RE: Machiavelli (Was: Iraq)

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sun Jan 26 2003 - 18:36:25 MST


Kai writes

> Am Samstag, 25. Januar 2003 20:26 schrieb Lee Corbin:
> > My favorite Machiavelli trick was how a ruler could solve
> > a frequent 15th century problem. [...]
> > It would be extremely difficult for most of the readers of
> > this list, certainly including me, to look a trusting
> > subordinate right in the eye and lie like that, planning
> > his death, and using him as a pawn.
>
> Using the Taliban against the Soviets or using Saddam against Iran seems
> to be a similar concept.

Of course. You don't think that Tony Blair and Margaret
Thatcher tried to "use" the United States to advance
their own agendas? You don't think that Schroeder "uses"
the U.S., France, and everyone else that he can think of?

Time you realized that for you or me to look another person
in the eye and "use" them in this way, while morally wrong,
is something that *nations* do to each other as a matter of
course. They're all big boys now. And have been so for
literally centuries.

Lee



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