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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (27100)	9/14/2001 8:48:56 AM
From: jlallen	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

kholt, Make allowances for a certain amount of hyperbole (carpet bombing comments and the like) while the grief and anger is so fresh. America will do the right thing here. I am certain of it... JLA

To: Lane3 who wrote (27100)	9/14/2001 9:04:39 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

The talk about nuking Mecca was (somewhat surprisingly) asinine, as was the talk about carpet bombing Egypt and Syria. I do not see a direct relationship to your question, but if they were in the back of your mind, I understand better why you were troubled. Suffice it to say, no responsible party is terribly likely to go down those avenues. Retribution is simple justice. Some things cannot be allowed to pass without penalty, or we give up all notions of moral accountability. Retaliation is somewhat different, although it may be considered "rough justice". However, we set aside the question of tailoring punishment, and simply say that we cannot, for practical as well as moral reasons, let this pass. From that standpoint, it does not matter very much how we explain someone's action, we cannot let him get away with it. Also, in some instances, retaliation may violate proportionality. Since part of the reason for retaliation is self- defense, to discourage or destroy the capacity for further offense, we judge more in terms of what is needed to do the job, rather than trying to get the moral equation just right. An example of retaliation is the strategic bombing in World War II. We could not afford to allow the Axis states to bomb London or Singapore with impunity, and feel confident they were safe in their cities, although it meant the acceptance of deplorable civilian causalities. Anyway, that is what war is about. Of course, there is also the destruction of infrastructure, which is important, but men will be killed in the process regardless, and war is ultimately about breaking the enemies will. I am only concerned with the window of opportunity. I do not mind taking some time out to consider what is going to happen. But my sense is that we cannot afford much time......