Remember Sirhan Sirhan?

Blair Is Seeking to Curb Radicals Who Preach Hate
By ALAN COWELL
The new antiterrorism measures seem to nudge Britain toward policies adopted by the U.S. after the 9/11 attacks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/06/international/europe/06london.html?th&emc=th

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American memories are short. I have not noticed a single mention of the assassination of Robert Kennedy, our best presidential hope in 1968, by an Arab immigrant, Sirhan Sirhan: http://www.who2.com/sirhansirhan.html whose jumbled scribblings had indicated that he was angered by Kennedy's support of the U.S.'s provision of 100 jets to Israel.

Sirhan was not found guilty by reason of insanity because a defense 'expert' had cribbed his characterization directly from another case, which discredited his testimony for the jury. But Sirhan was obviously a nut. Those who carry out suicide bombings look to be similarly unstable younger persons subject to influences either direct (in most cases by dominating figures) or indirect cultic type aberrations.

The hazard in building cultural hate into a war against such enemies, as Bush and Co. (and Blair) would do, is the same that Plato warned against in the start up of the Republic -- confusion as to who one's enemies really are. Bush (and Blair) were gung ho in attacking Iraq with all the dubious motives attendant thereupon which reduplicated what motivated Sirhan. This is no simple game of 'getting tough with enemies'. And while we are at it, the same mentality that assassinated King looks to be fueling this one as well -- 'get the dark ones before they get us!'

The upshot here in the U.S. is that we have silenced and/or driven out many of our best allies in this 'war' on terrorism.
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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort
to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
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