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Ambassador Mamet impressed by Argentina and “profoundly optimistic” about relations with US

Saturday, March 7th 2015 - 07:27 UTC
Full article 39 comments

US ambassador to Argentina Noah Mamet expressed his “profound optimism” about ties between Washington and Buenos Aires, saying he has been left “impressed” by the people he has had the opportunity to meet here so far. Read full article

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  • golfcronie

    Diplomatic speak for Christ this is a f*****d up country.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 08:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    A true diplomat!

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 10:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    Such wonderful naivety! Such the newbie in town...

    Has he learnt any Spanish yet?
    --
    Although, cynicism aside, perhaps it is this optimism and positive 'can-d0' attitude that keeps the USA at the fore-front of world affairs?

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    I understand he's a political appointment rewarded for fund raising and does not speak Spanish. He's probably having the time of his life.

    Politically what can he say? It's a well know fact that Hillary Clinton thinks CFK is off her rocker. Obama has complete contempt for the Argentine government. The United States Justice Department, the Commerce Department and the Defense Department all have a low opinion of Argentina at the moment. Oh yes, the media is highly suspicious of what really happened with the Nisman coverup.
    Yes, diplomatic relations between the USA and Argentina are wonderful!

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 01:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PhraseWizard

    Embassador Mamet, are you in for a rude awakening!

    Watch your back. Remember the parable of the scorpion and the frog: don't ford any rivers on the back of an Argentine politician.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 01:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    He is a diplomat. What he says and what he thinks are not the same.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 02:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • imoyaro

    @6

    It's already started.

    http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/182945/afip-criticizes-us-for-not-sharing-tax-data

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PhraseWizard

    Thank you, 7 imoyaro . . . Although there are normal human beings with all their foible in Argentina, there are few in government. The Kirchner regime has been peopled by childish complainers, malevolent liars, conniving cowards and a common criminal class that reflects its leaders character and intent.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 03:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • STroll with the_TroLL

    I'm sure he was impressed.

    For starters, Argentina isn't turning into an ice cap or massive desert!!

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @9. When will it be a radioactive crater?

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 04:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    No it is not........lake Argentina though.

    Yeah he is a diplomat, albeit not a professional diplomat but a diplomat nonetheless. I suppose when they appointed him, they realized it would be a waste of resources to use a professional diplomat. Appointing someone who does not speak Spanish and have never been to Argentina sends a subtle message. lol

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 04:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Yeah I thought the same thing when I moved to Argentina. Give it a little time and he'll get as fed up as I did with the corruption and violence.
    6 weeks is like a long vacation.
    Not enough time to see the real scumbags and filth.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 04:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • imoyaro

    @11
    “ Appointing someone who does not speak Spanish and have never been to Argentina sends a subtle message. lol”

    Boy , I'll say. Maybe even not so subtle. “I CAN'T HEAR YOU LAALALALALALA!”

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 04:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Englander

    Wonder if he's building a big boat as well......just in case.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    The only Espanol he can speak is “Malvinas sons Argentinas” or whatever.

    I wonder if he has met Gollum 'unofficially' yet. That will be interesting.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 07:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    15 ”The only Espanol he can speak is “Malvinas sons Argentinas”

    That's all you need Chris and by the way Malvinas SON Argentinas...burro.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marti Llazo

    I am sure that the US sent the lowest sort of unqualified idiot as ambassador to Argentina in recognition of what the US and the civilised world think of the Argentos.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 08:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Noah Bryson Mamet (born April 1969) is the United States Ambassador to Argentina.
    At age 21, Mamet entered politics by working as a driver and a bodyguard during the 1992 U.S. Senate primary

    In 2004, he founded Noah Mamet and Associates, a Los Angeles-based political consulting firm

    He is a member of the National Jewish Democratic Council.[5]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Mamet

    well what can one say=he is American.

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 08:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marti Llazo

    @16 Marcos “.. Malvinas SON Argentinas..”

    Actually, Marcos, the correct way to say that is “Los Falklands jamás fueron argentinas, y jamás serán.”

    There is no such place as “Las Malvinas.”

    Mar 07th, 2015 - 09:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    Mamet, (above), quote “... to students that I greet ahead of their exchange program trip to the United States; in them I see an immense talent, enthusiasm and determination,”
    Unquote.

    Yep, an immense determination to get the fuck out, whilst they still can.

    oops! hope you don't me swearing?
    ~naughty ilsen~
    ;-)
    lol!

