[LINK] OT: Howards anti-terrorist mailout

[Chirgwin, Richard]

> We should not support unilateral action against Iraq by 
> America and allies
> because-despite the fact that Saddam should not be running a 
> country-America
> has never overthrown a government and replaced it with a 
> better one. 

Well ... agree generally, but I guess Nazi Germany and prewar Japan may
count against this statement!

Now, about the "make yourself a target" thing. The hard question is "how far
can individual morality be applied to governmental responsibility?" 

Saying "bugger you Jack" is a great wrong at an individual level; but a
government must think differently. The question, IM-(very arrogant!)-O is
this: "under what circumstances can a government attract danger to its
citizens?" 

Richard C

> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@zdnet.com.au]
> Sent: Monday, 10 February 2003 13:03
> To: link@anu.edu.au
> Subject: Re: [LINK] OT: Howards anti-terrorist mailout
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On 10 Feb, Chris Maltby wrote:
> >
> > > Actually, I'd prefer it if they chose a foreign policy which
> > > reduced the risk of Australia becoming/remaining a target.
> 
> I disagree with this sentiment. If something is right, we 
> should do it,
> whether it increases our chances of becoming a target or not. 
> The attitude
> that we shouldn't do something because it may result in some attempted
> attack on Australia is 'bugger you, I'm allright thanks Jack" 
> on a national
> level. That's not really a country I want to be a part of.
> 
> We should not support unilateral action against Iraq by 
> America and allies
> because-despite the fact that Saddam should not be running a 
> country-America
> has never overthrown a government and replaced it with a 
> better one. They
> have always been worse. I'm hoping Afghanistan will be 
> different, but it's
> too early to tell.
> 
> James
> 
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