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From: rmarti@sun.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Air raid on Libya
Message-ID: <3542@sun.uucp>
Date: Mon, 21-Apr-86 16:08:54 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.3542
Posted: Mon Apr 21 16:08:54 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Apr-86 22:41:04 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 39

In article 1829@ihlpg.UUCP, Bill Tanenbaum writes:
> ...  But I am INFURIATED by those such as Mr. Bormann who call such
> a response terrorism  ...
> ...  If only the raid jolts the Europeans out of their lethargy and
> inaction, they will have a positive effect.
 
It doesn't matter what you call it, the fact remains that American planes
bombed innocent civilians.  How long does it take you to understand that
this is NOT the way to deal with terrorism?  How long does it take you
to understand that this kind of utterly inconsiderate operation is
counterproductive, not only as far as terrorism is concerned, but,
more importantly, as far as the picture of the United States in the
world is concerned?  Yes, you are abslutely right that the raid jolts
the Europeans out of their lethargy:  Never since the Vietnam war have
anti-US demonstrations in Europe been so big as they are right now!
 
But then again, Americans -- well, at least the 70% who voted for Reagan
and the 77% who support Reagan's actions against Libya -- don't really
care so much about what the rest of the world thinks of them:
Dissenters are just a bunch of terrorists, communists, wimps, and/or
a**holes anyway!  If necessary, America can always sponsor some
"freedom fighters" (what a euphemism!) to topple unfavorable regimes,
or -- if the former is not a viable option -- just drop a couple of
bombs on them to bring them back in line with The American Way of
seeing things.

You think these statements are ridiculous?  Well, lets see:  Remember the
Bay of Pigs invasion 25 years ago?  Vietnam?  The toppling of Allende in
Chile 1973, maybe?  Or what about Nicaragua?  Maybe Reagan's remark about
ruling out the Soviets by nuking them away will do?  Or do you remember
former Secretary of State Alexander Haig's comments about the possibility
of a nuclear war confined to Europe?  (He was in office at that time.)

It'll be interesting to see how you will explain all of the above points
away, as I have no doubt you will.  The problem is that words will not
be able to convince me, only past and future actions of the Reagan
administration will convince me one way or another.

--Bob Marti