[extropy-chat] Re: Nam

[Dirk Bruere]

The Avantguardian wrote:

>--- Dirk Bruere <dirk at neopax.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Well, let me make the point more forcefully.
>>The US lost not because of any military defeat but
>>because of those 
>>"gestures and statements", made not by the
>>Vietnamese, or even US 
>>tourists in Vietnam but by people in the US and
>>around the world.
>>
>>The Iraqi resistance knows that the US  does not
>>have the will to fight 
>>for twelve years, most especially because popular
>>support for the war is 
>>collapsing. And I make a point of criticising the
>>war, and the bogus 
>>reasons for it, at every oportunity thereby helping
>>that process along.
>>    
>>
>
>      Interestingly enough, I agree with you Dirk in
>that public sentiment/opinion (most importantly
>American public opinion) is the kryptonite of the
>American soldier. When they are inspired by a cause
>that we believe in, they are capable of homeric deeds.
>But when they no longer believe they are fighting for
>the people and things they love, they can be routed by
>barefoot guys with bows and arrows. 
>     That being said, I still think U.S. withdrawal
>without replacement by U.N. peacekeepers, would be a
>huge tragic mistake. All economic self-interest of the
>U.S. aside (and we would lose big) we would be
>knowingly allowing a four way civil war that will at
>best result in a return of the Baathists to their
>murderous splendour and at worst the creation of three
>more fractious states that will further destabilize
>the Middle East. And you will have more countries for
>terrorists to hide in while they plan their next
>London bombing. Sooner or later they may get a nuke.
>     If your "gestures and statements" campaign
>succeeds, one of two possible outcomes will result
>depending entirely on your motive. If your motive was
>to deal a punitive economic blow to the U.S. for
>invading a country that was formerly on EVERYBODY's
>shit list then you will have succeeded. If your motive
>was to save lives, whether they were those of the
>Iraqis, Americans, or even your own fellow Brits, you
>will have failed. I would not presume to guess your
>motives.
>  
>
You don't have to guess.
They have been explained here, on Usenet and on the Consensus site.

-- 
Dirk

The Consensus:-
The political party for the new millenium
http://www.theconsensus.org



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