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

To: tekboy who wrote (35350)	7/30/2002 1:30:15 PM
From: KLP	Respond to of 281500

Thank you tekboy..One of the prime obligations of a good journalist is to examine BOTH sides to a question. That they didn't bother, might in fact, say volumes. (Unless, of course, it was a 2 part piece....) These times are grave times, and the responsibility of everyone, both inside our US government, and the US citizens as well, is huge. Our citizens must stay informed, and it is difficult to be informed, with only one side of any question to be examined. In my wanderings this morning, I found this again...it is something to contemplate: "Those who forget the past..... are condemned to repeat it."

To: tekboy who wrote (35350)	7/30/2002 2:02:29 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Report: Bin Laden alive, preparing attack From the International Desk Published 7/30/2002 5:44 AM BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 30 (UPI) -- Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network will carry out a series of operations in August and the suspected terrorist mastermind will appear in a taped recording soon after that, the London-based Ash Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Tuesday. Sources, who the newspaper said were close to bin Laden's supporters, told Ash Sharq al-Awsat al Qaida had completed plans for its operation. Targets were not mentioned, however. "Preparations are under way and what remains is only the execution," the sources said via e-mail. They also said bin Laden was well. "Sheikh bin Laden is alive and will appear in a videotape after carrying out this operation to confirm that he is still alive and will continue fighting the United States," they said. Bin Laden has been missing since the United States and its allies ousted Afghanistan's Taliban regime, which gave al Qaida shelter in the country. The sources said bin Laden would shed light on "the success of al Qaida in containing attacks launched by the United States, on rebuilding and reorganizing its ranks ... and carrying out attacks in various countries of the world against U.S. interests." Ash-Sharq al-Awsat also referred to reports that al Qaida had been planning an attack on U.S. interests to coincide with the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. On Monday, the Saudi newspaper said bin Laden's eldest son, Saad, had taken over as leader of al Qaida. Copyright © 2002 United Press International ______________ tb: Right now I would trust most of The New York Times journalists MUCH MORE than the folks running our government. scott@cynical.com

To: tekboy who wrote (35350)	7/30/2002 3:27:49 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

the problem with that Tyler and Stevenson piece from the Times is that it doesn't consider what the costs of not taking on Iraq now might be. Seems to me that's the obligation of the Bush folk to make that case. However, I completely agree with you that all of us thinking about what sort of position we wish to take in these arguments need to think about that argument as well. And the Times editorial positions need to reflect that as well. But it's not clear to me that a one article analysis needs to do that. As I recall the article, they took into account remarks to the effect we could afford it. So it struck me as a classic example of an analysis piece with a point of view which considered the opposite point, i.e., we could afford it, in the text.

To: tekboy who wrote (35350)	7/30/2002 9:18:24 PM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

if we don't, then pretty soon the vast majority of the world's future energy supplies may come under the control or influence of a nuclear-armed barbarian. Given the current state of Iraq's armed forces, that seems highly unlikely.

To: tekboy who wrote (35350)	7/30/2002 9:57:41 PM
From: paul_philp	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Tekboy, It is the heart of the issue. Does Saddam pose a real and imminent threat? If he does poses a threat then the cost of not attacking him are very high indeed. What is the test to be used to determine the degree of threat? If the threat is real, why is difficult to convince other allies to participate? President Bush has some work to do to persuade the American people that attacking Iraq is neccesary. A war in Iraq would drive up the price of oil and would inflict some degree of economic loss for people. The majority will accept sacrifice if they feel that the threat is real, tangible and relevant to them. If I were GB2.0, I would start building the case right after the 9/11 anniversary. We will watch the footage again, hear interviews with firefighter widows. Passions will be stirred. The voice in the back of my head keeps saying, "That area is a quagmire, careful what you ask for." Paul