News, Info, and Opinion from the Spawn of Satan (DLC-PPI)

[Bradford DeLong]

>BDL, channeling DLC:
>
>>  >. . . Given the overwhelming documentation available about the
>>  >identities of the September 11 terrorists, this finding suggests
>>  >something well beyond entrenched mistrust of the United States.
>>  >It points squarely to the severely limited access of people in many
>>  >Islamic countries to anything like objective news coverage by
>>  >independent media.
>
>It's not obvious to me that the mistrust is founded on
>simple lack of information.  Chances are that many
>would reject "objective news coverage" if it was
>offered to them.  Look at how many people watch
>the Fox network, for instance, relative to PBS.

So what do we do with people who would rather watch the Al-Jazeera 
miniseries, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," than "We Are the 
World"?

>Strictly as a practical matter, not knowing anything about the
>economies of the relevant countries, I suspect that imposition
>of 'economic opportunity' in the shape of trade liberalization
>would stir up even more opposition, at least in the short run,
>since I imagine there are plenty of petit-bourgeoisie and
>peasants, and few proletarians.

Come on. Suspend the provisions of the Multi-Fiber Agreement that 
apply to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the rest of the Middle East... and 
quadruple their textile-industry employment, exports, and output 
within a year. Add on lots of trade adjustment assistance for the 
Carolinas and LA, and it seems a win-win for everyone...


Brad DeLong

>
>The only operational component of the Lieberman formula is
>the use of force.  All the rest stands to be illusory, eventually
>(perhaps quickly) resulting in dire consequences from the
>use of force.

This is the dilemma of Graham Greene's _Quiet American_, isn't it? 
All the hopes for development, prosperity, and "third ways" quickly 
prove illusory...


Brad DeLong