The "right" to wage war

[Toby G Levy]

Quail wrote:
> Then put me back on the hook, because I read it all. Though I still 
> ask the question to the P-List pacifists, especially you, Doug, 
> Toby, 
> and Richard:
> 
> Do you feel that the United States ever been "right" in waging war, 
> keeping in mind that even WWII had civilian casualties? I ask, 
> because I wish to know the extent and limits of your pacifism.

Speaking for myself and no one else, I can say that from my far from in
depth study of history I have formed the opinion that we were "right" in
assisting England and France from being overwhelmed by Germany in World
Wars I and II.  I am deeply ashamed of the fact that my country dropped
atomic bombs on a country whose leaders were attempting to surrender
before the decision to bomb was made.  This one act keeps me from ever
appreciating anything good Harry Truman might have done.  After WWII you
have what Eisenhower called The Military Industrial Complex (a major
component of Pynchon's "Them") directing our foreign policy.  We were
wrong to send our citizens to be slaughtered in Korea.  We were wrong to
send our citizens to be slaughtered in Vietnam.  And I was one of those
citizens who was drafted and sent over to Vietnam!  I am entitled to my
opinion.  I submit that history will not be kind to this current
conflict.  This is all about oil.  Not about eliminating evil from the
planet.  It is about oil.  There has never been an "oilier"
administration than the current one.  Military action in my opinion is
justified in defending territory from invaders.  The terrible tragedy of
Sept 11 was not an invasion.  It was a violent crime committed by a group
of felons who need to be permanently removed from world society.  I hope
this explains the "limits of my pacifism."

And now I have a question to Quail and the others who feel harassed by
those of us who have studied Pynchon over the years and found him to have
a clear leftist, pacifist message in his writing:

Is there ANY way of our expressing an opinion without offending you,
David Morris, Paul Mackin, etc?  

Toby


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