The North Korea thread. - Page 3

classicman · 11-26-2010, 10:06 PM

I wasn't referring to his comments on NK. But thanks.

piercehawkeye45 · 11-26-2010, 11:37 PM

You betcha.

plthijinx · 11-27-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

....It is an extremely interesting and unpredictable situation.

very volitile......

xoxoxoBruce · 03-11-2016, 03:36 AM

Speaking of North Korea, I was looking at some pictures taken on a trip to North Korea, and the author/photographer made a comment that stopped me dead in my tracks.

Quote:

Not only are the North Koreans shorter on average because of malnutrition (Christopher Hitchens called them a nation of racist dwarfs) [4], it also makes one in four of young men too mentally retarded for military service [5] - too slow to even follow orders...

25% too mentally retarded for military service?! WTF? I mean the whole army can't be high tech specialists, gotta be some grunts.

So I immediately... no that's a lie, I looked at a couple more pictures before it bothered me so much I had to come back to this statement. Now I know it's on the internet so it must be true, but I had to look up the footnote. The footnote is a quote from a book called, "Getting to Yes in Korea" By Walter C. Clemens Jr.

Yup, that's what it says on Google Books. My only question is define young men, but that doesn't matter much.

The book is on Amazon for $155 hardcover, $29.46 paperback, and $27.99 Kindle.

So who the hell is this guy and does he know his shit?

Quote:

About the Author

Walter C. Clemens, Jr. is Professor of Political Science at Boston University and Associate, Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. He is the author of America and the World, 1898–2025: Achievements, Failures, Alternative Futures (2000) and a dozen other books including the highly praised Dynamics of International Relations (2d ed. 2004). His op-eds have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Clemens has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense, State Department, and Arms Control Disarmament Agency, and has lectured in Asia, Europe, and Latin America for the U.S. Information Agency and Fulbright programs.

Hmm, that doesn't make the statement true, but the guy has creds. 25%

Clodfobble · 03-12-2016, 07:08 AM

"Too retarded for," or "the military can afford to put intelligence requirements in their qualifications" because there's no shortage of people needing a precious state job?

I bet even McDonald's rejects one in four applicants... and no, the pool of fast food applicants is not a representative sample, but the point remains. Turned down 25% is not the same as 25% are retarded.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-12-2016, 11:51 AM

In North Korea the military is compulsory, so it's one in four of every male reaching military age. Because of malnutrition a lot of them don't.

Clodfobble · 03-12-2016, 02:52 PM

Well that's true, dead is a pretty retarded pace.

sexobon · 03-12-2016, 04:12 PM

Speculation is that one of their submarines may have just gone to that retarded place. If they've simply defected, I hope we're showing them a good time.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-12-2016, 07:37 PM

We were tracking them when they disappeared. I'm betting they are hiding on the bottom... permanently.

sexobon · 03-12-2016, 10:00 PM

Maybe the crew were borderline 25%ers.

11-26-2010, 10:06 PM	#31
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I wasn't referring to his comments on NK. But thanks. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-26-2010, 11:37 PM	#32
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	You betcha. __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

03-12-2016, 07:08 AM	#35
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	"Too retarded for," or "the military can afford to put intelligence requirements in their qualifications" because there's no shortage of people needing a precious state job? I bet even McDonald's rejects one in four applicants... and no, the pool of fast food applicants is not a representative sample, but the point remains. Turned down 25% is not the same as 25% are retarded. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

03-12-2016, 11:51 AM	#36
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	In North Korea the military is compulsory, so it's one in four of every male reaching military age. Because of malnutrition a lot of them don't. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-12-2016, 02:52 PM	#37
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Well that's true, dead is a pretty retarded pace. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

03-12-2016, 04:12 PM	#38
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Speculation is that one of their submarines may have just gone to that retarded place. If they've simply defected, I hope we're showing them a good time.

03-12-2016, 07:37 PM	#39
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	We were tracking them when they disappeared. I'm betting they are hiding on the bottom... permanently. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-12-2016, 10:00 PM	#40
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Maybe the crew were borderline 25%ers.

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