: I've come to similar conclusions (although I'd defend American involvement against the North Vietnamese - simply because we were more successful in Korea doesn't make Ree into any more of a Democrat than Diem. 'Cept most of the time the Yanks were fighting, erm, the South Vietnamese, and 'pacifying' the region- and doing everything possible to avoid a diplomatic sollution.
:Frequently, U.S. involvements go sour out of ignorance rather than malice; their opponents are much more likely to act from pre-meditated barbarism.
So, you go to war with a people, but you are moral, they are immoral, they drag you down to their level...hmmmm.
: What to do? I've virtually given up on Communists - they're worse than Nazis, and much more self-righteous. Most soft socialists I've encountered have a vicious anti-capitalism streak that makes it very difficult to carry on conversations through.
I should have thought 'anti-capitalist' was a definition of socialism though...
: We are essentially a moral and principled country, a model for the world.
Which includes enacting genocide against the Victims of Saddam Hussien- very fucking moral.
:If we had more Mandelas instead of Castros, political change would be far simpler.
Mandella always, and he never renounced it, supported Armed struggle as the means to win, he was more a Gerry Adams than a Castro, but certainly he was no pacifist. Further, the change in south Africa has been slight, the concessions given by the ruling elite have been a means to keep effective economic aprtheid in place, the ANC has backed away from any truly radical programme, poverty is still vicious and endemic.
: I'll adopt the stance of my government. It has a fairly good track record after all.
Supporting the Khmer Rouge is a good record?
:When I take pride in South African affluence, despite apartheid?
SA is cripplignly poor for most people.
I put it this way, imagine the policedidn't exist round your way- instead you had one neighburhood organised a vigilante band- now, sometimes they go into some neighbourhoods, do over teh dope dealers, stop the gangs and do good, in other neighbourhoods, they go in, and brutalise the local kids, back cerain gangs to help them keep the peace, anddisplay a double standard. WOuld you support such vigiliantes?
Further, if as you say, Leftists are acting out of self-interest, is thereno question in your mind that US Gov Ltd is acting likewise?
