Rod, I agree: the rant about terrorism, of which the Israeli-Palestinian is
only a subset, has blinded the very people to tell us (again and again!) how
concerned they are about it. In the US, the result of the rant is that the
government is, generally, not even asking "why" there are terrorists out
there doing what they do. We have simplistic explanations like Samuel
Huntington's that occlude the real motivations. This means that these folks
not only don't understand what is going on, but, perhaps more importantly,
cannot formulate effective strategic responses.
The slippage of their confidence in their simplistic explanation can be
tracked linguistically: e.g. 'Osama bin Laden', now, according to the US
government, was never out primary target. And the most recent slippage is
the US administration's new position that one doesn't have to have a
cessation of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before proceeding
to political negotiations. Though this has caused consternation in the
Sharon/Likud portion of the Israeli government, it is, in my view, a
profoundly healthy and helpful step by the US government. Bush got this one
right. Of course, there are still many more steps that need to be taken.
After all my criticism of Bush in these last months, it is a delight to be
able to say this.
Lawry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk
> [mailto:owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk]On Behalf Of Rod
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 7:40 AM
> To: moq_discuss@moq.org
> Subject: Re: MD ignorance and the rule of emotion
>
>
> Gavin
>
> well said!!
>
> It is to my great dismay that I have been reading the thread on Israel and
> the US, I think it has reached the point where I am unlikely to ever take
> seriously again those people who rant on about terrorists, because they
> can't think for themselves anymore, and they are quite happy to let others
> dictate their opinions, like little puppets.....
>
> The spin doctors are obviously hard at work in the US at the moment.
>
>
> Where will it all end
>
>
> Rod
>
> on 11/4/02 10:59 am, gavin gee-clough at gavgc@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > the israel thread has proved two things:
> >
> > 1) many intelligent people on this list are entirely ignorant of the
> > ultimate causes of this continuing problem. they have not yet
> realised that
> > the media is distorted to an orwellian degree in their
> countries. they are
> > stuck in a contrived dichotomy which is perpetuated by emotive rhetoric.
> >
> > 2) until intelligent people take a *disinterested* look at the
> historical
> > facts of the conflict (and also at who gains from its
> continuance) we shall
> > be none the nearer to its end.
> >
> > i say this with heartfelt anguish and sincerity:
> > WAKE UP!
> >
> > gav
> >
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