I'm on dial-up access. I can't see the video. But:
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"This is relativism at its worst. As though deliberately targeting innocent civilians to establish control through fear can be equated to liberating an oppressed people so that they can determine their own future through a democratic process." ccv
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I'm glad you made this statement ccv.
I agree with you part way.
I don't view a Peace Corps worker as being as despicable as a murderous terrorist.
But the U.S. military is for the defense of U.S. interests. It's not for toppling sovereign governments, and spreading democracy at gunpoint; an obvious absurdity.
This Bush administration decided to promote democracy in the Middle East.
"Be careful what you wish for." Now there are a few democracies in the Middle East. And this Bush administration doesn't like them.
So now the U.S. is back to selling arms to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, & Jordan; none of which are democracies.
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"As far as the "imposing democracy on others" argument. I think this is rather like imposing prosperity or security or freedom. It is hardly an imposition when the majority of the people desire these things. And we are going to facilitate their having them." ccv
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Rather than me opining a direct response, I'd prefer to share one of the U.S. Founder's perspective on it.
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"American people are friends of Liberty everywhere, but custodians only of their own." John Adams
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Bush has put the U.S. in the preposterous position of the U.S. wanting Iraqi -freedom- (for lack of better term) than the Iraqis do.
That's why we're wearing flak vests, and toting field packs, working multiple extended tours, over-working our own military to "the breaking point" (that's not my term, that's a term General Barry McCaffrey [ret.] used), while the Iraqi legislature has taken the month off.
A nation's Liberty is worth whatever
its People are willing to pay for it.
Right now, WE are paying for it.
It is a catastrophe.
The U.S. was substantially better off with Saddam in power.
The region was more stable.
Global terrorism was better controlled.
The U.S. military had it's powder dry.
The U.S. treasury was $Trillions less in the red.
... and then there's the matter of the body counts ...