At 01:48 AM 12/09/2001 -0700, Samantha Atkins wrote:
> > Retaliation of course will make much of the population of the US feel good.
> > But will guarantee yet another
> > cycle of internecine conflict. Unfortunately i cannot envisage the current
> > administration, considering
> > the mood of the US population, taking any other course of action.
> >
>
>I hate to say it but I don't see how any other course of action
>would accomplish anything except to say "kick us, we won't kick
>back". The response should be surgical to take out the problem
>without a lot of extra unneeded vengeance and saber-rattling.
>But it should be made very clear that no group can do things
>without swift and costly consequences. We cannot not act
>because we fear more attacks. We must act if we fear more
>attacks and act to lessen their likelihood by taking out key
>players who could launch such an attack.
I can see a *very* positive effect of not hitting back.
If the US follow the trail to the culprits and bring them to justice
legally USA would be seen as impeccably just and even-handed. They would
remain the victim in the tragedy. Sympathy would be with USA and the poor
civilians who suffered (and continue to suffer) from this terrible act.
If, however, USA goes off half-cocked firing blindly at all comers then the
pain of the people in the WTC will be overshadowed and, worldwide, less
people will feel sympathy. Worse, those who get struck but were innocent
will be the next round of terrorists to kill more US citizens.
To avoid over-reaction would be to help defuse the whole thing, make
everybody feel safer, and turn world opinion massively against the
terrorists. The bad guys would lose in a big way. But it would have to be
followed up with softening foreign policy. USA has done some despicable
things around the world. Australia is no angel here either (Bougainville
makes me moan).
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Q. What is the similarity between an elephant and a grape?
A. They are both purple... except for the elephant.
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