"Red Flag Linux has turned out to be little more than a key bargaining chip in a high stakes game of commerce between the Chinese government and the world's largest software maker. Thanks to some major concessions on source code and a precipitous price drop, the Chinese government has now thoroughly embraced Windows and Office. And thanks to a major about-face in the way that it deals with piracy, Microsoft has also won over the Chinese people."
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Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-11-10
Yeah, I am sure there are a lot pro Democracy people running around all the middle east countries we are friends with and buy oil from.
It's all about money. No different then telling Americans that cigarettes are bad for Americans then funding American companies to go to "Third World" countries and sell stronger versions of the same thing.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-07-08
Microsoft is now a company that encourages Communist philosophies. It's corporate policy is one of subsidising communist governments. Given America's traditional pro-Democratic stance, if spun properly, this might significantly harm Microsoft's image in America.
I don't know what America you're talking about. The one I live in is presently negotiating a $20 billion arms deal with the Saudis (you know, the ones that flew our planes into our buildings?) so long as we also increase Israel's arms allowance by $30 billion. There's nothing more American than fighting fires with gasoline.
If Americans don't get upset when we sell satellite-guided smart bombs to governments that turn a blind eye to terrorism, then we won't even flinch when we give communists a discount on Windows.
America is too busy living vicariously through celebrities to care about what's going on in the real world. Can't you see that Linsday Lohan and Nicole Richie need help? It doesn't matter if the world is safe for democracy if it isn't safe for rich girls.
Member since:2006-06-03
Heh. It all comes down to the spin.
The nice thing about 'Commies' is that your average citizen already has 40-50 years of anti-communist propaganda in his memory, on which you can draw to accent your message.
As far as I can tell, it's not the middle-east Governments that are being painted as the baddies in the War on Terror, but individual, rogue Terrorists. So selling arms to the Saudis to allow them to protect themselves against the terrorists, is an acceptable move.
Member since:2005-07-18
... arms deal with the Saudis ... satellite-guided smart bombs ...
These issues are very much more complicated than you have suggested, with multiple conflicting objectives, liabilities and controversies. And they are way off topic.
Saying that Microsoft [i]encourages Communist philosophies[i] is also an over-simplification, but it was presented as potential spin and as such it's a good point.
Member since:2005-07-09
Not to be off topic here and turn this into another flamefest but I am glad to see someone else on an internet forum who is as appalled as I am with the Saudi deal. WTF is the govt thinking?
This is like slapping or stabbing in the back all those people who lost someone in the 9/11 attack. I am ashamed to not see more furor created over this deal! I consider this a betrayal of the public trust!
Member since:2006-03-29
Haha.
Of one thing you can be sure, the current leader of Saudi Arabia is not turning a blind eye to terrorism, because said terrorism is trying to get rid of him.
And in fact there are people in the administration that favour the terrorists' view: i.e. US f--k off our country --> Saudi Arabia has a lot sacred places for muslims and for a lot of them it is an offense if infidels are in their country.
People like Osama bin Laden never liked the idea that US troops entered Saudi Arabia before the second gulf war and those were even more enraged when they realised the troops despite of their promise weren't leaving - because Iraq was still a "threat" to Saudis' oil fields.
Member since:2007-05-28
Correct.
What kind of a pro-Democratic stance do some people talk about?
Democratic countries do not have colonies. The US has more than 5 of them. And the US government does not want its people to know about them.
We don't want any modified to suit our needs pro-Democratic stance from the biggest terrorist government on the planet.
Member since:
2006-06-03
So, to turn the tables:
Microsoft is now a company that encourages Communist philosophies. It's corporate policy is one of subsidising communist governments. Given America's traditional pro-Democratic stance, if spun properly, this might significantly harm Microsoft's image in America.