alister air writes:
> Personally, I don't think this cuts it.  However, it was a big leap of
> logic to say that because Martin hasn't seen anything about Chechen
> bombings (I have, by the way) that we're all in support of blowing up the
> Chechens.

Yes, but I didn't mean that.  I mean that most peoples' claims that
they were against the NATO bombing on moral grounds are dishonest.

> While we're talking about things, what do chomsky subscribers think
> about the Australian government's role in East Timor - specifically
> the 'peacekeepers' who are predominantly Australian soldiers?

They should have been there even before the election, but Indonesia
would not have allowed it.  I don't care about Australia's role in the
past re ET, nor the US role there (well, I care but I'm not going to
fret about that when there is an immediate problem that is worse).
Apparently the ET-ese don't care about it either, since they have
welcomed the UN troops.  The hard part will begin now as they move out
into the country.

I don't know what else could have been done as quickly.  Who else
could have sent so many well-equiped troops as quickly?

There is probably a story behind why the situation was allowed to get
out of hand.  Why did the Indonesian military do nothing to stop the
militia (and even participate in the destruction, if that is true)?
Why was there no attempt to place well-armed UN troops there before
the election?  I am beginning to think that the destruction of ET was
desired, so that ET would be forced to accept large amounts of aid
from Australia and the US, thereby ensuring control of the oil
reserves for the foreseeable future.

martin

Martin Smith                    Email: [log in to unmask]
P.O. Box 1034 Bekkajordet       Tel. : +47 330 35700
N-3194 HORTEN, Norway           Fax. : +47 330 35701