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 01:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PhraseWizard

    @19 Marti Llazo . . . If you're going to be a PEDANT, at least get it right! In your comment, “Los Falklands jamás fueron argentinas, y jamás serán,” You're referring to islands called the Falklands and in Spanish, unless preceded by a parenthetic phrase, THERE NEVER CAN BE A COMMA BEFORE THE SPANISH CONJUNCTIVE “Y”. So the correct phrase is:
    “Las islas Falklands jamás fueron argentinas y jamás serán,” or:
    ”Las Falklands jamás fueron argentinas y jamás serán.”

    For those wannabe pedants, the Royal Academy of Madrid dictates that adjectives that in English would be taken simultaneously as proper nouns are NOT capitalized; so, kudos to you, Marti!

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 09:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Buzzsaw

    'Profoundly optimistic'...... meaning in the future, diplomatic speak for 'once this fucked up Government goes'.....they may have a chance.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 11:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 19
    EIGHT words of gibber-jabber against THREE!

    @ 21
    NINE words of gibber-jabber against THREE!

    Did anybody NOT understand what I wrote? No, for a guess.

    Reminds me of a saying:
    “Spanish / Espanol: why use eight English words to describe an idea perfectly when 50 Espanol ones won't! © ChrisR 2014”

    Oh! It was ME who wrote that, anybody NOT understand that? No, I didn't think so.

    BUT NEVER FORGETTING:
    ”Take verbs for example, there are 63 models of irregular verbs and 12,290 ‘listed’ verbs in Spanish and STILL you have to remember ‘intonation’ to allow for alternate meanings. (Manual de la Conjugación del Verbo, published by Veron Editor and redacted by Caridal Oriol Serres. ISBN 84-7255-169-5).”

    The LOWEST level of jibber-jabber is to be found in TDC, which is no surprise at all.

    WTF is there a TEMPORARY future verb?

    AND that's without male / female complications.

    No wonder Spain is fucked up.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PhraseWizard

    Attention, @23 ChrisR

    Do you realize you're incoherent? And, as such ineffective attempts at communication tend to be, incomprehensible. (I'm sure, as anyone might be, that you are now going to say something acerbic and insulting, in an attempt to save face. IN DOING SO, YOU ARE ACTING EXACTLY AS CRISTINA FERNÁNDEZ AND HER COHORTS . . . in denial, wounded and (have I already mentioned this?) incoherent.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 12:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 24

    And your evidence is what?

    Just because you do not agree with me, you being a self-professed Spanish expert who does not understand British irony?

    Spain is fucked up: fact.

    Just as well that it never had access to English and was shackled by manic abeyance to the RCC, otherwise England may never have beaten it.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 05:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Agreed,

    these fools cant even get their own history right....lol

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PhraseWizard

    @ 25 ChrisR and @26 Briton . . .

    You prove my point. Have you ever listened to yourself?

    By the way, is your native language English? For the following additional nonsense, I'm glad that in 25 years of teaching I never had such as you in class:

    Didn't you mean “obedience”:
    Definition of ABEYANCE

    1
    : a lapse in succession during which there is no person in whom a title is vested
    2
    : temporary inactivity : suspension

    And . . . I am not alone in professing myself as an expert in interpreting between 9 languages: the UN, USAID, State Dept. UNICEF and various governments seem to think so; that's what they've paid me for during more than 30 years.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 08:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 27 PhraseWizard
    ”Didn't you mean “obedience” YES, I did, you have me there.

    Ah! Now I have your handle: an interpreter!

    What a pity you do not acknowledge the complete balls-up that typifies jibber-jabber when used in legal contracts. Yankeeboy refuses to have contacts in Spanish for the same reason as I now: we both got caught with the interpretation and it cost both of us money.

    My wife was less than thrilled to receive a 'summons' to attend the local court to face a charge of conspiracy to avoid paying the employees of the vendor of our casa (who owned a fruit and vegetable shop and sold it on without paying them money he owed them) alleged to exist between him and us. We had never even met him never mind spoken to him, we bought it while we were still in the UK using a power of attorney with the contract written by a top escribana.

    All because the jibber-jabber in the purchase contract could be read in more than two ways. The money it cost in hiring a good solicitor and a good interpreter was one thing: what really pissed me off was how upset my wife was and we had only been in Uruguay for 6 weeks.

    So carry on defending jibber-jabber: it's your job after all. Forgive me for seeing it for what it is, as if I care.

    Mar 08th, 2015 - 10:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    You prove my point. Have you ever listened to yourself?

