious. You can stay and watch the fatties grow burly.

[llkoolkeg]

I'm so becoming an ex-pat and living there. On an island....with a nice beach....and naked women....lots of naked women....it will be glorious. You can stay and watch the fatties grow burly.

I dunno...although the buddage and monchies ARE good, I'd sure steer clear of their filthy, enslaved & underaged, STD-laden hos.

Where's that Mr. Yuk sticker when you need one!

[Secret Squirrel]

I dunno...although the buddage and monchies ARE good, I'd sure steer clear of their filthy, enslaved & underaged, STD-laden hos.

Where's that Mr. Yuk sticker when you need one!

No....no std-laden hos....I'm talkin' about all the hottie Euro-ho's that walk 'round naked...at least that was my experience....and the $2 rum-n-cokes....and the Thai whiskey.........:banana:

[llkoolkeg]

If they are hot and still have to work that hard to advertise, I would look carefully under the hood before driving that puppy off the lot.

[Secret Squirrel]

If they are hot and still have to work that hard to advertise, I would look carefully under the hood before driving that puppy off the lot.

Merely scenery, sir.....merely scenery....call it...umm....Modern Architecture.....or something....f*ck I'm bored....

[rockwool]

Well you went to Pattaya, that's like coming to the monkey and concluding that the web-site is retarded because the first post you read was from N8.

That is probably what happend to me when I surfed in here two years ago. :)

[rockwool]

The hell with freedom! Gotta keep stick alive, as in Thai Stick. :biggrin:

Yeh, and think of all that depleted uranium that would poison mr Stick..

[rockwool]

In April, the king made a rare television appearance, prodding Thailand's top courts to intervene to resolve a political deadlock: the kingdom has had a caretaker government and no working legislature since April 2 elections, which were boycotted by the opposition.

The nation's top judges annulled the vote, paving the way for new polls later this year. "The anti-Thaksin forces in the top levels of government realised Thaksin could still be prime minister after the new election and they were fed up," Mr Handley said.

AP, GUARDIAN

Nice to see a majority rule... :disgust:

[llkoolkeg]

Yeh, and think of all that depleted uranium that would poison mr Stick..

Speaking of depleted uranium, have you ever seen a 30mm Vulcan Cannon or 20mm gatling/chain gun working up close? At a military expo in Norfolk many years ago, I watched an A10 and an Apache each do strafing runs of the beach from behind a barrier and let me just tell you, when they open up with real ammo, it sounds like God himself rending the atmosphere asunder. I dug like hell afterwards trying to retrieve a spent shell from where I saw the sand roostertails fly, but never even got close to deep enough. I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be to look up and see one of those things drawing a bead on me! I would piss/$hit myself silly and immediately start praying...

[$tinkle]

I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be to look up and see one of those things drawing a bead on me! I would piss/$hit myself silly and immediately start praying...maybe you should consider the very presence of a warthog is an answered prayer.

conflict of interest; you lose.

[rockwool]

I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be to look up and see one of those things drawing a bead on me! I would piss/$hit myself silly and immediately start praying...

You should make your self slim and stand on the same horizontal degree as the bullets come on!

But no,that was no weapons I came in contact with, seen smaller gatlings like in that jungle movie with Arnold when he's battling that alian, what it's name..

[llkoolkeg]

You should make your self slim and stand on the same horizontal degree as the bullets come on!

But no,that was no weapons I came in contact with, seen smaller gatlings like in that jungle movie with Arnold when he's battling that alian, what it's name..

It is simply not possible to make myself slim without daily running for an hour...and I positively HATE running. :banghead:

Predator...just like the UAV.

[BurlyShirley]

I hope I dont have some kids who get hurt in all this.

[$tinkle]

i heard they ride donkies into battle, so it doesn't look too good

[rockwool]

They're slow but they'll get you there!

[dan-o]

If the price of a massage exceeds $4, I will personally invade thailand in a mekong whiskey induced rage and dig in on Railay beach using topless swedes as sandbags.

[llkoolkeg]

If the price of a massage exceeds $4, I will personally invade thailand in a mekong whiskey induced rage and dig in on Railay beach using topless swedes as sandbags.

Does that pricetag include happy ending?

[DRB]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14934734/

Thailand’s new military rulers said Thursday they have assumed the duties of parliament, which was dissolved when the government was ousted in a coup earlier this week, and they banned meetings by all political parties.
The new regime also said it has detained four top members of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.

The junta’s actions, which it said was to maintain peace and order, have come even though no open opposition has emerged to its Tuesday night ouster of Thaksin. Other moves include barring the establishment of new parties and placing limitations on public meetings and restrictions on the media.

Lukman B. Lima, head of one of several groups fighting the central government for a separate Muslim state, said Sondhi, a Muslim, was the “only one who knows the real problems” of the Muslim-dominated provinces of southern Thailand.

[$tinkle]

these are just growing pains of the spreading of freedom fries. i'm sure this will go rather swimmingly in the coming months.

allahu akhbarf

[dan-o]

Does that pricetag include happy ending?

I only go to thailand with the wife so all my happy endings are 'free'. :banana:

I'm suprised at your affinity for the thai stick. I never really took to it either in thailand or when living in NL. If you're still headed to amsterdam check out coffeeshop Anyday (formerly Anytime), they have thaistick.

[llkoolkeg]

I only go to thailand with the wife so all my happy endings are 'free'. :banana:

I'm suprised at your affinity for the thai stick. I never really took to it either in thailand or when living in NL. If you're still headed to amsterdam check out coffeeshop Anyday (formerly Anytime), they have thaistick.

As a married man myself, I know what you mean. Still, there is something to be said for variety of experience. Even when my only dates were with Rosy Palmer, I'd sometimes switch things up and go lefty for a night. :biggrin:

I do enjoy good Thai Stick, though I have not had any since my last visit to the Netherlands. Even though it sometimes had a seed or two in it and was never as beautifully encrusted as the Jack Herer, I do like the taste and the high. As I am sure you can attest, after you've been there for a while, a lot of the different varieties start to blend, tasting and hitting similarly. For a change of pace or because I simply needed something very different to cut through my massive and perpetual indica-heavy stone, the thaistick fulfilled the role effectively.

[jdschall]

Damn it! Things just went from bad to worse (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5384544.stm) in Thailand.

"Thailand's coup leaders have banned go-go dancers from performing for troops on the streets of Bangkok, fearing soldiers may be distracted."

How can you have a decent coup without scantily clad go-go dancers?

[Secret Squirrel]

Damn it! Things just went from bad to worse (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5384544.stm) in Thailand.

"Thailand's coup leaders have banned go-go dancers from performing for troops on the streets of Bangkok, fearing soldiers may be distracted."

How can you have a decent coup without scantily clad go-go dancers?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!:rant: :rant: