Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans
for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be
limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI
all over again?
TV here quoted America re 23 killed at the football match as -
friendly fire by Iraq
Almarst wrote :"The US did not enter the WWII to protect anyone
but its own interests as defined by the American ruling class -
financial, oil and military-industrial. As it did in all its
following and prior wars."
Actually the US had had a tradition not to intervene foreign
affairs until the Japan bombed the Pearl Harbor.That was the will of
the founding fathers of the nation.
Shortly after the WWII ,the US fighted a war against the
communist invasion in Korea.
Was this to protect the US ruling class? Really do you think so?
You seems to study again!
Bob is really a energetic person and boasts his stamina at
various sites.
I found a very interesting post posted by Bob in the Guardian's
Talks.
**
It seems that he wants the world back to the ancient two-bloc
world again.
If not,there may be another Bob in the UK.
mazza9
- 10:30am Jun 21, 2001 EST (#5664
of 5676)
Communism does not "work" They had it right when they said,
"..each system has within itself the seeds of its destruction" Of
course, Communism did not contain those seeds! Yeah, right!! What
are those seeds? PEOPLE! The Soviet Union continuously strived to
produce the "New Soviet Man" What a fools errand.
The United States was founded on the simple belief that man is
NOT perfectable. Therefore, our systems and institutions are
tailored for this inherent weakness. Yes we did "accept" slavery,
destruction of the American Indian, and many other "things" but you
know what? We also recognize our weakness and at least try to "fix"
things.
Today, there are nay sayers who find there self worth in making
statements in which they measure themselves against someone and then
draw the conclusion that they are better than that individual
because in hindsight they find that person wanting. President Truman
dropped the A Bomb on Hiroshima. He had to make that decision in
August of 1945 with the information at hand at that time. Today many
"intellectuals" crow that they wouldn't have done what he did
therefore, they're the better man. Fooey.
I guess that I'm what you call an optimist. I know that mankind
will continue to improve and that we the US, can try to lead by
example. If we had really wanted to dominate the world, who could
have stood against us in 1945. All President Truman had to say was,
"Okay, Everyone disarms by Jan 1, 1946. You will accept our
occupying troops, cloth feed and house them. You will accept our
military governance of you territory. We may have access to you
resources and industry and you have no say. Comply or you nation
will be nuked."
This didn't happen. In fact, we established the UN and tried to
re establish the Wilsonian concept of a world body who would
"govern" at the international level.
I believe that the US is the best hope for the future and those
who have another candidate/system please come forward.
LouMazza
dirac_10
- 11:13am Jun 21, 2001 EST (#5665
of 5676)
mazza9 - 10:30am Jun 21, 2001 EST (#5664 of 5664)
Rather spooky how close that is to my opinion. Either you are
deliberately mimicing me for some reason, or you are, needless to
say, very wise indeed.
mazza9
- 01:01pm Jun 21, 2001 EST (#5666
of 5676)
Dirac_10
Obviously the latter.
All kidding aside, I have a BA in History and MBA in Finance. One
of my courses was "19th Century Radical Thought". Studied Mazzini,
Marx, Lenin, etc etc. Even looked into the "communist/socialist
experiments here in the US. Oneida, Amana, and other names that are
now attached to dinnerware and appliances but began as communal
experiments. Every time I read about the "communist" propoganda
regarding the caring for the masses I look at the excesses of
Stalin, Mao Pol Pot, Castro et al, well you know the "usual
suspects" and I want to hurl.
LouMazza
rshowalter
- 01:02pm Jun 21, 2001 EST (#5667
of 5676) 
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
As midmoon said, I did write this:
rshowalter - 02:48am May 25, 2001 BST (#3 of 932)
Communism had important aspects that WORKED -- and
the Russians and others in the old eastern block need to go from
WHERE THEY ARE with WHAT THEY KNOW WORKS and get a system that
works for THEM.
What does that have to do with anyone killing anybody else? I
didn't say the communist system, just as it was, in all aspects. I
said that it had important aspects that worked for the people
involved. And also said that the people involved had to go from
where they were, with what they knew how to make work -- and deal
with their situations, as they are.
Doesn't everybody?
If "the American way" is hostile to that -- then different people
differ about what "the American way" is.
All the industrial countries I'm aware of, in the world today,
have "private business" aspects and "collectivist aspects" -- at
different levels -- mixed. Very many people in Russia wish they had
some economic aspects of the Soviet Union returned. Given what has
happened, who can blame them. Why should the United States object?
And who is talking about "two blocs" -- it is more complex than
that.
_ _ _ _ _
There needs to be a lot more "live and let live" in the world.
With adequate defenses when defenses are needed -- but
not vast forces, governed by dehumanized "geopolitical" logic that
ignores human needs, set to impose ideas and ways of life on people
who deserve a great deal of leeway to make their own way, so long as
it doesn't injure other people, and other groups.
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