Awesome picture

[Denny Crane]

 

[Mamba]

He's just being cordial

 

[MARIS61]

It's grainy and the lighting sucks.

 

[Denny Crane]

Almost as good as this picture:

 

[Denny Crane]

Another good one.

 

[MARIS61]

Almost as good as this picture:

Just think how much money is wasted on one of these get to togethers between a couple of world leaders, the travel, the layers of security, the dinners, the ceremonies, the local whirlwind tours, all for maybe a couple hours of serious talk between them on things that matter. Don't know the number but I'm guessing a phone call could save both countries millions of dollars each time.

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[Denny Crane]

Less grainey

 

[Ed O]

At least he's not bowing.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

Just think how much money is wasted on one of these get to togethers between a couple of world leaders, the travel, the layers of security, the dinners, the ceremonies, the local whirlwind tours, all for maybe a couple hours of serious talk between them on things that matter. Don't know the number but I'm guessing a phone call could save both countries millions of dollars each time.

Agreed. And I think "millions" might be dramatically understating it in many cases.

Video conferencing is pretty good nowadays.

Ed O.

 

[barfo]

How are you going to throw up on a foreign dignitary via videoconference, though?

barfo

 

[barfo]

"Listen, Hugo, we have to stop meeting like this. No really. Budget cuts, you know how it goes. We are a poor country. Skype me anytime, though. "

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

More like...

"You take the Nobel Prize"

"No, you take the Nobel Prize"

 

[Road Blocker]

Just think how much money is wasted on one of these get to togethers between a couple of world leaders, the travel, the layers of security, the dinners, the ceremonies, the local whirlwind tours, all for maybe a couple hours of serious talk between them on things that matter. Don't know the number but I'm guessing a phone call could save both countries millions of dollars each time.

It extends to local government too, Portland mayors go on these type of trips to sister cities and others.

 

[barfo]

Seriously, a lot of dealmaking depends on making a personal connection. There's a reason why certain types of businesses still have salespeople visit clients in person, and it's the same reason diplomatic visits still make sense in some cases.

barfo

 

[BrianFromWA]

in some places (West Africa, for one) they don't care what you want to talk about until they think you actually care about them.

The French and British navies visit there every 6 months or so, and in each port the first night in port is a hosted cocktail party on the ship for the dignitaries (naval commanders, ambassadors, defense attaches, civil bigwigs, etc) to get together and chat informally, even if business is conducted. The second night the embassy or host nation hosts a cocktail party (generally a dinner) that gets people together to talk informally. After that's done, the staff officers get together to discuss the meat and potatoes of the operation and training/maintenance. One of the criticisms of the US's nascent involvement there is that we come in with a checklist, attempt to complete it to the best of our ability with maximum efficiency, and to them it looks like we're the Big Brother helping out the little guy, which in reality is incorrect. While we're trying to show our culture of professionalism from the highest admiral to the most junior seaman, they're trying to see if we're friends first before starting to work with us.

 

[MrJayremmie]

in some places (West Africa, for one) they don't care what you want to talk about until they think you actually care about them.

The French and British navies visit there every 6 months or so, and in each port the first night in port is a hosted cocktail party on the ship for the dignitaries (naval commanders, ambassadors, defense attaches, civil bigwigs, etc) to get together and chat informally, even if business is conducted. The second night the embassy or host nation hosts a cocktail party (generally a dinner) that gets people together to talk informally. After that's done, the staff officers get together to discuss the meat and potatoes of the operation and training/maintenance. One of the criticisms of the US's nascent involvement there is that we come in with a checklist, attempt to complete it to the best of our ability with maximum efficiency, and to them it looks like we're the Big Brother helping out the little guy, which in reality is incorrect. While we're trying to show our culture of professionalism from the highest admiral to the most junior seaman, they're trying to see if we're friends first before starting to work with us.

So in short, the U.S. military could use some international etiquette training?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Of course. We don't generally have protocol officers and teleprompters telling us when to bow, whose hand to shake, and what words to say. Does that surprise you that the average ship captain isn't familiar with the etiquette of Togo? Especially since most Americans couldn't pick out the continent that Togo's on, much less the tribal customs and courtesies of their elected officials?

 

[andalusian]

Where are the good old days when our president could be counted on to vomit on the Japanese prime minister after losing a tennis match to the emperor?

 

[Stevenson]

Kinda like this?

 

[Stevenson]

Or this?

 

[Stevenson]

Here's a winner

 

[Denny Crane]

Kinda like this?

Yes, kinda like this.

Change we can believe in!

 

[bluefrog]

Of course. We don't generally have protocol officers and teleprompters telling us when to bow, whose hand to shake, and what words to say. Does that surprise you that the average ship captain isn't familiar with the etiquette of Togo? Especially since most Americans couldn't pick out the continent that Togo's on, much less the tribal customs and courtesies of their elected officials?

I spent 6 weeks in Togo in 1995. If you are white it doesn't matter what faux pas you commit as long as you keep spending money.

sorry to get off topic

 

[BrianFromWA]

I was told by a scooter-taxi driver there that he couldn't tell I was American b/c "I spoke French like a Brit". I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult.

I've heard the same sentiment you expressed, bluefrog, but I think it's changed in the last 15 years. With China basically spending money while simultaneously pissing off people, the French and Brits changing their strategies from post-colonialism to more "strategic partnerships", and ECOWAS trying to bring some semblance of the 21st century to business practices, security and law enforcement...I think the days of having an "in" through just putting cash in the right hands are dying.

Regardless, we don't have much training for cultural issues. State usually takes care of that, but there aren't a lot of those guys to go around.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Good god what a pointless thread

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Look! One industrialist scumfuck shaking hands with another industrialist scumfuck!

 

[Klinky]

Com'on Denny, this is a PapaG level thread. I expect more.




Here's one of the most damning photos against George Bush:

What does this say about the man & his foreign policy? What "backdoor" deals were going down here?

 

[jlprk]

another picture of a bush

 

[jlprk]