Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (19906)	2/25/2002 2:48:13 AM
From: SirRealist	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

>>but it's not our sole responsibility to rebuild Afghanistan or secure it's present government.<< Wasn't that the same approach we tried before? Just because it's not our responsibility is insufficient. We must do it or accept the consequences all over again.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (19906)	2/25/2002 8:55:36 AM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Hawk, I understood the caveat about the UN and US troops. I should have added that. I've been doing a bit of thinking overnight and I find I'm moving in two different directions. First, Kaplan's argument about security as prior to democracy has led me to rethink my concerns in states like Afghanistan. Instead of thinking of the steps which need to be taken to get to democratic political institutions quickly because that would produce security and political equality; I'm now thinking of the steps which would produce security and stability which might, down the road, produce democratic political institutions. Big change for me. Second, your point about the UN as peacekeeper, can be expanded to see the UN as peacekeeper in order the better to enhance state building, security, and stability. If that is the point and if stable states are less likely to harbor the bin Ladens of the world, then it seems to me there is even greater need for the US to be a part of international bodies rather than it's current go-it-alone cowboy stance. Thoughts? John