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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2015-10-24 00:28, spike wrote:<br>
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<div><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">OK
I have heard several reasons why we should have
embassies, and do let us assume them valid. Yesterday
we heard testimony by the former US Sec of State who
held to the story that the attack on the US embassy in
Libya was caused by an internet video, with no other
motive offered as an alternative. </span></div>
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<br>
Sigh. And do you think that is actually a plausible explanation?<br>
<br>
The actual situation in Libya was and is complex, closely tied to
even more complex politics across the Middle East. The US is a
player in all of this, and often on inconsistent sides. A video on
its own does not matter, but when there are groups that thrive on
distributing and profiting from outrage and they are deeply involved
in this politics, then it may look like the video triggers a riot.
But this is actually a mix of carefully orchestrated actions and
darn things just happening because there is a messy political
situation with conflicting loyalties and deprived people who often
can only express themselves through rioting. <br>
<br>
It might make sense to have a teleembassy in dangerous corners of
the world. But that also implies that the US is not able to protect
its own embassy and does not trust the local polity to actually be
able to protect it. That is a rather strong signal. <br>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Dr Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University
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