Carl,
No, I don't subscribe to any kind of conspiracy theory of US foreign policy.
Please, read what I said again. Indeed, your very first sentence supports my
thesis. US government policy fluctuates. If it evolved according to some
kind of coherent plan, this would be OK, but it fluctuates randomly, and
with perverse consequences.
I said that US foreign policy has been chaotic, perverse and inexplicable.
These are not traits of a conspiracy. Traits of a confused and
self-contradictory mass of government bureaucracy, almost certainly.
Not meaning to be too harsh, but you are on better drugs than I have access
to if you believe that our government gives us the straight scoop. Again,
this is not a result of any conspiracy, it is simply the end result of many
bureaucrats working in contradictory self interest, many of whom don't trust
the American public with the truth, some of whom don't believe that people
outside of America are deserving of the degree of freedom, and some of whom
prize national security over freedom. I'll just remind you to look up what
Benjamin Franklin said about that mindset.
If the US is to be the world's policeman, then yes, we must work towards
freedom. However, frequently, and as a matter of policy in many instances,
the US government has not done that. How else can you characterize pamphlets
published by the US Army that detail how to conduct field-expedient
tortures, and which are distributed to government death squads? How else can
you characterize our overlooking the use of torture by so many of our client
states. The goal of freedom can only be realized when we use the tools of
freedom, and the US government has not been consistent in doing that.
Please don't misunderstand me. America is still the most free country, and
the best. And American foreign policy has not been consistently wrong. But
far too often is has been wrong, and the attack today is a reflection of
that. The attack is heinous, and must be punished. But I think we should be
prepared for more, for a long time to come.
-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Dionne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 18:47
To: 'NT System Admin Issues'
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: A few thoughts on today's events
Kurt,
US foreign policy over time fluctuates due to the differing opinions of the
political party who happens to be in power and to some degree of public
opinion. Your characterization of events in the past are almost
"X-File-ish." Sure US policy has not always been correct, we make mistakes
like every other country. Fighting the Soviet Union we had to sometimes
choose stability over more democratic opposition. Your comments imply some
sort of conspiracy in hiding or coloring historical events like JFK, etc.
Many times details of the politics behind situations are kept quiet, but
overall I think we are given the straight scoop by government and the media.
It is always good to question what we are told, and our press does that very
well.
We support Israel because it is the right thing to do. But, we also support
a Palestinian state. It is up to them to come to terms however. In the
modern world the US has to be engaged in the world or pay the consequences.
This means making decisions on what governments to support, taking or not
taking military action, etc. In general the US government and it's people
(us) support and respect the world's diversity. We may preach, but we do
not conquer.
I adamantly disagree that we are the bad cop on the beat. Many look upon
the US badly because of our status in the world. We are active and support
American Interests around the world to protect ourselves, as well as foster
world peace and stability. Using the phrase "under the yoke of the US" is
propaganda. We have no national purpose of holding other nations down for
powers sake. There is no yoke of the US.
I know there are points of view at odds with the United States, but we have
to stand up for our interests and principles. The bottom line is we cannot
please everyone, but we have to make the effort to live with everyone in the
world. Being strong and outspoken in the world, is enough of a cause for
other nations and peoples to be resentful of the US. The major cause of
today's events is the clash of Western and Islamic culture. There should be
room enough for all of us. But it is not the United States who is turn this
into an "us against them" argument. In fact the political use of "Jihad"
really does a great disservice to Islam.
What it comes down to is we must fight for freedom, even if it appears we
are the bully of the world. Just imagine the current government of China
were in charge, and see who would complain than.
Mahalo
Carl
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