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 : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JakeStraw who wrote (9246)	4/9/2004 12:07:43 PM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 173976

Jake, In October, 2002, someone sent me Lewis Lapham's (editor of Harper's) The Road to Babylon wherein he cited historical evidence against the war Bush was so intent on starting. Athens self-destructed when it sent troops and money to fight a losing war: Lewis Lapham recalls Thucydides' "History of the Pelopponnesian War" wherein Athens corrupted its democracy and brought about the ruin of its empire by foolishly attempting the conquest of Sicily... In this case "the city of Syracuse threatens to seize the Athenian colony of Segesta", an actual threat. Using what Bush would later describe as "forward deterrence" and "anticipatory self-defense" Alcibiades claims that they are "easy prey, weak and badly governed". Thucydides "assigns to Nicias (in response)" In going to Sicily you are leaving many enemies behind you, and you apparently want to make new ones there and have them also on your hands...if we did conquer the Sicilians, there are so many of them, and they live so far off that it would be very difficult to govern them. It is senseless to go against people who, even if conquered, could not be controlled, while failure would leave us much worse off than we were before we made the attempt... The next best thing is to make a demonstration of our power and then, after a short time, go away again. WE all know that what is most admired is what is farthest off and least liable to have its reputation put to the test...The right thing is that we should spend our new gains at home and on ourselves instead of on these exiles who are begging for assistance and whose interest it is to tell lies and make us believe them, who have nothing to contribute themselves except speeches, who leave all the danger to others and, if they are successful, will not be grateful, while if they fail in any way, they will involve their friends in their own ruin. "The argument fails to make an impression...'the few who actually were opposed to the expedition were afraid of being thought unpatriotic if they voted against it, and therefore kept quiet.'" The assembly declares for war ...Athens musters an invasion...in July 415 and sets sail for its destruction." excerpted Lewis Lapham's "Road to Babylon" Harper's October 2002.