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Re:Open Letter to Noam Chomsky (and Other Intellectuals) on ... by refurb on Saturday May 21, 2022 @10:07AM (#31458060)
No, what’s amazing is hearing people who are well versed in the multiple US foreign adventures that more often than not results in thousands of civilian deaths, political instability and worsening opinions about the US, vehemently argue that of course the US should intervene and anyone who even raises the idea that maybe we should mind our own business gets labeled as “pro-Russia”.

The left is basically parroting the exact same language the right did for all its foreign interventions.

Re:Open Letter to Noam Chomsky (and Other Intellectuals) on ... by thomassmith65 on Saturday May 21, 2022 @10:37AM (#31458285)

  The left is basically parroting the exact same language 
  the right did for all its foreign interventions. 
I don't find it hypocritical to oppose wars of aggression.

GWB's invasion of Iraq was America breaking international law. I was against that.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is Russia breaking international law. I am against that.

I am for whatever strategy (military aid? diplomacy? alliances?) most effectively addresses the Ukraine invasion and limits future illegal invasions. Nobody can know yet which strategy would be best, but it's not hypocrisy to be open to military aid, etc. I want to live in a world where leaders obey the rules.

Re:Open Letter to Noam Chomsky (and Other Intellectuals) on ... by refurb on Saturday May 21, 2022 @10:45AM (#31458344)
But the left is NOT opposing military intervention (or escalation), it’s promoting it in response to Russia’s invasion.

And I’m not sure I understand the jump from “i oppose X” to “the US must get involved with X”.

Noam Chomsky is critical of Russia’s invasion, just like you.

But doing “something” is an entirely separate decision. People seem to be operating with the default of “if there is a problem, the US has an obligation to fix it”

It’s that mentality that has gotten us into so much trouble over the past 60-70 years.

My opinion is the default is “we do nothing”, and anything more needs justification and a careful analysis to ensure we don’t make things worse (which has been the outcome of almost every intervention since WW2).

Re:Open Letter to Noam Chomsky (and Other Intellectuals) on ... by thomassmith65 on Saturday May 21, 2022 @02:57PM (#31460736)
It's probable that we have similar fears about escalation. If this ends in nuclear war, clearly it won't have been worth it. Our difference of opinion then is that I consider the risks of inaction to be more grave than you do.

One bad thing about GWB's wars is that the global community failed to prevent or meaningfully punish them. That precedent increases world-wide recklessness and paranoia.

I worry that if the outcome of the Ukraine is not a spectacular failure for Russia, the world will continue backsliding (I bet there are Chinese generals rallying already to take Taiwan)

What faith remains in the rule of law internationally is important to preserve. Eg: if the Hague had managed to imprison Cheney et al, would Russia today dare to invade neighbors?

My worries there are why I am open to escalation, though, like you, I fear it could escalate up to some kind of extinction event :(

Re:Open Letter to Noam Chomsky (and Other Intellectuals) on ... by shrimp_emoji on Saturday May 21, 2022 @09:51PM (#31464165)