Lex said:
Admitting mistakes has never been the strength of those in power. And when have you ever heard a Cowboy apologize for shooting the wrong man?
What bothers me is the half-assness of it all. Be HONEST. Say, We want to control (directly or indirectly) this oil. Go over there. Blow shit up. Take the fucking place over. Cross your arms. Scowl. Dare anyone to try to take it back. But don't do this half-baked, PC, bully bullshit. UGH.
Lex, I love and respect you. You know that. And I hear where you're coming from, though I detect a little bit of overstatement in what you just wrote, for rhetorical effect.
But there are plenty of Americans who DO talk the way you just wrote, and mean it. They believe an American's right to fill the tank of his Escalade on borrowed Sino-Japanese money is more important than the right of an individual non-American to cast his vote as he sees fit.
We're pretty much blowing shit up, scowling and daring anyone to take Iraq back, and a large number are taking up the dare. The US is fighting the best it can, and still finds it tough to win. The only thing half-assed about the war effort is how the administration is under-resourcing it. And that's not the result of PC pressure...or PC "bullying" as you put it. That's the administration facing the grim fact that the might-makes-right version of "bullying" isn't the most cost-efficient, nor necessarily successful, way to get what you want.
A democratically elected government, behaving in a way that we like, is cheaper than having to occupy someplace--so let's not get carried away thinking that our commitment to "democracy" stems entirely from PC motives.
Whether the motives you ascribe to the US are true or not, really doesn't matter at this point. Large parts of the world have decided they agree with you, Lex. Being "honest" about it would have little impact, politically or militarily.
I agree that the PC solution to world problems is often ineffectual and bogus. But that ain't the case here. Flexing your muscles doesn't guarantee success, either.
What do we do, then? How about
use less oil?
HB8
P.S. I don't often get involved in debates like this on the LPSG, because it can undermine the supportive atmosphere. But I do it with you, Lex, because I'm sure we'll have a thoughtful exchange. In truth, we probably agree on many things.