Comments on: The End of the American Century http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/05/01/the-end-of-the-american-century/ Where youthful Barthianism never dies Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:24:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Theophilus http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/05/01/the-end-of-the-american-century/comment-page-1/#comment-7951 Theophilus Tue, 12 May 2009 18:57:09 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2221#comment-7951 Actually, GWB's admission of fault in the Yalta negotiations might be a step forward in acknowledging that not everything is black and white. Recognizing that both Stalin and Hitler were both evil and oppressive figures, and that we in the West empowered one evil man to stop another who was more immediately troublesome to our particular interests, is a very good sign in my view. Recognizing the evil of our allies prepares the way for recognizing our own evil. Of course, I'm sensitive to the issue; I owe my life to Adolf Hitler's racial policies which saved my Soviet-born, ethnically German grandparents from elimination at the hands of Stalin's Red Army by allowing them to flee to Germany in the dying years of the war. It's sobering to realize that I am quite literally the product of great evil. Actually, GWB’s admission of fault in the Yalta negotiations might be a step forward in acknowledging that not everything is black and white. Recognizing that both Stalin and Hitler were both evil and oppressive figures, and that we in the West empowered one evil man to stop another who was more immediately troublesome to our particular interests, is a very good sign in my view. Recognizing the evil of our allies prepares the way for recognizing our own evil. Of course, I’m sensitive to the issue; I owe my life to Adolf Hitler’s racial policies which saved my Soviet-born, ethnically German grandparents from elimination at the hands of Stalin’s Red Army by allowing them to flee to Germany in the dying years of the war. It’s sobering to realize that I am quite literally the product of great evil.

]]> By: maufman http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/05/01/the-end-of-the-american-century/comment-page-1/#comment-7949 maufman Tue, 12 May 2009 17:30:43 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2221#comment-7949 In Eastern Europe, George W. Bush apologized for the compromises that FDR made at Yalta. Whether FDR was right or not, Bush seemed completely unaware that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Americans are alive today, or died in recent years at a ripe age, because FDR made those compromises. If Bush, McCain and others had reflected more on FDR's unholy alliance with Stalin, they might have realized that their refusal to meet with tin-pot dictators was not principled, but cowardly. World politics is hardball; those who wish to associate only with their friends should stick to playing bridge. In Eastern Europe, George W. Bush apologized for the compromises that FDR made at Yalta. Whether FDR was right or not, Bush seemed completely unaware that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Americans are alive today, or died in recent years at a ripe age, because FDR made those compromises.

If Bush, McCain and others had reflected more on FDR’s unholy alliance with Stalin, they might have realized that their refusal to meet with tin-pot dictators was not principled, but cowardly. World politics is hardball; those who wish to associate only with their friends should stick to playing bridge.

]]> By: Hill http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/05/01/the-end-of-the-american-century/comment-page-1/#comment-7778 Hill Fri, 01 May 2009 20:27:17 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2221#comment-7778 I think his point is that it is almost exclusively the result of a kind of moral luck (and I'm really avoiding cynicism by using that term instead of something more sinister) that America found (finds) herself where she does. I think his point is that it is almost exclusively the result of a kind of moral luck (and I’m really avoiding cynicism by using that term instead of something more sinister) that America found (finds) herself where she does.

]]> By: Marty http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/05/01/the-end-of-the-american-century/comment-page-1/#comment-7773 Marty Fri, 01 May 2009 17:46:12 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2221#comment-7773 Halden- I have not read the whole article, but counting casualties as Bacevich does in that excerpt hardly demonstrates the point that he's out to prove. ...Especially when it comes to the issue of "the demolition of totalitarianism." ...Especially given the nature of Stalin's own regime. I'm not trying to say that America is the answer to the world's ills, but I'm not so sure that a proper reaction is to make a hero out of a regime which also probably doesn't deserve the title. -Marty Halden-
I have not read the whole article, but counting casualties as Bacevich does in that excerpt hardly demonstrates the point that he’s out to prove. …Especially when it comes to the issue of “the demolition of totalitarianism.” …Especially given the nature of Stalin’s own regime. I’m not trying to say that America is the answer to the world’s ills, but I’m not so sure that a proper reaction is to make a hero out of a regime which also probably doesn’t deserve the title.
-Marty

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