Re: Re: This makes me proud of my President

On Sun, 7 Oct 2001 [email protected] wrote:

> This is improper reasoning, the only reason to stress that it is an
> illusion is if it really is an illusion.  I have not yet seen evidence
> either way as to wether the aid is or will actually be airdropped and
> thus do not know if it is illusory yet.  I am sure you are in a similar
> situation, unless you happen to have a security clearence which i
> lack.  As far as any of us know this IS a real effort by the much
> revieled government of the united states to help teh people of
> Afgahnistan, something it should have done long ago.  If it is not,
> then you can proclaim it an illusion, but just because you think it
> will ease people conciences is not a reason to assume it is false.

Let's assume the best.  The US and its allies airdrop as much food and
other supplies as possible.

Unfortunately, airdrops are not sufficient.  They are innacurate (if the
food drops a mile away from a starving village in the mountains it may be
useless).

The real problem is that the US precipitated the worsening of the
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by threatening (and the carrying out)
attacks.  If instead, we had responded after September 11th by stepping up
aid efforts, that would have been something else.

But the fact is US threats increased the number of refugees, made it more
dangerous for aid workers, and pretty much stopped the flow of aid.  To
response with too little, too late is simply that.

> this is not quite clear to me.  What is doubtful about the court's
> intentions? and are you opposed to increased international law or in
> favor of it?

Depends which court.  The Hague Tribunal is certainly suspect (see
http://www.zmag.org/Sustainers/content/2001-07/05herman.htm).

> First of all, i am personally insulted by the your assumption that we
> in the UNited States are a lazy and inactive people that trust
> everything our government tells us and assume that our nation is the
> most morale and the source of all good in the world.  Many, if not most

Insulted or not, that's how the world often perceives the US.

> the strongest anti-globilization movements in the world right here in
> the united states.   I would also like to ask what democracies we have
> killed in order to help these companies?

Nicaragua, Chile, Iran, and Guatemala for starters.  I'm sure there are
others.

> once again, if it actually helps people, then they will be convinced,
> if it does not, then myself and my intellectually lazy conformist
> bretheren will try to get them to do something thaty will.

And how are you going to find out if it helps.  Mainstream media will of
course spin the government line, which will no doubt harp on about how
wonderful and humanitarian we are.


-dave


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