Comments on: Means and Ends http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/means-and-ends/ European Opinion Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:39:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: zizka http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/means-and-ends/comment-page-1/#comment-3300 zizka Thu, 15 Apr 2004 10:50:08 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=531#comment-3300 OT, but no one has to look for out-of-print books any more. Bookfinder.com can find anything in the major European languages on sale anywhere. OT, but no one has to look for out-of-print books any more. Bookfinder.com can find anything in the major European languages on sale anywhere.

]]> By: Scott Martens http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/means-and-ends/comment-page-1/#comment-3299 Scott Martens Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:35:13 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=531#comment-3299 Georg - while I remain against the war, I certainly agree that now that it is done, the best possible course of action if one really wants the stated ends is to clean up the means. That certainly involves substantially abandonning the US monopoly on Iraq's political decisions. Djilas' book specifically condemns the communists for fighting to keep a monopoly on power. I think the same logic applies here - both to the US monopoly on power in Iraq and to the US monopoly on decisions about regime change globally. Georg – while I remain against the war, I certainly agree that now that it is done, the best possible course of action if one really wants the stated ends is to clean up the means. That certainly involves substantially abandonning the US monopoly on Iraq’s political decisions.

Djilas’ book specifically condemns the communists for fighting to keep a monopoly on power. I think the same logic applies here – both to the US monopoly on power in Iraq and to the US monopoly on decisions about regime change globally.

]]> By: Cosma http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/means-and-ends/comment-page-1/#comment-3298 Cosma Thu, 08 Apr 2004 18:06:38 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=531#comment-3298 The old CP (USA) slogan "Communism is 20th-century Americanism" leaps to mind... The old CP (USA) slogan “Communism is 20th-century Americanism” leaps to mind…

]]> By: Georg http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/means-and-ends/comment-page-1/#comment-3297 Georg Thu, 08 Apr 2004 17:20:44 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=531#comment-3297 I believe the argument offered by the more honest defenders of the invasion is rather that "a decent state in the heart of a drifting Arab-Muslim world" is an indispensable MEANS for gaining greater control over the region, so as to achieve the end of reigning in the production of terrorists and terrorism. But you still have a point. Addressing the present situation, it may well be that very ugly means are required to prevail in Iraq and to avoid a civil war. Still, in my opinion the US should emphasise much more the "carrot", make commitments to really substantial financial development aid to an Iraq controlled by Iraqis rather than Americans. Even if this may require compromising on their vision of complete control over an Iraqi puppet state in the future. I believe the argument offered by the more honest defenders of the invasion is rather that “a decent state in the heart of a drifting Arab-Muslim world” is an indispensable MEANS for gaining greater control over the region, so as to achieve the end of reigning in the production of terrorists and terrorism. But you still have a point.

Addressing the present situation, it may well be that very ugly means are required to prevail in Iraq and to avoid a civil war. Still, in my opinion the US should emphasise much more the “carrot”, make commitments to really substantial financial development aid to an Iraq controlled by Iraqis rather than Americans. Even if this may require compromising on their vision of complete control over an Iraqi puppet state in the future.

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