On 31 Jul 2002 at 3:28, kharin wrote:
>
> I have to add my voice to those of Ben and Casey on this thread. I think
it's fairly clear that the US is frequently in an extremely invidious
position
in so far as it is subject to a wide number of demands for its intervention
across the world and is often castigated when it does not intervene
(Rwanda). Conversely, on the occasions it does intervene it still faces
castigation and frequently from the same quarter; those who opposed
US
policy on Israel are frequently demanding more US involvement not
less.
>
Yep; damned if we do and damned if we don't.
>
> That said, I think Casey makes the most valid point when he said that
the US often fails to consider the consequences of many of its actions.
As a current example, I can't help wondering if the damage it is doing to
the mechanisms of international law at present are not likely to create a
more violent and unpredictable world that will blowback on the US in
the
fullness of time. If I were in the position of the US at present I would
certainly consider such doctrines as pre-emptive defence to be wholly
within the interests of the US and in support of aims that could be
considered benevolent. But said doctrine clearly violates international
law
and is effectively a right of invasion, and I can certainly see states like
India and Pakistan deciding to avail themselves of such a right to
pre-emptive defence.
>
Which is why we are continuously diplomatically massaging them
(Powell just visited both, and cross-border hostilities have recently
lessened).
We cannot afford to allow another Al Quaeda base to be built in
another country with impunity and subsequently suffer other 9/11 type
tragedies (or worse) before taking action; we must labor to prevent such
atrocities from being perpetrated - and instigated - in the first place.
Reaction to the attacks of others is simply a yielding of the initiative,
making homeland defence even more difficult. In such a case, the only
good defence is a good pre-emptive offence.
> ----
> This message was posted by kharin to the Virus 2002 board on Church of Virus BBS.
> <http://virus.lucifer.com/bbs/index.php?board=51;action=display;threadid=25860>
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