(no subject)

[gfish]

I kind of wish I was going to be in the States tomorrow for these ridiculous teabagging parties. I'd love to show up at one with a 'NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION' sign and try to keep a straight face. I never did get around to attending an Iraq war protest with a 'REMEMBER THE MAINE' sign.

Comments

[gfish.livejournal.com]

The sinking of the Maine was the casus belli to justify the Spanish-American War. Except it was just a boiler explosion, not enemy action. It was as trumped up and baseless as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, or 'Saddam was behind 9-11'.

...we really don't have a very good track record, do we?

[ilmarinen.livejournal.com]

Ah, the quick web check I did on the Maine implied the cause was unknown and suspected to be sabotage/enemy action.

No, just about every war we've been drug into within American history had a trumped-up excuse for entry. Even on WWII, the government was waiting for a confrontation in the Pacific as the excuse to enter the war--they were just surprised by what the actual incident/attack was.

-B.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Hrm, not a boiler explosion, a coal fire. And maybe not as clearcut as I remembered. Still, would have been funny. :)