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 (47785)	9/28/2002 7:27:23 PM
From: Ish	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

<<(or at least a megalo-maniac bent upon ruling over a united Arab nation by force)??>> The huge Arab nation and direct it against the US?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (47785)	9/28/2002 8:31:07 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Well John.. you've had 12+ years, just like the rest of us.. Are you saying that he's NOT a madman (or at least a megalo-maniac bent upon ruling over a united Arab nation by force)?? No, I'm actually talking about something quite different. Pollack argues that American policy makers can make mistakes judging Saddam's intentions by "mirror imaging" his presumed future actions. Pollack means by that that they assume he would act as they would in the same situation. Repeatedly, according to Pollack, he has not. Pollack argues the source of that interpretive failure is multiple: Saddam repeatedly misreads US and UN intentions; a structural information flow in Iraq in which Saddam is most likely to hear only what he wishes to hear; a recklessness on his part; etc. As for the more general claim you put forward that Saddam is a "madman," I don't see that gets us anywhere in terms of discussions of policy alternatives.