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From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: re: Death to baby killers, NOW!
Message-ID: <1581@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Jan-86 15:41:58 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1581
Posted: Fri Jan 24 15:41:58 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jan-86 22:33:25 EST
References: Upon request <202@aero.ARPA> <483@whuts.UUCP> <1566@ihlpg.UUCP> <498@whuts.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 35

> Bill Tanenbaum ignores the unfortunate realities of Middle East
> politics when he says:
> > ---
> > Obviously irrelevant to Kaddafi.  The elimination of Botha would do nothing
> > to change South Africa's policies.  The elimination of Kaddafi would certainly
> > change Libya's.  Also, the blowing up of those refineries is an act of war
> > against Angola, not terrorism.
-----
> Why would Khaddafi's assassination change Libyan support for Palestinian
> terrorism?  Given that Libya joins Syria, Iran and other Arab governments
> in such support isn't it obvious that such support is independent
> of one man?
>  
> The same reason you say Botha's elimination would do nothing to change
> South Africa's apartheid policies applies to Libya as well - because
> the reprehensible policies are supported by the government in general
> and not just one man.
>             tim sevener   whuxn!orb
-----
Tim Sevener ignores the reality of Libya.  The present policies of Libya
are clearly due to Kaddafi's personal idiosynchratic view of the world.
Iran's policies stem from a religious fundamentalism which goes far deeper
in Iran than Khomeini himself.  Syria's policies come from Assad's pragmatic
perception of Syria's and his own self-interest.  Assad's replacement
or Khomeini's replacement could easily be worse.  (No other Mid-Eastern
governments that I know of support Abu Nidal's brand of terrorism, although
others support Arafat's quite different brand.)
	I don't know what Kaddafi's replacement would be like, but I'll
give you 10 to 1 that it's a great improvement.
	Disclaimer: I do not advocate the assassination of Kaddafi.  Such
an act by the U. S. would have drastic repercussions.  However, with Idi
Amin and Pol Pot out of power, it's hard to think of anyone else whose demise
in itself would do more good.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan