Methinks the subtlety now approaches that of 'Enigma'

Post #11,140 by Ashton 10/1/01 5:33:43 PM Reply	Methinks the subtlety now approaches that of 'Enigma' (the breaking of that device - achievable mainly via the combination of sloppy machine operators, a logical error in design + (greatly) one man: Alan Turing). See any Alan Turings around? We always have Strangelove around, of course. Adding to above excerpts: All I want to say for now is that the under-reaction to the Taliban by three successive United States administrations is one of the great resounding disgraces of our time. (Shocked to see him use 'affect' for 'effect'.. in one place. Oh well.) ....... When did Washington last demand that Saudi Arabia cease its heavy financing of these primitive and unscrupulous organizations? We let the Algerians fight the Islamic-fascist wave without saying a word or lending a hand. And this is an effort in which civic and social organizations can become involved without official permission. We should be building such internationalism whether it serves the short-term needs of the current Administration or not: I signed an anti-Taliban statement several months ago and was appalled by the eerie silence with which the initiative was greeted in Washington. (It ought to go without saying that the demand for Palestinian self-determination is, as before, a good cause in its own right. Not now more than ever, but now as ever. There are millions of Palestinians who do not want the future that the pious of all three monotheisms have in store for them.) In spades re Algeria - even I wondered then, how - our vaunted 'democracies' could elide the events there? - precisely as we later managed to ignore Rwanda. I fear that we are not up to the subtlety, not via Dubya aided by his counsels - and ultimately they, pretty much untempered: will push the buttons. Nor are 'we' of a temperament to face, as does Hitchens here, other related skeletons collected since ~1947. Amidst the crisis we shall see only the danger; overlook as is our wont - the opportunity. It is not going to be pretty, or satisfying; worst of all - it may well be ineffective: that which we do in next few months. I think the clock is turned back to October 1962. A. ...stand beside her, and guide her..
Post #11,213 by gtall 10/2/01 8:44:42 AM Reply	Re: Methinks the subtlety now approaches that of 'Enigma' Ashton, I think you are being a little pessimistic here. So was I. I think Egypt could be moved much closer to Democracy. I see no hope for Saudi Arabia. Egypt does have some elections, and they do have a parliament. It might be the case that countries need an incubation period where they practice some democracy without necessarily having to drop their britches and go streaking. Russia is a good example of what happens in the latter case. Their internal governing mechanisms were not capable of supporting the freedom the won all at once. The courts and the rule of law need at least to be established. And I do mean real law, not the Shari'a law of keeping the mullahs in power. The West might attempt to make a democracy in Afghanistan after kicking Taliban butt. But it will take years, at least two generations of relative calm and focusing the peoples' attention on education, working toward common economic ends, achieving a good fit between the relgious institutions and the government. And I think your assessment of Bush is way wrong, but you already know that. Gerard Allwein
Post #11,312 by Ashton 10/2/01 5:14:57 PM Reply	Way wrong? Let's be clearer here. I have acknowledged that he read the speech well. No, that's not sarcasm: he did so with feeling and that suggests he had some concept of the meaning of the words. Still, many were hyperbole: "Win the War on Sin/Evil" sort of hyperbole. EZ to say.. Meaningless. What we can rarely determine, without close personal familiarity - or in the case of 'public life', a pattern of actions demonstrating what the speaker meant by the words, - is, "what does he really umm 'comprehend' of world history, how homo-saps dodge&weave" and what does he Really take to be ~ "American values that can never be on the table - for expediency, or just plain Goodness (Security)"? I give him more benefit of doubt than before his speech. I hope your larger confidence in this man, is not misplaced. We all lose then - and I damn well don't need to be Right (umm..) and 'win' this wonderment about Who He Be, y'know? Cheers, Ashton living in those interesting times, sorta
Post #11,413 by gtall 10/3/01 7:58:42 AM Reply	Re: Way wrong? Ashton, I'm not trying to win the argument over whether he's up to snuff for the job or not. But my confidence in him is a result of observing that he got the best (in my opinion) people for the cabinet jobs even though many of them "outranked" him when it came to experience. And he doesn't appear to need to dominate them in order to see that his penis is right sized for him...unlike a former previous president. Gerard Allwein

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