<do you recall pacifists' opinions of the Mutually Assured Destruction policy?>
Yes, and I think pacifists make a fundamental tactical mistake, when they try to convince the world to immediately start worshipping a God of Love (= Turn the Other Cheek). Today, almost the entire world worships War Gods. I think the job of pacifists today, is to convince the world to switch from their War Gods, to a God of Justice (= Eye for Eye, strict reciprocity, defensive wars allowed). Once that is achieved, then, perhaps after several generations have passed, Love Your Enemy has a chance of wide acceptance.
So, I agree, that promoting unilateral disarmament during the Cold War, was a mistake, and pacifists probably harmed their own cause by advocating it.
The history of Marxist nations, is that if we leave them alone, they gradually mellow, and eventually abandon their bloody ideology. On the other hand, if we threaten them militarily, then the Marxists champion nationalism, and their power is cemented. If we look at the example of Iran, it looks like the same thing will happen with the equally bloody ideology of Islamic Fundamentalism. What they are advocating simply doesn't work; all we have to do, is stand aside, protect our own citizens and soil, and they will self-destruct. Just like the Soviets. |
