tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087565.post110882662817086859..comments2023-10-24T07:06:36.815-07:00Comments on Small Precautions: A modest proposalNilshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220861634503974376noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087565.post-1108928483441272962005-02-20T11:41:00.000-08:002005-02-20T11:41:00.000-08:00I reject the premise, Zak, on which you admit your...I reject the premise, Zak, on which you admit your argument rests, namely that "there is essentially zero chance of any US government going to war 'voluntarily' in the next several decades." First of all, let's talk about the next obvious target: Iran. As I blogged about five weeks ago, there's evidence that the attack against Iran is <A HREF="http://smallprecautions.blogspot.com/2005/01/what-next-four-years-promise.html" REL="nofollow">already being planned</A>. And just listen to what Bush and Rice have themselves been saying, "We're not planning on attacking Iran... now"; "it's not the cards... at the moment"; etc. They're explicitly leaving the option on the table. Are you really so sure they're bluffing? Real men, <A HREF="http://www.progressive.org/feb05/toen0205.html" REL="nofollow">as the saying goes</A>, want to go to Tehran.<br /><br />Secondly, who would have thought even a couple of years ago that this clique of militaristic rightwingers (supported by the "Paranoid Style coalition" of religious fundamentalists and popular chauvinists) could have so completely hijacked our foreign policy, and committed themselves so explicitly to doing the unthinkable? Now, have you seen any of these guys saying, "Ooops, yeah, we were wrong, we won't be invading anyone again any time soon?" Of course not. Zak, these guys feel <EM>vindicated</EM> by Iraq, not chastened.<br /><br />I don't disagree that an attack on NK would be insane, but then I considered the attack on Iraq insane, and they went ahead and did that. As for Cuba, it's not like we haven't invaded them a couple times before. Who knows what options get considered after Castro dies, depending on how the succession shapes up.<br /><br />Finally, Zak, I would point out that if you go back over the history of our country, you'll be hard pressed to identify any 2+ decade period where we did not voluntarily attack another nation. Militarism has always been part of our political culture, but now the hardliners have taken over and have moved what was a subculture to the center stage.<br /><br />I for one can't but feel sympathy for those who feel like these hardliners need to have their political oxygen cut off before they can do even more catastrophic harm.Nilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220861634503974376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087565.post-1108828151997395252005-02-19T07:49:00.000-08:002005-02-19T07:49:00.000-08:00I disagree strongly, Zak, in the claim of an immor...I disagree strongly, Zak, in the claim of an immoral equvalence here. Both sides are equally guilty, it is true, in hanging the Iraqi people out to dry. <br /><br />However, the international community is at least trying to stand up for the principle that no country should go invading another without Security Council approval (i.e. unless everyone important agrees that it is necessary). Their goal in this strategy is not simple political vindictiveness, as you imply, but rather to prevent future Iraq-style disasters -- an extremely morally worthy goal. To put it concretely, they are trying to help the Iranian people, the Syrian people, the North Korean people... and who knows who else after that? The Cubans? The Venezuelans?Nilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220861634503974376noreply@blogger.com