renner@uiucdcs.Uiuc.ARPA (06/29/85)
> When Israel illegally detains innocent civilians (and permits a > massacre, a few years ago), it makes Israel, in the eyes of the Reagan > Administration, a bulwark of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. > When Shiite extremists do the same thing, it makes them evil > terrorists... The US, to judge from its actions, is a firm believer in > "the ends justify the means." > -- Richard Carnes (carnes@gargoyle) The attacks on Israel and on Reagan are of course unfair: it is not the few wrong actions which make Israel a "bulwark of freedom and democracy," but rather the fact that Israel is so much better in this regard than any other country in the area. It is curious to find Carnes attacking the US for its "ends justify the means" philosophy. Judging from his support of affirmitive action programs, I would think he would be comfortable with the idea of the government doing wrong to achieve good. Scott Renner ihnp4!uiucdcs!renner