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

To: skinowski who wrote (116364)	10/7/2003 10:55:02 PM
From: Bilow	Respond to of 281500

Hi shinowski; Re: "I also realize - and find it fascinating - that apparently no one has ever changed their minds on issues as a result of these discussions." The people here tend to be fairly heavily partisan one way or another. That's why they're here. It's the swing voters that matter in this sort of thing. By the way, your note does illustrate how difficult it is for the US to change opinions in the Arab world. Especially while we keep killing them. -- Carl

To: skinowski who wrote (116364)	10/8/2003 9:09:23 AM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 281500

I am gratified by your comments. I stay away myself for brief periods, and try to keep my participation "clean" and productive. It is probable that people start with being able to defend their positions better (the sharpening you notice), and only in the long run have a change of heart, as events overtake their views. Positions are not staked out primarily due to direct knowledge or mastery of analysis, but according to the authorities that are trusted, whether for analytical framework or as a source of facts. Some of us know more about foreign affairs, and more about the long term history of various conflicts, but even then, it matters if we are basing ourselves on mainstream theories and news sources or not. In a funny way, one of the first things we have to figure out is whom to trust...........