From: Ramez Naam (mez@apexnano.com)
Date: Wed Feb 19 2003 - 10:25:04 MST
From: MaxPlumm@aol.com [mailto:MaxPlumm@aol.com]
> If our actions in Iraq are based on "selfish" issues of
> national interest rather than the "spreading of freedom and
> democracy" and the end result is still a better quality of
> life for the Iraqi people, I don't see what the problem is.
> Altruism didn't motivate our actions in World War II or the
> Cold War and its many proxies, yet millions nonetheless benefited.
Here's the problem. If we're not committed to establishing democracy
in Iraq, we may be content to install (or allow to come to power) a
"friendly dictator". That serves US short term interests just fine -
it stops Iraq from getting nukes. But in the long term, friendly
dictators increase terrorism against the US and destabilize the world.
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