Selective Memory

[Richard Fiero]

Otto wrote:
>  . . .
>I share your concerns about the civil rights situation but does Lynne Cheney
>really have the power to supend the Bill of Rights? All those academics are
>free to speak up and criticise the government, to defend themselves &
>explain what they mean. They're not fired because Mrs Cheney has ordered
>that, or? The police-chiefs in several cities who refuse to aid the FBI in
>questioning thousands of American Muslims without a suspicion won't loose
>their jobs automatically. America is still (much) different from the former
>USSR or East-Germany.

I appreciate Otto's hopeful belief that U.S. citizens are 
advanced and relatively karma-free.  In regard to Lynne 
Cheney's org, I note that the Fed thought police are unlikely 
to set up a folksy outlet in my town with the letters "CIA" 
tastefully done in mauve on saffron over the welcoming entrance 
and offer tea and pastries for a sit-down mutual understanding.
Mrs. Cheney's org can be found at
http://www.goacta.org/
"ACTA is a nonprofit educational organization committed to 
academic freedom, excellence, and accountability on college and 
university campuses. It supports programs and policies that 
encourage high academic standards, strong curricula, and the 
free exchange of ideas."
Oh please visit the site for additional Orwellian 
details.  This is not a cozy gathering of civic-minded souls 
who find time out of their busy schedules to remind us of 
patriotism and excellence.  Plausible deniability, anyone?

>  . . .
>I don't think that I can agree with your description of the actual
>"campaign" as "unspeakable terror" -- you seem to forget that it has freed
>Afghanistan from the Taliban-rule. No matter what comes out of it in the
>future, but it has put a broad-based multi-ethnic government with even
>female members into power. Well, maybe not totally into power yet, but it's
>likely to happen under the supervision of the British-lead
>peace-implementing force.  . . .

Why does this sound a lot like the Soviet puppet government of, 
say, 1980?  That was somewhat before the U.S./Pakistan success 
in backing the Reagan era "Afghan Freedom-fighters."  It would 
appear that "reap what you sow" is quite the case and in no abstract way.

Shall we not wonder that a weaker government would be hard to 
find? One with a tiny, decrepit military and, say, just 
happening to need a pipeline built across its otherwise 
valueless land.  Let's not be distracted by the ongoing 
spectacle and do let us hold responsible the scoundrels who 
brought it about.  A glance at how the character Brock Vond of 
Vineland propels his career along may be instructive.