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From: alan@allegra.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Look at the facts.
Message-ID: <2021@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Nov-83 15:43:59 EST
Article-I.D.: allegra.2021
Posted: Thu Nov 17 15:43:59 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Nov-83 02:09:21 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 56


	From: tims@shark.UUCP
	Newsgroups: net.flame
	Subject: Re: Grenada and views on US/USSR


	Most american "conservatism" is more "look-at-the-facts-ism",
	while liberalism seems to be be less firmly based in world
	reality.


Well, if we're talking about net.flame, the conservative contributors
have not been quick to look at the facts.

You'll notice that when a point is made about US foreign policy, this
usually results in a lengthy tirade from one of the conservatives about
how bad the Russians are.

Now, I don't like the Russian government, and I tend to agree with many
of the points made in such tirades.  However, I get tired of reaching
the end of such an article, and realizing that the original point was
never addressed.

I'm not talking about one particular article, or one particular person.
This has been a consistent tactic.  I don't see how you can call such
evasion "look-at-the-fact-ism", unless you mean "look-at-that-fact-over-
there-long-enough-to-forget-what-we-were-talking-about-ism".


	Anyone who can look at the USSR over the course of recent history
	and not realize the difference between US motivations and soviet
	motivations in international policies should take a good look at
	the differences between life in a communist country and life in
	a democratic and/or capitalist system such as the US, Japan, West
	Germany etc.  These differences can be directly applied when
	discussing the 	differences between soviet and US foreign policy.


I certainly agree about the differences between life in the USSR and life
in the US.  Please notice which country this article is coming from.  You
don't see me packing my bags, do you?

You say these differences in internal policy can be directly applied to
differences in foreign policy.  Why?  This is the crucial point in your
argument, yet you offer no explanation, no evidence.  I thought we were
going to talk facts.

Several of us have submitted facts which suggest that US foreign policy
is motivated by self-interest, often at the expense of the freedoms and
rights of people in other countries.  If you have any facts indicating
that our foreign policy is motivated by principles, ethics, or respect
for human rights, we're waiting to hear them!


	Alan S. Driscoll
	AT&T Bell Laboratories