I think that's fair to say, all in all ... certainly there have been, and there are now, worse nations to live beside ... so huge though, three hundred millions, that's probably more souls than were on the planet in roman empire days ... such fantastic wealth, military might beyond imagination .... adds up to great power, and we all know the danger in power pointed out by Lord Acton
'Mission creep' is a new term but an old concept ... essentially the story of Viet Nam really ... what if Truman had responded amicably to Ho Chi Minh's entreaty in 1945, and talked the french out of trying to retake Indochina as a colony? ... or told them to stay out, more appropriately ... it would be a different world now, better or worse we cannot know for sure, but i suspect better ... it takes a lot to use power well, you have to know how and when and where to use it, and on whom to use it, and how hard, and you have to know when and where to refrain from using it ... let's hope Dubya et al get it right, the alternative could be harsh ... one planetary religious war can spoil your whole day |
