Ok.
But if we take the position that nobody can be criticized in international affairs because everyone has unclean hands, then nothing will ever get better. And we'll end up with situations where Putin can murder his enemies in foreign countries with impunity. Oh wait... :-/
I don't accept that.
It's a cynical way of shutting down criticism and weakening (fallible) human institutions that are the only way we have to make things better.
The USA and Putin's Russia are not equivalent.
IMHO.
I was exposed to this type of argument in college when (~ 1979) I went to a few Spartacus Youth League meetings to argue with them about Iran and Afghanistan. "The Russians were right to invade because the former government and tribes there make their women wear veils and tuberculosis is rampant!!1 And the USA has unclean hands too, look at what the CIA was doing in Iran!!" I didn't find it persuasive then, and I don't now.
YMMV.
Of course, we need to do better. But Putin has his own agency.
Cheers,
Scott.
I don't accept that.
It's a cynical way of shutting down criticism and weakening (fallible) human institutions that are the only way we have to make things better.
The USA and Putin's Russia are not equivalent.
IMHO.
I was exposed to this type of argument in college when (~ 1979) I went to a few Spartacus Youth League meetings to argue with them about Iran and Afghanistan. "The Russians were right to invade because the former government and tribes there make their women wear veils and tuberculosis is rampant!!1 And the USA has unclean hands too, look at what the CIA was doing in Iran!!" I didn't find it persuasive then, and I don't now.
YMMV.
Of course, we need to do better. But Putin has his own agency.
Cheers,
Scott.
