In a message dated 1/24/02 8:42:08 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << With this definition, Argentina [a few days ago], Costa
Rica, Kuwait under the Iraqi occupation, etc would not be countries. OTOH, the FARC-controlled area of Colombia would be a country. >> I honestly think this is nitpicking. The strict definition of a country is: the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship OR a political state or nation or its territory (source: Mirriam Webster through m-w.com) More informally: a country has internal documents to recognize it as such, (a constitution, declaration of independence etc.) It has clearly defined borders, an army or standing militia to defend those borders and some sort of government that supplies services to and for its people. That government may take many political forms, a tyranny, democracy even anarchy (for short periods) as long as it has clearly defined borders. Are Palestinians Israeli citizens? What country do they claim citizenship in AND what country claims them as citizens? (It is not enough to stand in England and say "I'm English!" You would need to be recognized by the English government as a citizen.) Jon
