RE: an arteest

    Daniel, I was discussing Style, not Politics. (I'm deeply sorry if
    I hurt your patriotic feelings bringing out our dead. Awfully
    improper breach of decorum. Sorry again.) But since you ask.

    You think that Third World problems are my own responsibility.
    Which is true to a great extent, I grant you that.

    But why, if I am readily disposed to criticize the motivations
    of my own governments, shouldn't you do the same? You know,
    it's your kind of military chant that is most revealing about Dein
    Kampf. Patriotism, my friend, is the refuge of the mediocre. I
    have seen that you are much more intelligent to fall in that trap.

    Let me pose a case to you, who have the right credentials to clear
    this up, and perhaps you'll be so kind as to explain it to me.

    As we speak, there is a Marine base in one of our provinces. It's
    allegedly a temporary joint training program with the local military
    forces to enforce the "war on drugs". Which is crap, of course.
    Drugs, my ass. But let's suppose that we take that to be the true
    motivation.

    Now, it is clear that my government betrayed the mandate of its
    people. Our fault. Most of us are against this policy. Of course,
    this kind of disagreement between representatives and represented
    happens in all democracies. Even yours, I hear.

    But now your embassy has requested diplomatic immunity for all
    the Marines (were you aware of that?). It hasn't been granted so far.

    I ask you: why, if our problems are our sole responsibility, should
    you want to have the permission to commit crimes and leave without
    trial? Let us suppose that a drunk Marine (because he's a Seabug who
    'builds, fights, parties all night') shoots me in the head.
(Incidentally, I
    am a student, sport a long beard and sometimes sing the Adhan out
    of sheer musical pleasure, so I might be an eligible target). Or let us
    say that he's not drunk, but he has to keep up the score with his Grand
    Dad, who fought at Omaha Beach (probably drunk, who knows; I
    would have). Or let us say that he's so proud (and always will be) of
    bearing arms, and has a slippery trigger. What's his bussines here, or
    anywhere else?

    Don't get me wrong. In the Third World we sleep safe knowing that
    you are Defending Democracy (well, it is safe as long as it is in other
    parts of the Third World; otherwise one dies). But does that look like
    a sound foreign policy? Impunity for intervention? Don't you think
    Jim's position is much more sensible than yours? Or even JPB's
    skepticism?

    Oh, bother. This is pointless. Let's do Salinger once again.

    Saludos,
    Diego D.

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Received on Thu Apr 10 11:40:06 2003