April 11, 2003
A Request To Commenters
This blog welcomes negative comments, and would like to refrain from replying to such comments, letting the posts' arguments speak for themselves.
At the same time, one must ask what is the point of the two camps standing at opposite ends of the room screeching at each other? This blogger is, frankly, not terribly interested in carrying on a dialogue with those already opposed to this war and/or to U.S. foreign policy in general. While an afternoon of mutual stroking may feel great, it's not, when all is said and done, going to be very productive.
On the other hand, a dialogue between opponents and proponents of U.S. foreign policy is desperately needed -- now more than ever. So, Bill Whitlock, David Williams, and others taking the piss: please feel free to comment to your hearts' desires. However, if you're not going to leave a real e-mail address, please also copy your comments to myself (find the e-mail address in the right-hand pane of the blog's main page).
Thanks.
Posted by Eddie Tews at April 11, 2003 11:52 PM
Comments
why? you seem to have found them here just fine. I didn't leave my real email address because I figured my mailbox would've been inundated with emails to which I couldn't possibly have time to respond. we'll have to get by like this. cheers. -- Posted by: Bill Whitlock on April 12, 2003 01:12 AM
certainly there are american policies i dont agree with, so dont think im just some war mongering hate machine. i post the way i feel. i mean, isnt that what the comments section is all about?
the fact is, as much as ive read on this site, there is not a single article that made me sit back and actually think, "hey, this makes sense to me".
somehow, youve become caught up in this whole left wing idealogical dream land where everything is sunshine and blue skies - without even taking consideration into any type of opposing argument. there are two sides to every story, but you like to see it as the left side rules.
i didnt post to cause trouble, but the jargin youve written on here is almost humorous. i am just trying to understand how people can read this and believe it is good journalism. -- Posted by: david williams on April 12, 2003 02:52 AM
I've read as much of these posts as I can stomach and have to say that I agree very much with Bill Whitlock and David Williams. You both sound like pretty smart, well-informed guys to me. As one of them said, I don't think you're giving the real issues a fair chance, Eddie. Sounds to me like you made up your mind when this first started boiling that you were anti-war, anti-death. In the real world, a stance like that is not realistic. But what do you guys think about the situation that might be brewing with Syria? I sure hope we don't have to hand them their ass, too, because then it really will look like we're trying to remake the middle east to our liking. At the same time, if weapons or Baath party officials are found to be receiving asylum in Syria, they're not going to leave us much choice. They have already openly said that they support "brotherly Iraq". Why can't people realize that the United States just wants to live in peace without the threat of terrorist attacks? That's all we want. We don't covet any else's land. Like Colin Powell said in an interview once, (paraphrased here): "Over the years, America has sent many of its fine young people into danger in foreign lands to fight for other countries, and the only amount of land we have ever asked for is enough to bury those who did not return." If I can play devil's advocate here, it seems to me like the United States wants other countries to realize that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is something that all peoples should enjoy, not just americans. while it may be "wrong" to forcibly impose our ideals on other sovereign nations and displace regimes who demonstrate that they do not believe this, isn't it more wrong for those nations to oppress their people? how can anyone argue that people should have to live under regimes which do not allow them to pursue happiness fairly, for everyone? -- Posted by: Jack Seward on April 13, 2003 05:21 PM