----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Henwood" <dhenwood at panix.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 12:27 PM Subject: Re: Anniversary
> Luke Weiger wrote:
>
> >I think the leaders of democratic states (and those of a fair number of
> >despotic ones, as well) care about the potential deaths of many thousands
or
> >millions of people. However, that concern can be easily overriden by the
> >ends said leaders are pursuing. In the case of Afghanistan, banishing
the
> >Taliban and eradicating Al Qaida didn't necessitate killing untold
numbers
> >of civilians. Nor, I hasten to add, did such an outcome appear likely to
> >the more sober analysts.
>
> Sober = imperial apologists? Mass starvation didn't happen. But at
> the time it was reasonable to worry about it - and that's what aid
> workers on the ground were saying.
>
> Yes, "untold numbers" of civilians died in Afg in the literal sense -
> we don't know how many, and if anyone does, they're not telling.
>
> Doug