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nice to see the veneer coming off some of the conservatives here, the veneer that enabled them to be confused with people who have any interest in even the most fundamental principles of the united states, which was set up against the arbitrary exercise of power, which countered arbitary power with an insistence of the rule of law. what the ustwo set wants is simple: the summary execution of saddam hussein.
the reason for this:
he is guilty of the crime of opposing the united states.
the public execution of saddam hussein is apparently understood as being something that would legitimate american actions---when any idiot knows that an arbitrary execution of the leader the charges against whom center on the arbitrary use of power would function to delegitimate american actions in a context where further delegitimation seems close of impossible.
such an execution would be the perfect mirror of american politics conservative style--lots of empty talk about demoracy floating around a fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law.
but it's worse than this:
a fair trial would also be a problem for the americans because it would expose directly american complicity in hussein's coming to power, remaining in power, and carrying out the human rights abuses that he is on trial for having committed.
so obviously a show trial is a better option tactically, but raises the other problems outlined above at the very least.
and so even here you have a microcosm of the world engineered for itself by the bush people: unnecessary, illegitiamte policy/actions complicated by incompetence and self-deception resulting in the creation of no-win situations for the americans.
meanwhile, this entire scenario grinds the discourse of democracy to powder, reducing it to the official language of arbitrary rule american-style.
what a fine situation.
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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear
it make you sick.
-kamau brathwaite
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