weapons inspectors might've been allowed to find, is it not better that a ruthless, evil dictator like Saddam Hussein has been removed from power through American unilateralism?
I think there's a problem between following procedure and taking necessary action. For long I've believed Saddam didn't have WMD's but just because of that, doesn't mean no action should've been taken.
So every country has their motives and interests. I'd like to think that American Foreign Policy is not the same as that which took place before the end of the Cold War. Times have changed, and so has AFP. It's no more angelic than what it used to be, but it contains a lot more beneficial externalities for humankind as a whole than it ever has before. It's still a bitch though, but I'd rather that than the terrorists not feel the heat.
Terrorism will never be defeated, but this is as much a war to get as close as possible as destroy the motivation, the urge and need for those on the tipping point, or well-entrenched to resort to further atrocities.
Sure, go ahead and quote me the increase in suicide bombings here and airline cancellations there but those are short-term drawbacks. In the long term, with enough checks and balances, things should be a lot better than they've been for a while.
The international community can assist with the checks and balances by cooperating and creating an air for such a relationship with the USA rather than confronting it and being cast aside the way Germany and France were last March. That was probably the lowest point in Western History since 1939.
America is the most powerful country in the world and with such power comes great responsbility. On several occassions it hasn't lived upto those responsbilities and unfortunately its innocent civilians have paid the price for such acts of stupidity. It's been more than two years since 9/11. A lot of the initial confusion, anger and haste has died down a fair amount and now we're ready for what I will term the golden era of global affairs and world politics.
is it not better that a ruthless, evil dictator like Saddam Hussein has been removed from power through American unilateralism
I shall withhold judgment on that until I see his replacement. So far, the signs have not been encouraging, but admittedly, these are early days.
evil dictator like Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was clearly not about to win the All Round Nice Guy award. But be careful about using a word like 'evil'. Regardless of what Bush and co. would have us believe, the world is far from being as black and white as a Star Wars movie.
a lot more beneficial externalities for humankind as a whole than it ever has before
Explain to me how Guantanamo, visa denials and steel quotas have been better for us than the Marshall Plan. Indeed, is something not wrong with the basic system upon which the world works when the best we can hope for is the odd 'beneficial externality'? Also, how is it beneficial for the world that America has pulled out of treaties relating to WMDs (multiple), an international criminal court, the environment, while weakening the U.N. to a body to the point where it is only called upon if America can't do things exactly its own way by brute force?
now we're ready for what I will term the golden era of global affairs and world politics
Funny, I vaguely remember reading about people living in unprecedented prosperity before WWI, although I could well be wrong. Either way, I look upon your last claim with extreme skepticism. Before Bush came to power, I genuinely believed things were getting better, everywhere. Now I feel that more things are getting worse than otherwise.
shall withhold judgment on that until I see his replacement. So far, the signs have not been encouraging, but admittedly, these are early days.
While it is true that we are still in the early day stage, I think any replacement by the Americans and IGC will be at least 4 times better than Saddam. To begin with, there is a good chance hundreds of thousands of ppl won't be gassed in a single attack. Or thousands of others treated like dirt in the prisons, others sent to them for no justifiable reason whatsoever and the son-in-laws being shot @ for fleeing the country upon return! :)
be careful about using a word like 'evil'. Regardless of what Bush and co. would have us believe, the world is far from being as black and white as a Star Wars movie.
Saddam was a maniac. A tyrant. A despot. A dictator. A mass-murderer. Khalas. I don't agree with everything that comes out of the President's Office but Saddam was not a good man in anyway. There might have been some things that worked in the favor of the Iraqi ppl courtesy Saddam, but overall, he was a terrrible man. I don't want to seem him receive anything less than capital punishment.
Before Bush came to power, I genuinely believed things were getting better, everywhere. Now I feel that more things are getting worse than otherwise.
Intereshting... I believe completely otherwise. I don't think America has done more right with their foreign policy now than ever before.
