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From: pollack@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Misery Desires Company... - (nf)
Message-ID: <3624@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 2-Nov-83 02:39:44 EST
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Posted: Wed Nov  2 02:39:44 1983
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#R:uicsl:16300025:uicsl:16300030:000:1924
uicsl!pollack    Nov  2 01:27:00 1983

"What I would do..."

in response to LLenoir..


Regarding Lebanon, I would not have paid Israel to invade all the way
up to Beirut in order to install a new "government" whose first task
was to invite in a "peacekeeping force". Had Israel only occupied its
25-mile buffer zone, we would not be in this quagmire. The US entirely
underwrote, both militarily and economically, the Israeli invasion.
We secured their southern border with the Camp David agreement by
buffering the Sinai, and exponentially increased arms shipments
at least 8 months before the invasion.

Regarding Grenada (and Nicaragua), I would have dealt with the
progressive regimes when they came to power, offering American doctors,
lawyers, teachers, farmers, and engineers with which to build their
country. I would have encouraged them to not form an elite military
force, but to use Costa Rica's example of a small police force to
protect property and lives.  In exchange, they would pay a basic fee
for our military umbrella, allow limited and rapidly
depreciated investment in tourism (like China has started), and not
form military alliances with the USSR or non-recognized MNL's.

Undoubtedly, Nicaragua and Grenada would have much rather been allied
with the US then with Cuba.  I would have encouraged this alliance,
rather than having waged the economic and psychological warfare with
them as we have for the past 3 years, trying to push them towards
Marxist militancy and/or anarchy.

Currently, you probably feel strongly patriotic and want to "support
our boys" and rally behind Reagan.  You should know, however that major
military involvements are not spontaneous reactions to world events,
but are carefully planned for years in advance. 

I, for one, having watched the plan for a "Resurgent America" unfold
over the past few years, cannot rally behind Reagan.  If I were in
power, I would not have chosen the same path to war.

Jordan