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Originally Posted by zen_tom
I think it's useful to be aware of the consequences of our actions. I think it's important in our laudable goal of improving life around the world to adopt the most useful tactics possible.
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Agreed, to the point we're able. That nexus of perfect compromise between all interests. I don't believe such a beast exists however, given the interests and assets involved. Therein lies conflict, possibly on the scale we see today. Doesn't mean I'll give blanket support but I do believe it's inevitable given some circumstances.
Leaders push for what they can given their assets to maximize gains, with
right and
wrong becoming little more than PR percentages. The best we can do as individuals is support our individual goals and minimize losses. Not much different other than scale.
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The post's title draws our attention to one of the articles authors' points - allow me to draw attention to some of the other ones:
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So this man states how much respect he used to have for America for its rationality and balance. How this expectation has evaporated in the face of America's actions.
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Not unlike an angry shoppers letter to Sears. "I've shopped here for 30years but am outraged you stopped sending your catalog." Did he really have respect for the U.S., or is this just another phantom loss? His list of offensive actions are tilted in the usual way, just as opposing statements usually are. Summarizing with the best spin. I'd color things as a bit more complex.
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He's so astounded by America's actions, that he feels the need to cook up this implausible story - because he's at a loss to understand otherwise.
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Is he?
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I certainly don't agree with his analysis, but I think it's important to recognise how worried one can become when the most powerful nation in the world appears to flex its muscles more or less indiscriminately.
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I'm at a loss for where he began. Is he mad at Israel and trying to support it, or mad about the war, in denial about 9/11 and looking for scapegoats? Was it a message for U.S. citizens unhappy with the situation, for his student audience? It might be interesting to delve into if I didn't have a meeting coming up. Cutting it short I have a very tough time digesting the media so full of political press releases. It rarely seems useful other than as a measure of political platforms.
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I wouldn't label myself as being 'left' - far from it. And I have to ask, why does raising an important point of principle get labelled as being leftist?
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Perhaps it isn't the principle so much as the assumptions? I'm not calling you leftist, but can see how your support of his points might seem so. My first take is the Zionist thing. I'm far from supporting the crap that's gone on surrounding Israel but when the professor starts blaming a "Zionist conspiracy" for 9/11 I have to question his credibility. Everything he says becomes suspect.
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Yawn on if you must, but I honestly don't understand how linking the left with the terrorists has anything to do with me, or this discussion.
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I _think_ it's more likely interests over there are using language that nod heads over here. That's a deep one.
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To put it simply, I am disagreeing with Ustwo's assertion that more war is the solution to the percieved problem of Islam. This man hasn't called for the death of any Americans. He's done nothing different i.e. labelling a group of people i.e. 'The Zionists' as the bad guys, to Ustwo labelling all of Islam as the bad guys.
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I'd say it's less about war being a pretty solution, but that war is the inevitable consequence of interests that cannot come to compromise. The final result may be changes that enable that compromise, at individual and societal levels. No doubt the costs are huge on all sides.
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The same could be said by those outside of America when reading articles by Anne Coulter, or those watching Fox News.
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True, and of any source colored by agenda. Do any exist that are not? I can't find them on my radio/television/magazine/blog...
Arg, reallly late now... m-u-s-t s-t-a-y o-u-t o-f t-h-i-s f-o-r-u-m...