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 (134700)	5/28/2004 12:41:15 PM
From: Jacob Snyder	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

<Example: Failure to confront Communism in 1917, and failure to confront Nazism during the '30s.> This "forward defense" idea only works, because you know how it turned out. Through your retro-spectra-scope, you can know where we should have invaded. "Forward defense", and "preventive wars" depend on an ability to predict the future, an ability nobody really has. Further, your example displays an ignorance of history (yet again). In fact, we tried to do exactly what you advocate, to strangle Communism in its cradle. In 1917 and 1918, Germany occupied large parts of the former Russian Empire: Poland, the Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. As soon as WW1 was over, the victorious powers (UK, US, France) sent soldiers into Russia from all available ports, to fight the Communists. We also aided the anti-Communist armies, with money, weapons, diplomatic support. All this accomplished, was convincing the Russian people that the Communists were the champions of Russian nationalism. I know in advance what your response will be. When force fails, your one and only solution, is to use more force. All this would have accomplished, is more dead Americans and dead Russians. They would have outlasted us, as Russians have a near-infinite willingness to suffer for their cause, and a near-zero tolerance for foreign soldiers on their soil (even if those foreigners with guns piously and constantly proclaim they are bringing "freedom" to the Russians). The failure of force, to destroy Communism in 1917-1921, has close parallels with the current failure of force to destroy militant Islam. Here's what will work: Message 19470090