Thursday, October 20, 2005
gun ship diplomacy
'Gun ship diplomacy' was a once practised maneuver where one country would sail a warship into the territorial waters of another country to announce its intent to intrude itself into that country's affairs by force if necessary if certain demands were not heeded. Nowadays we just send in armies, usually preceeded by rocket and bomb attacks. Sometimes war is declared, but not usually. Sometimes it is justified, sometimes, sad to say, not beyond a shadow of a doubt. When we take the time to
examine the extent of our involvement in war-like activities since World War Two, it boggles the mind. There was Korea, Granada, Cuba, Panama, Iran Contra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanastan and now we have Iraq. Of course the 9/ll attack on the World Trade Center cannot be attributed to one particular country so there is'nt anyone to decare war against except terrorism in general. In dealing with this new enemy there is no telling where it will ultimately lead. No one can reasonably dispute our right to defend ourselves against fanatical and suicidal Jihads or deny our right to root them out and destroy them. The one nagging thought that prevails, however, is why we, more than any other nation on earth, have had so many conflicts in so many places over the past 50 years or so. Being top gun may be gruel for the ego, but it can sure put us in a whole lot of harms way. Staying out of other people's business might have worked for us once. I'm afraid that option is long gone.
George Morin
Auburn
examine the extent of our involvement in war-like activities since World War Two, it boggles the mind. There was Korea, Granada, Cuba, Panama, Iran Contra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanastan and now we have Iraq. Of course the 9/ll attack on the World Trade Center cannot be attributed to one particular country so there is'nt anyone to decare war against except terrorism in general. In dealing with this new enemy there is no telling where it will ultimately lead. No one can reasonably dispute our right to defend ourselves against fanatical and suicidal Jihads or deny our right to root them out and destroy them. The one nagging thought that prevails, however, is why we, more than any other nation on earth, have had so many conflicts in so many places over the past 50 years or so. Being top gun may be gruel for the ego, but it can sure put us in a whole lot of harms way. Staying out of other people's business might have worked for us once. I'm afraid that option is long gone.
George Morin
Auburn
