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a short rebuttal to Stockholder's "I Was Wrong" Write-offApr 15 '03 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Ahem. (Stockholder, who supported Bush's attack on Iraq, has sponsored a write-off for those who disagreed with him, in which anti-war protestors can eat sh!t and/or die. At least one person (the lovely and honorable AinsleyJo) has taken him up on this, which I respect. It is Stockholder's premise I choose to rebut.) ********* My own views on the war were publicly stated in advance: that 1. Saddam Hussein is a bad guy worth removing from power. 2. The United States would be able to remove him from power easily without much bloodshed. 3. I still didn't want the United States taking part of it as long as George Bush was in office, because I had faith in George Bush to replace Saddam Hussein with someone, or some no-one, just as awful. As happened, for example, when Bush won the war in Afghanistan. Point #3 is the crux. I will happily participate in an "I Was Wrong" write-off two years from now, if: Iraq has held open elections; it is run by a freely-elected Iraqi who has demonstrated himself not to be a U.S. pawn; and it nonetheless benefits from both free speech and liberal U.S. domestic aid. I mean, I would seriously _like_ to be wrong about that part. I used to believe that of course everyone would do good things if someone just explained the logic of goodness to them correctly. I still want to believe that, even of Bush, Cheney, and Wolfowitz. But until I've watched Iraq's moment of sunshine extended for a couple years, I'm gonna figure, hey, I'm 2-for-2 so far. Not terribly fond of condescension, - Brian ********** (Please read this review's comments section for the thoughtful words of AinsleyJo and of John Darnielle. My very long take on the topic was here.)  |
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