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timeasmymeasure
Regardless of what the
Date: 2004-02-01 05:45 pm (UTC)I think there's a problem between following procedure and taking necessary action. For long I've believed Saddam didn't have WMD's but just because of that, doesn't mean no action should've been taken.
So every country has their motives and interests. I'd like to think that American Foreign Policy is not the same as that which took place before the end of the Cold War. Times have changed, and so has AFP. It's no more angelic than what it used to be, but it contains a lot more beneficial externalities for humankind as a whole than it ever has before. It's still a bitch though, but I'd rather that than the terrorists not feel the heat.
Terrorism will never be defeated, but this is as much a war to get as close as possible as destroy the motivation, the urge and need for those on the tipping point, or well-entrenched to resort to further atrocities.
Sure, go ahead and quote me the increase in suicide bombings here and airline cancellations there but those are short-term drawbacks. In the long term, with enough checks and balances, things should be a lot better than they've been for a while.
The international community can assist with the checks and balances by cooperating and creating an air for such a relationship with the USA rather than confronting it and being cast aside the way Germany and France were last March. That was probably the lowest point in Western History since 1939.
America is the most powerful country in the world and with such power comes great responsbility. On several occassions it hasn't lived upto those responsbilities and unfortunately its innocent civilians have paid the price for such acts of stupidity. It's been more than two years since 9/11. A lot of the initial confusion, anger and haste has died down a fair amount and now we're ready for what I will term the golden era of global affairs and world politics.
Mark my words. :)
Re: Regardless of what the
Date: 2004-02-02 06:29 am (UTC)I shall withhold judgment on that until I see his replacement. So far, the signs have not been encouraging, but admittedly, these are early days.
evil dictator like Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was clearly not about to win the All Round Nice Guy award. But be careful about using a word like 'evil'. Regardless of what Bush and co. would have us believe, the world is far from being as black and white as a Star Wars movie.
a lot more beneficial externalities for humankind as a whole than it ever has before
Explain to me how Guantanamo, visa denials and steel quotas have been better for us than the Marshall Plan. Indeed, is something not wrong with the basic system upon which the world works when the best we can hope for is the odd 'beneficial externality'? Also, how is it beneficial for the world that America has pulled out of treaties relating to WMDs (multiple), an international criminal court, the environment, while weakening the U.N. to a body to the point where it is only called upon if America can't do things exactly its own way by brute force?
now we're ready for what I will term the golden era of global affairs and world politics
Funny, I vaguely remember reading about people living in unprecedented prosperity before WWI, although I could well be wrong. Either way, I look upon your last claim with extreme skepticism. Before Bush came to power, I genuinely believed things were getting better, everywhere. Now I feel that more things are getting worse than otherwise.
A Response...
Date: 2004-02-05 12:27 am (UTC)While it is true that we are still in the early day stage, I think any replacement by the Americans and IGC will be at least 4 times better than Saddam. To begin with, there is a good chance hundreds of thousands of ppl won't be gassed in a single attack. Or thousands of others treated like dirt in the prisons, others sent to them for no justifiable reason whatsoever and the son-in-laws being shot @ for fleeing the country upon return! :)
be careful about using a word like 'evil'. Regardless of what Bush and co. would have us believe, the world is far from being as black and white as a Star Wars movie.
Saddam was a maniac. A tyrant. A despot. A dictator. A mass-murderer. Khalas. I don't agree with everything that comes out of the President's Office but Saddam was not a good man in anyway. There might have been some things that worked in the favor of the Iraqi ppl courtesy Saddam, but overall, he was a terrrible man. I don't want to seem him receive anything less than capital punishment.
Before Bush came to power, I genuinely believed things were getting better, everywhere. Now I feel that more things are getting worse than otherwise.
Intereshting...
I believe completely otherwise. I don't think America has done more right with their foreign policy now than ever before.