I am not sure I disagree with your comments on the state of affairs in the
Balkans over the last several decades. The we I refer to is the U.S. and
European citizens. I toyed with Libertarism back when the economy really
sucked back in the late 1970's, but I currently believe it to be unworkable,
in large part because I believe we lack the nanotechnology to implement it.
This seems to be the first economy driven by technology only. The Nano era is
not here yet. I am not attempting to embue guilt or a sense of
responsibility upon you. But there have to be a sense of international law
in this era. The technology to inflict heavy damage has grown. I believe you
cannot live under your own fig tree, so to speak, forever. People with vastly
different values might not chose to let you in peace.
In a message dated 8/17/00 5:41:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
neptune@mars.superlink.net writes:
<< On Wednesday, August 16, 2000 10:14 PM Spudboy100@aol.com wrote:
> << The easiest way to remove a dictator: one bullet right through the
brain.
> That doesn't take a massed army. It doesn't take a concerted alliance
> against him or her. Just one bullet from one gun. Game over.
>
> I have to get back to making sure things happen, especially with a name
> like, >>
> Exactly!
> As to who sat on their asses while massacres raged-basically we all did.
We
> being USA, Canada,Nato,France.
There's that plural again! I must be missing something. Are you a member
of the government? Where did you affect the decision-making process? Did
Tony Blair or Bill Clinton consult with you before they decided to give
authorization to bomb? Or perhaps you flew missions over Belgrade?
As for me, I was a critic of the war, before, during, and after the war.
(See below.)
> As for Croatia, please to let everyone know
> that I am not of fan of Utashis (adolph's ally in the balkans),
Okay. Hey, everyone! Look who's not a fan of the Ustasha! Done. Max
Power gets things done.
> but I recall
> that the old Utashi dictator died recently, and was replaced by a much,
more,
> congenial government-as in non-massacre loving.
True. Franjo Tudjman's died recently. I.e., he lived a long and bloody
life. His party only lost power a few months ago. The Mesic-Racan
government seems much better and likely to reform in the direction away from
nationalist authoritarianism. Of course, the deed is done, so some might
argue that Tudjman's group completed their mission.
> For all their past
> hideousness, the Croat-Utashi government did not draw first blood, or
> threaten that it would.
That depends on when you start looking. If you look in 1941, the Ustasha
wins hands down. If you look in the 1990s, surely, it's hard to say. But
even if they did not, killing innocents is wrong period, no matter who's
doing it or when.
> That was the Chetniks under Milosovich, who started
> off the camps and "ethnic cleansing". Once fighting began, anything can be
> possible.
The process was a little different. I think, basically, all sides wanted
regions wherein their ethnic group was a sizeable majority and no threat
existed to its power. (The same process, sadly, seems to be taken place in
Ethiopia and Eritria right now, though, of course, no one is suggesting NATO
get involved.) Or, more likely, the leaders used ethnicity to stay in or
expand their power with this kind of logic. My point was merely Croatia
gets a free pass here (as does just about every other nation state that
plays the ethnic cleansing game), by the U.S. State Department and by
Michael Lorrey.
In some cases, e.g., Indonesia, it would not even be a matter of going in
and fighting against that government, but just of cutting of military aid.
President Clinton had a chance to do that before the massacres in East
Timor. He did not and notably few people were vocal on this.
> As far as involvement in the process-I am just another ass-sitter who
lived
> their lives and essentially did nothing, just like everyone else.
It's no one's responsibility to save the planet. That said, if you feel the
urge, do so, but leave those who just want to work on their small
neighborhood alone. Don't think you have the moral high ground because you
want to save some strangers half a world away, regardless of whether it will
work. (Results are very important. Here, we have lots of dead people and a
region in shambles. IMHO, the Kosovar Albanians were better before the war
than now, especially the ones who are now dead. Same for me. I wouldn't
want someone rescuing me by getting me killed.)
And I thought this list was full of libertarians, not war loving hawks!:)
Later!
Max "I get things done" Power, alias Daniel Ust
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/ >>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 02 2000 - 17:36:11 MDT