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This week's editor
Tahrir Square meme: Event
openAwakening in conjunction with the University of East London is organizing a three-part event series on ‘The Tahrir Square Meme’ to be held at UEL's Dockland Campus.
Our first event is Rap and the Arab Spring.
The Long Revolution
The Long and the Quick of revolution Anthony Barnett
We live in revolutionary times... but what does this mean? Anthony Barnett
The precariat: why it needs deliberative democracy Guy Standing
The Long Revolution Raymond Williams
Occupy movement
Our Authors
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Li Datong on China from the inside
Mary Kaldor on Human security
Daniele Archibugi on Cosmopolitan democracy
For England's Sake!
Book - Fred Halliday's oD essays
The Drugs Policy Forum
Postcards from the future
Demotix: photo partner
Candace,
You’re mixing apples and oranges. An attack on the US is an attack on the sovereignty and security of the nation and consequently, it is our democracy that is placed at stake. LOD is a different issue.
Middle Eastern collective will? That's a rather broad generalization or just ignorant given the size of the middle east and the cultures and nations contained within. Israel is part of the Middle East; do you include them in your broad brush of ME collective will? How about Turkey, Bahrain, UAE? IM
Aha so YOU believe we should cherry pick, I see.
First you create a nonsensical term, “Middle Eastern collective will” and when I challenge the validity of the term, you accuse ME of cherry picking? Okay…”wha teva” as you like to say.
Another non-issue. They can resist democracy all they want---I don’t care as long as their “resistance” is not in the form of a violent attack upon US sovereignty or interests. If they do not want to trade with us, that’s their business. But the reality in the ME is their primary commodity is oil and if they want to sell it on the open global market to the highest bidder, they will have to trade with the west, including us. The LOD’s role will provide diplomatic and economic incentives that will overcome reluctance to trade.
Sure I can explain that. We aren’t going to “cause” anyone to think they need to resist. People choose what to think. There will always be those who “choose” to resist democracy for a wide variety of personal, religious, or political agendas. So what?
We need the LOD because the UN is impotent to effect significant change. Fifteen years of sanctions failed to produce change Iraq…a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The LOD provides an opportunity for leadership of like-minded democracies to leverage their collective economic and diplomatic power to foster peaceful trade and promotion of democratic values. I see no LOD authority or influence over our military unless some multilateral agreement comes about along the lines of a NORAD type agreement. I haven’t seen that proposed, have you?
I disagree with the premise of the question. I don’t believe John McCain WANTS to create opportunities for resistance…and resistance to what?…democracy? Asked and answered. More distractions without substance.
Iran is a good example of such a situation. Currently we are employing diplomatic and economic pressure (sanctions and incentives) while reserving military options. What kind of force? That force necessary to achieve the desired end state. Force is designed to eliminate threats; promotion of democracy and trade is only possible before war or post-hostility reconstruction. Ever heard of the Marshall plan?