RE: [Marxism] LESSONS IN CAPTURE, RELEASE OF BRITONS, by Jim Lobe

["Mark Lause" <MLause@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I always hesistate to make predictions about decisions made in secret.
After all, I'm one of those who assured everybody that the ruling class
would probably not be so stupid and short-sighted as to invade Afghanistan
and Iraq, because that would only end in a long and bleeding occupation.

Surely, I reasoned, anyone who had passed a half-way decent history course
at some point would see that.

Amazing what they choose not to see and how little reason seems to have
entered into their calculations.

However, the decision about Iran has to take into consideration other
factors that didn't enter into play in the earlier choices...notably the
fact that these other two fiascos have taken place.  In the end, it's a
question of how confident they are in continued public acquiescence in the
face of all of this.  That confidence seems to be much lower than it was.

Finally, I think that the emphasis on Iran may be largely a matter of
Democratic posturing....  It lets some of them oppose something they don't
see the Bush administration as seriously trying and strengthens their tactic
of posturing before the public, at home and globally.  For others, it raises
an issue that emphasizes their advocacy of an aggressive action that the
Republicans haven't taken.

Solidarity!
Mark L.






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