Decius wrote:
] adam wrote:
]
] ] So direct stategic reasons, real politic is the
] justification
] ] and moral questions are by the way. It sounds like a
] ] justification of imperialism to me. Like Nixon in China.
]
] Justification, no. We're foisting our will on other people for
] our benefit, but we're not enslaving them. We can't. The
] general public has enough power to prevent that from occuring.
] Its a kinder, gentler imperialism. The imperialists can only
] get away with stuff the people don't understand. And the
] people have internets where digital cam pics of prison abuse
] occaisonally get leaked.
]
] Imperialism really isn't the same animal in a world where the
] nation state is in decline, and thats why these questions are
] still on the table.
]
] I'd call this Regan and the MX missles more then Nixon in
] China. Bush isn't talking. He's shooting, and he wants
] everyone to know that he is prepared to shoot even more.
]
] ] If the result produces a state and world that is less
] ] violent then is Pax Americana justified. Do the ends
] ] justify the means?
]
] Not just less violent, but less violent and more free. A
] dictatorship is just violence waiting to happen. Its like
] potential energy. We want to escape the cycle of war and
] oppression by building institutions that respond to bad
] leadership non-violently, with things like elections.

Its a kinder, gentler imperialism.

So the USA has crossed the Rubicon. Imperialism is ok if it fulfills your definitions of freedom. Capitalism, US corporations, the American vision, a unipolar world. If the UN objects then use the veto or pretend no clear UN mandate is necessary because the French might veto. Democracy and freedom when it suits you but what about Guantanamo. You pick and choose your freedoms. Will the USA invade again if a government which is unfriendly to the US is elected, that throws out the US corporations and renationalises the
oil industry. The true test of freedom like freedom of speech is when they say things you disagree with.
I hate dictators. What right does a US administration have to dictate to the world. Like Bin Laden violence is the tool of those who feel they cannot win an argument by rational means. I believe in liberal democracy and believe like Gandhi it can win the war on terrorism by satyagraha ('"truth force"). We hold these truths to be self evident. That is how you win the war on terrorism not by imperialism.

RE: Iraqis crowd the polls | csmonitor.com