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From: david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Election Result:More War in '84! (Ungarbled)
Message-ID: <414@fisher.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Nov-84 09:36:07 EST
Article-I.D.: fisher.414
Posted: Mon Nov 19 09:36:07 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Nov-84 03:01:44 EST
References: <20300001@hpfcla.UUCP> <331@whuxl.UUCP> <332@whuxl.UUCP> <6177@mcvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Princeton Univ. Statistics
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Pardon the repost, but this may be easier to read:



Piet has an extraordinarily misinformed view of the Pentagon.  What
fuels their desire for the acquisition of more weapons is not the
warrior's desire for victory, but the bureaucrat's desire for status.
If the Pentagon were really interested in war, rather than prestige,
they wouldn't strip expenditures for "combat-readiness" and
maintainence in order to fund new systems of dubious reliability and
value.

Of course, Piet prefers to interpret the Pentagon's actions as
undiluted evil.  This suggests to me that Piet may have something very
important in common with Reagan--the desire for the world to appear in
black and white.  Ignoring those shades of gray is as dangerous as it
is emotionally satisfying. 

If the Netherlands were to deploy the Corps it has committed to the
defense of the FRG in the FRG, it could reduce the chance of nuclear
war by increasing the chance of containing a possible Soviet invasion
conventionally.  If Piet's country would merely fulfill its
obligations within NATO and station its troops where they might be
called upon to fight, the Netherlands could substantially contribute
to the prevention of nuclear (and conventional) war.  Of course,
kicking the Pentagon is easier and far cheaper...

					David Rubin
			{allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david