The US (or some its policy leaders) may have taken on the role of Empire, but it is not a role that the world wants us to take on, nor, do I and a lot of other Americans want to take it on. So we made a (big) mistake. OK, let's admit it and get back on the right path. It is utterly stupid to compound a mistake by 'doing it harder.'
Yes, the Bushies are spin-masters -- so let the spin masters apply their talents to putting the best face on it. I can, by the way, think of several easy AND legitimate ways of explaining to the world the many and very good reasons for the shift in direction. I think the result is that the world would feel a whole better about the US and its future impact in the world, and that the world would be a far better place for having an America that eschews Empire and embraces tolerance and respectful living. The extremists out there would be left without much of a cause against the US, and the US, after some specific further fence-mending, could resume to generally positive role it has sought to play since WWII. The Bushies actually have a quite extraordinary opportunity to go down favorably in history, could they only see it. I don't know who Niall Ferguson is, but if he wants an Empire that badly, I suggest that he take it upon himself to create and pay for it, and absorb its consequences. Cheers, Lawry > -----Original Message----- > From: Ed Weick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Sat, August 30, 2003 9:30 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Brad McCormick, Ed.D.; Keith Hudson > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Will Bush become a Shia Moslem? Glass > half-full or glass half empty? > > > > The only thing the US can do to avoid what lies ahead is to withdraw > fully, > > now, declaring victory for the deposition of Saddam Hussein and leaving > > behind a UN transition assistance role. > > > > Cheers, > > Lawry > > > > I don't think it can do that, Lawry. It's got itself in far too > deeply. To > withdraw now would be taken as a capitulation and huge sign of weakness to > all of the forces arrayed against it throughout the Muslim world. > It has to > hang in and be prepared to put its money where its mouth is. As Niall > Ferguson argues, it's taken on the role of empire, and it had better be > prepared to play that role even if Bush turns out to be a one > term president > and a saner bunch takes over in Washington. > > Ed Weick > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
