danc@orca.UUCP (Daniel Cobb) (08/10/83)
Goodness David, you sound a bit steamed! I have enjoyed the volatile character of this discussion (particularly your contribution) but I think this will be my last conrtibution to it. If you should respond to it, David, please try to limit the name calling. Knucklehead is harmless, but it seems out of place. Your "careful demolation of ... [my definition of] the domino theory" is simply your interpretation of why Laos and Cambodia fell. I didn't respond to it because of the futility in attempting your position. The fall of these two countries was ensured when Vietnam fell, and this would have been true even if the war hadn't spilled into their countries. About supporting unpopular governments. I guess the question really is, do we support a right-wing dictator and try to coax him to permit various reforms, improve human rights, and generally try to move him in a more democratic direction (here our success rate has been low)? Or do we take what we know will come with a Marxist revolution? Our choice is flawed miserably, but I simply don't know of any real alternatives. I am open to them if they exist, but they have to provide a real solution for the people of the country for reasons of stability, (Democracy?) and they have to take in to account the security interests of their neighboring nations. Goodbye