X-Message-Number: 18146
From: 
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 10:44:17 EST
Subject: policies

Phil Rhoades (#18136) writes in part:

>I think a more sensible US foreign policy (not supporting the Taliban/bin 
Laden 
>in the first place) would have quite likely not led to Sep 11 at all. 

Every person and every nation in retrospect has made many mistakes. In some 
cases the mistakes should have been evident beforehand; in other cases the 
decision was correct even though the outcome was bad; and in still other 
cases the decision was irrelevant to the outcome. As far as this terrorist, 
war, and foreign policy discussion is concerned, I think at least two things 
are very clear:

1. The U.S. has probably the cleanest, most honorable and humane war and 
foreign policy record of any powerful country by far.

2. For protection against terrorism, it's a better bet to kill or disable the 
terrorists than to try to placate them.

From a longer term perspective, of course, immortalism can help. With the 
prospect of greatly extended life, you are much less likely to take desperate 
or reckless actions.

Robert Ettinger  

 




Message #18136
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 21:17:16 +0000
From: Philip Rhoades <>
Subject: Re: Number One
References: <>

Bob,

> Message #18133
> From: 
> Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 10:39:41 EST
> Subject: Number One
> 
> George Smith (#18131) writes in part about the divide between
> self-centered
> motivation and social-centered perceived ethics.

. . . 
> As to one of the immediate tactical questions mentioned--support of
> current
> American anti-terrorist policies or opposition--it's easy. Support of
> strong
> anti-terrorist policies is advantageous on all counts.

I'm not convinced this is true - I think a more sensible US foreign 
policy (not supporting the Taliban/bin Laden in the first place) would 
have quite likely not led to Sep 11 at all . .

A silly foreign policy will quite likely encourage 5,000 US civilian 
casualties every ten years or so . . not to mention the 
thousands/millions of non-US civilian casualties . .

R&LL,

Phil.
-- 
Philip Rhoades



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