“Something Other Than Democracy Updated” by Ken Silverstein Harpers Magazine
"Something Other Than Democracy Updated"
by Ken Silverstein
Harpers Magazine
I'm really on the fence as to whether Ken Silverstein is an idiot maggot, or actually has a clue. One things he seems to be really on top of, though, is how clueless the current administration is with regards to foreign policy -- particularly Middle Eastern foreign policy (rather ironic considering all the military activity there during this administration's term).
This short missive sums up a lot of what I've been hearing from that subversive Nabsy for the past few years. "We, the people" -- yanks, that is -- really seem to have no idea what's going on in the middle east. At the very least we could try and understand what the average person wants, because, funnily enough, it's pretty much the same thing we want: Safety and happiness, and a place to raise our kids in safety and happiness. Fairly simple desires. Nabs has a particularly interesting personal account of his encounter with the Hezbollah, but from the first time he ever told me the story he always provided caveats as to what they as a group are about, and how they're run. They're not generally in the business of creating terror, as a group. What they're about, as Silverstein points out, is looking after their own. Perhaps "We, the people", could learn something from this.
September 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
There are times I hate how right Godwin's Law is, because sometimes a reference to the rise of the Third Reich really would make an impact, except that constant references to the regime have emasculated it as a comparative subject.
September 15th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Well done for making me look up Godwin's Law. I'm shocked I never came across it before!
I presume the reference you're not making here has something to do with our current administration's penchant for taking over governments and "spreading democracy"..?
I suppose one thing about the Nazis is they make the current administration look almost -- almost! -- subtle in comparison.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:41 am
Actually, it was going to be about the similarities between Hezbollah and the NSDAP, and specifically about how two xenophobic militant groups came to genuine political power via the democratic process, and how that played out historically in the case of the Nazis.
I'm as surprised as you are that you've never come across Godwin's Law. Guess you never spent a lot of time in the non-technical areas of Usenet?
September 19th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Now, THAT is insightful commentary. Maybe you should approach ms Rice for an internship?