[net.politics] Theyre No Better

berman@ihuxm.UUCP (01/20/84)

>>>Much as I hate to say it, Gromyko summarized our country's attitude<<
>>>quite accurately - our administration has a pathological obsession<<
>>>with war.<<
>
>
   To which Rich Nelson replies:
>And the Soviets don't?  Afghanistan, Syria, Vietnam, Cuba,  South
>and Central America, Africa.
>
>The Soviets have built their war machine much beyond the need for
>defensive  purposes.   The  Soviets have violated Salt1 and Salt2
>treaties (I know Salt2 wasn't official, but both sides agreed  to
>adhere  to it), the Soviets have built space weapons while at the
>same time criticize the US for our  Shuddle  program's  potential
>for military uses.
>
>Unfortunately the Soviets (they banned "1984" because it resembled
>their society too closely) seem to understand only power, military
>power.  We can't be afraid to use it.
>
>                                              Rick Nelson
>
   To which Andy Berman replies:

   Oy Gevalt!  Same old Mindlessness that will surely lead to
   the destruction of humanity if it remains the mindthink
   of our leaders:   How do you reply to the charge that the
   US Administration is hell-bent on war, thirsting and
   craving he opportunity to use military force?  Why you
   point to the Russians and cry "they're no better!"

   I think one could make a good case for why the Soviets
   are NOT responsible for the current wars in Central America
   and Africa, nor the past revolutions in Cuba and Vietnam.
   I know that Henry Kissinger made the claim
   (post-TDA debate) that the Soviets have abided quite well
   by the SALT treaties.  But that's not the point. The
   point is that we as Americans, in a society that claims
   to be a democracy, truly have an Administration hell-bent
   on militarism and war. As Americans we presumably don't
   have a whole lot of power to re-direct the policies of
   the Government of the USSR.  But we damn well ought to
   be able to change the pathological and sickening policies of
   our own present Administration!

                     Andy Berman