* LeeB (thnx!) has updated our Global Strike Force map again. click on the icon on the right for more. (many locations are approximate to protect the innocent) - lemme know if you want to join in.
LeeB:
"Have you noticed how we have the American Talibangelists surrounded? "
6 comments:
Anyone attacked has the right to defend themself; it's the 'pre-emptive defence' that's the war crime... among others...
(LeeB: the new dot's perfect. Any more perfect and I'd be looking up to make sure I wasn't in an eclipse! Thanks!!)
Anyone attacked has the right to defend themself
correct. of course. was israel 'defending' itself by launching a war in reponse to a 'kidnapping'? and even if we do call that 'defense', and even tho we understand and accept 'the RIGHT to defend' - was the 'defense' smart/wise?
WooHoo!
Thanks, Don . . .
Few years ago I was involved in drug policy disputes, and got used to attacks by pro-harsher-senteces folks. Their most used line was "Needle exchange? So you just want us to surrender [at this fight against drugs]?"
Both this argument and "Israel has right to defend itself" got their rhetorical power from the same idea - ie. the alternatives are either a) to fight (harder), or b) to surrender to invading enemy horde, and helplessly watch as they pillage our land, rape our women and massacre our people. Perfect example of logical fallacy of false choice.
But it's difficult to just tear the thing apart, as people get so jumped up and defensive due to powerful imagery of supposed "surrender" - "remember what happened in Germany! You're in favor of that, eh?".
Sooo, I doubt that any right-to-defender feels in any way ashamed. Sure, the outcome could have been better - but at least they're alive. Think of the alternative...
"you happy? feel defended? anything you'd do differently? did you get what you thought you wanted? happy with the cost?"
The Israelis and AIPAC and their apologists around the world have had a rude awakening. If they think this is bad, wait to see what happens if they initiate military action against Iran: this Lebanese disaster will seem like a cakewalk by comparison.
Teemu - yuo are exactly right. it's a neat trick, if abhorrent. another example (that has thankfully fallen by the wayside) is 'so you dont think the world is a better place that saddam is out of power?'
miguel - let's hope they learn the lesson and decide against invading iran (i'm not confident) - coming back to Teemu's point - the lesson is just as likely to be 'we need to drop way more bombs and kill way more people' (which may very well include the nuke option)
Post a Comment