Posted by Declan on March 22, 2006, at 23:16:13
In reply to Re: Bush's news conference and Helen Thomas » Declan, posted by Jakeman on March 22, 2006, at 21:29:44
Hi Jake
My answer to the American questioner would have been 'Do Afghanistan and make it a success, so that it reflects on the USA creditably.' But I'm sure that wouldn't have been enough. Nation-building was not on the agenda. A lot of this is irrational. Even (especially?) using the 9/11 attacks and the response as cover for other reasons may be irrational. I'm coming so close to the edge here that I'd better leave it there.
But I'm reading about WW1 at the moment and am struck by the paranoia (prior to war, fear of encirclement in particular, therefore we better strike first while we can, that sort of thing), I guess you might call it, all round. Unfortunately the paranoia proved to be justified.
Declan
poster:Declan
thread:623105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060322/msgs/623540.html