    Have you....

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 12:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Some focus on minutia as the shit hits the fans.

    lol

    just saying.

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 02:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    ChrisR

    I have never had any trouble understanding what you have to say.
    We all make the odd 'typo', myself included.

    Anyhow, on a 'lighter' note...

    1: How many pedants does it take to change a lightbulb?
    The correct term is 'replace', actually, darling....

    2: How many pedants does it take to change a lightbulb?
    None. A pedant can find an error in the dark.

    Finally...
    3: How Many Pedants Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?

    The title of this joke is incorrectly capitalized. It should have been “How Many Pedants Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?”. Even in title case, you're not supposed to capitalize articles and prepositions.

    Oh alright then, just one more...

    4; Q: How Many Pedants Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?

    A: It depends how light it is, but clearly fewer than it would take to change a heavy one.

    arf!

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 03:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • gordo1

    @ Phase Wizard

    We British are not generally known for our knowledge of languages other than our own. Our arguments usually are that either 1)everybody speaks English anyway and 2)everybody else should learn English.

    Also, I find it odd that Brits criticise Spain and its major language, Castellano, but then spend millions of pounds sterling every year enjoying the hospitality of that country.

    Arrogance and ignorance frequently abound around here viz.Conqueror and the Argentine trolls!

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 07:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Rufus

    @ Ilsen

    The big question (going back a couple of years to the Olympics):

    How many G4S security guards does it take to change a light bulb?

    Three soldiers and a policeman.

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 10:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 31 Ilsen
    Thank you for your comments, I do appreciate them.

    I think No 2 suits PW perfectly and it is hilarious that a language needs:
    ”the Royal Academy of Madrid (to) dictate(s )” the forming and phrasing of Spanish.

    Even my Nationally Registered Spanish teacher had to wait a while before she could cover one section because this bunch of elitist non-entities were studying their navel about it.

    It's even more hilarious when you consider the locals don't speak formal Spanish but a form of cut and shut Spanish that is difficult even for my Spanish teacher to understand. Each town (or city as they like to call them - bruised egos?) has a variety of the main core wording. Confusing, is it not?

    Fortunately I am understood in Spanish by the people that matter and I continue to battle at the age of 69 next month with the vagaries of what is best described as “jibber-jabber ”
    http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/jibber-jabber

    I had to laugh at the advert at the end of the definition(s):
    “Speak Spanish in minutes”.

    You couldn't make it up.

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 12:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Key boards do not cater for regional sayings or quotes,

    if these so called argies want to understand English, they should watch and listen, before they make stupid comments,

    we all make mistakes, I should know....lol

    Mar 09th, 2015 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @34 Chris R
    Is it jibber jabber because when for example CFK speaks, it comes out at the speed of a fax machine?

    It amazes me why they have to speak so fast-it's like a machine gun spewing out words on full automatic. Do they speak Pinky and Perky( 78 RPM) so that everyone understands what they say, or is it spoken so fast to deceive people, because if anyone speaks to me in English that fast, I ask them to fire single shot or 3 round bursts so I can actually hear and appreciate what the speaker has to say.

    If I'm not feeling friendly I blow a Raspberry and ask what's the difference between that and your speech?

    Mar 10th, 2015 - 09:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    @33
    lol!
    good one!
    @34
    'we good', as my teen-age step-daughter likes to say, “ we good, papi, we good”

    I like to think I know what she means, as she re-iterates it with a 'fist-bump', and if her mates arern't looking, a quick hug.
    aahhh!!!!
    However, the requests for taxi-fares, ” 'coz you wouldn't want me to be in danger'/ I need to buy lunch for my friends, you don't want to them to think we are poor?/ I absolutely NEED those shoes/that top, must have dress, lost my smart-phone (again!!!!!!), etc are endless......

    Bless....

    Mar 11th, 2015 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 36 Pete Bog

    The old women are the fastest as far as I can tell. I used to be the prompter when my now wife was my girlfriend and she needed someone to read at 150 wpm for her to practice her Pitman's, but the locals are much faster than that.

    @ 37 Ilsen

    It seems teenagers (of both sexes I imagine) are the same the world over when it comes to laying on the syrup to get money out of dad. It never fails, does it?

    :o)

    Mar 11th, 2015 - 07:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @38Chris R-
    Lol, got a great mental picture of that. On a positive note, they could earn some money by wiring themselves up to the phone network and making the internet obsolete.

    Even broadband is slower than the words that spew out of CFK.

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 11:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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