Treacle Worshipper

"Thou, O Padishah [Emperor], knowest well the great dissensions that are raging in Italy especially, and in all Frankistan [Christian Europe] generally. In consequence of these dissensions the Gaiours [Infidels] are incapable of united action against us. The Christian potentates will never unite together. When after protracted efforts they conclude something like a peace among themselves, it never lasts long. Even when they are bound by treaties of alliance, they are not prevented from seizing territories from each other. They always stand in fear of each other, and are busily occupied in intriguing against each other. No doubt they think much, speak much, and explain much, but after all they do very little. When they decide to do anything, they waste much time before they begin to act. Suppose they have even commenced something. They cannot progress very far with it because they are sure to disagree amongst themselves how to procede..."
- Zagan Pasha, 27th May 1454, Quoted in Vlad III Dracula by K W Treptow

Apart from the obvious difference that western countries are unlikely to invade one another nowadays, it seems to me that most of these points still stand - the dissent, the endless talking, the disagreements.
What does anyone else think? I would be particularly interested in anyone from the Middle East, or who has familiarity with opinion there, giving their views on this quotation.
TW

emphryio

They have been organized enough to prop up friendly dictatorships throughout the Middle East in order to keep the business situation there more to their liking. (A Brutal Friendship by Said Aburish)

Vlad III Dracula ?

Monkeybot

It seems to me like similar points could be made about other areas of the world. Not that it those things aren't true, to some degree, about western countries, of course, but it doesn't seem limited to them either.

Treacle Worshipper

Originally posted by emphryio
They have been organized enough to prop up friendly dictatorships throughout the Middle East in order to keep the business situation there more to their liking. (A Brutal Friendship by Said Aburish)

Moneybot:
It seems to me like similar points could be made about other areas of the world. Not that it those things aren't true, to some degree, about western countries, of course, but it doesn't seem limited to them either.

Both of you make valid points. I was just struck by similarity of all the dissension between the European nations and the current dissension in the UN.

emphyrio:
Vlad III Dracula ?
Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, aka Dracula ("Son of the Dragon"), aka Tepes ("the Impaler"), basis of all the vampire stories you've ever come across.
Son of Vlad II, Prince of Wallachia, aka Dracul ("the Dragon")
Wallachia is a principality in modern Rumania. The surname "Dracul" began to be used after Vlad II was invested in the Order of the Dragon, a Christian military organisation dedicated to keeping the Ottoman Turks (Muslims) out of Eastern Europe. Over the years the meaning of "dracul" changed, so it is now sometimes translated as "son of the devil", but this is not historically accurate. And I bet that's more information than you wanted
TW