>Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 02:50:51 -0700
>From: Samantha Atkins <samantha@objectent.com>
>Subject: Re: Democracy held hostage
>Brian D Williams wrote:
> >
><snip>
> >
> > The problem isn't your philosophical system, it's mine, and in mine
> > these men were/are cowards and will be treated/refered to as such.
> >
> > These acts took place within the borders of the continental U.S.,
> > and by our standards and laws they are both cowardly and criminal.
>But by our standards, when the CIA with little or no oversight
>and using secret funds goes to various countries and topples
>their elected governments using a variety of means including
>those which cannot be termed other than terrorism, torture,
>assasination, sabotage and so on - is this somehow not criminal
>but a reasonable function of the government?
>It seems to me there is a bit of a double standard here. As bad
>as WTC was we have been involved in covert operations in
>countries we were not at war with, even in countries we were
>supposedly friends with that are every bit as horrendous. Some
>of our secret operations resulted in much higher loss of life
>and property. Does it enter into anyone's head along with
>chest-beating righteous anger that some of the anger and venom
>directed toward us is not without cause? Do we understand that
>our rhetoric is roundly condemning as utterly beyond the pall
>actions that portions of our own government have committed, are
>committing and plan now to commit even more egregiously? Some
>of what is proposed as curative would include a variety of even
>more ambitious covert activities around the world and even
>within our own borders by some of these same players and any
>undesirables they may see fit to influence, use or recruit.
Well said, Samantha.
>Have we learned a damn thing from the history of using such
>methods?
Apparently, and unfortunately, not. The U.S. has declared for itself a
"righteous war" to prevent from having to ask itself the questions you so
eloquently asked above. And it looks as though it has convinced the
American people to do the same.
I say again....What an absolute, damn waste. lnnocent lives lost for
nothing. An unaffordable lesson paid for dearly, but not learned. And
yes, even an enemy can teach you something.
A changed world alright, but will it be an improved one?
>Does anything seem a bit cockeyed about this sort of
>"solution"?
>- - samantha
>------------------------------
Which is why I've taken a break from posting here recently. I'm getting
the feeling my return was premature.
Take care,
James....
"What you do unto others, you do unto yourself"
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and
crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures
to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."
-Q, Star Trek:TNG episode 'Q Who'
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