Walzer on the Left

Luke Weiger lweiger at umich.edu
Sat Mar 16 18:40:08 PST 2002


----- Original Message ----- From: "Justin Schwartz" <jkschw at hotmail.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 7:56 PM Subject: Re: Walzer on the Left


> No point, Luke. I've explained to you that I don't trust the US in
> itsforeign and military policy,

It's true that you've stated and restated your distrust on several occasions.


> that I think it's so-called humanitarian
> interventions have been cynical and destructive frauds that have caused
more
> harm that good,

You must have reasons for thinking that... I'm just hoping they're better than those of other lefties.


> that I think its a bad precedent to turn it loose to bomb
> various axises of evil,

Whether it turns out to be a bad precedent is context and consequence dependent.


> that I favor diplomatic solutions and genuinely
> international action,

Surely your commitment to diplomatic solutions and international action breaks down at some point. WWII is one example.


> and that USD out of everywhere is as it always has
> been is the best rule of thumb. I would have made an exception for Rwanda,

Really? Is this a retrospective exception, or did you actually support intervention at the time?


> Chomsky said in the late 70s that the evidence about the KR was uncertain
> and that before anything could be reasonably confirmed, it was bruited in
> the press as another example of communist evil. Iyt happened that this
time
> it turned out to be an example of communist evil. But if you read his
> treatment of the early press and so-called scholarly coverage of the KR,
> you'll see he was right. He's said that in view of the later evidence, the
> early alarm shows that the KR was very wicked. For the rest, he was right
> about the early stuff, so he has nothing to retract.

If I recall correctly, he did doubt the plausibility of refugee stories that happened to be correct.


> The war is not nearly over,

If the US nukes Iraq, that's hardly a necessary extension of the war in Afghanistan.


> and I stand by my judgment. Or do you like the
> prospect of an endless war against everyone, now involving the prospect of
> tactical mininuclear weapons?

Yep, Justin, I can't wait to return to the state of nature.

-- Luke


>
> jks
>
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