Re: "We're Changing the World"

In a message dated 4/26/04 12:11:11 AM, Edlerfrank1@xxxxxxx writes:

<< "We're changing the world." 
(page 4 of the NY times transcript).It is mentioned a couple of times in the 
question-and-answer part of the discussion as in " And a free Iraq is going 
to 
be a major blow for terrorism. It'll change the world." (page 8 of the 
NYTimes 
transscript)

I am curious about how you interpret this phrase "We're going to change the 
world" ? How do you see it as a non-imperialist statement? >>

i'm not invited, but can i  have a shot?

1. a concrete change is that we have not suffered a domestic tragedy; 
regardless of the morality, it has been an away-game ever since 911.  terrorist 
elements have had to do their deeds on the run.  and the fact that iraq has not had 
courtroom proof of harboring 911 actors is immaterial; the people shooting in 
the last month didn't turn anti-yankee in the last year.  saddam is just the 
one bully in the bar we called out before he could sucker punch us.

2. another concrete change is that now we are perceived as the uncertain 
element for the first time by potential terror-sponsors.  libya is an amazing 
example.  when have we ever had a foreign policy which resulted in a country 
giving up its mass destruction weapons programs without us firing a shot at it?

3. we are about to get the hell out, for better or worse, in july.  
imperialists don't abandon the conquered territory.  that is one major concrete change 
in the history of nations.

4. with the expanded definition which seems implicit in the use of 
"imperialism" in the question, a big so what?   the tyranny of words is afoot here.  we 
are stuck with the defense of our nation and people, call it what you will.   
the legacy of our perhaps over-protection for whatever policy israel has 
adopted in the last fify years.  for better or worse, we can't let go of the 
tiger's tail. even if we abandoned israel today, it would gain no friends, and would 
only convince the world that we cut and run after what is in the history of 
nations a minor scratch.  we would then become a real target for the contempt 
of the fanatics who aren't about to change.


bob


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