From: jim bell <jimbell@pacifier.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 04:50:05 +0800
To: Brian Davis <jf_avon@citenet.net>
Subject: Re: Hallam-Baker demands more repudiations or he'll write!
Message-ID: <199609261713.KAA02040@mail.pacifier.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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At 10:49 AM 9/26/96 -0400, Brian Davis wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Sep 1996, Jean-Francois Avon wrote:
>
>> On 25 Sep 96 at 5:59, Brian Davis wrote:
>> 
>> > I disagree that that will be the response, but you should be willing
>> > to allow one group of people to fight fire with fire.
>> 
>> But generally, it has been found a much better solution to fight fire
>> with water, and this is why I am not convinced of the ideological 
>> effectiveness of AP, although I don't doubt it's operationnal 
>> effectiveness at all.
>
>
>If by "operation effectiveness" you mean some people will be killed, I 
>agree.  I also agree with the fire/water comment (maybe in more ways than 
>one!); my comment related to my belief that AP-supporters shouldn't 
>complain about especially draconian measures taken against them by 
>governments, given their modus operandi.

I think you totally missed Jean-Francois' point:  Turn your last statement 
around, and that's how _I_ look at the operation of governments:  
"Government supporters shouldn't complain about especially draconian 
measures taken against them by AP, given their modus operandi."

I for one would welcome a debate on just such an issue.  Remember, to 
justify the status quo you need to defend not only the comparatively-free 
governments of a handful of western nations, but in fact each and every 
government on the face of the earth.

Don't think you can just say, "This government is sorta okay," because what 
I am proposing fixes all the other governments on earth.  You can't support 
the maintenance of an oppressive system most everywhere else, simply because 
(arguendo) they "sorta" got it right, here.  (And I'd argue against that 
last claim!)

Besides, I've long ago given up the idea that the leadership of the US will 
really, truly attempt to promote freedom around the world.  No, they won't.  
They will continue to support the thugs.  The problem they have with 
overthrowing the thugs is that "what goes around comes around," and they're 
well aware that they're gonna get kicked off their throne once the precedent 
is set with a few dozen foreign governments getting replaced.


Jim Bell
jimbell@pacifier.com