If one can demonstrate that there was such a plan (to remove the President of Cypress), and that Kissinger knew about it in advance, then it follows logically and naturally that he was not ostensibly looking for a crisis – as he self-pityingly asks us to believe – but for a solution. The fact that [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Security Policy'
Means and Ends – “The Trial of Henry Kissinger” – Christopher Hitchens
January 18th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Means and Ends, Morality, Politics, Power, Security Policy, War
Tags:Cause and Effect·Ends and Means·Guilt·Iraq War·Politics·power·responsibility
Through a Trapdoor at the end of a rope – “The Trial of Henry Kissinger” – Christopher Hitchens
January 17th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Morality, Philosophy, Politics, Security Policy, War, WW2
Some statements are too blunt for everyday, consensual discourse. In national ‘debate’, it is the smoother pebbles that are customarily gathered from the stream, and used as projectiles. They leave less of a scar, even when they hit. Occasionally, however, a single hard-edged remark will inflict a deep and jagged wound, a gash so ugly [...]
Tags:Human Rights·International Law·Political debate·political discourse·Politics·Vietnam·war crimes·WW2
International Law – “The Trial of Henry Kissinger” – Christopher Hitchens
January 17th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Policy, Politics, Power, Security Policy, War
Many if not most of Kissinger’s partners in crime are now in jail, or are awaiting trial, or have been otherwise punished or discredited. His own lonely impunity is rank; it smells to heaven. If it is allowed to persist then we shall shamefully vindicate the ancient philosopher Anarchasis, who maintained that laws were like [...]
Tags:Human Rights·International Law·International Relations·war crimes
Rudyard Kipling from “Fifty Orwell Essays” – George Orwell
November 5th, 2011 · No Comments · Nationalism, Security Policy, United Kingdom
Few people who have criticized England from the inside have said bitterer things about her than this gutter patriot (Kipling). As a rule it is the British working class that he is attacking, but not always. That phrase about ‘the flannelled fools at the wicket and the muddied oafs at the goal’ sticks like an [...]
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Tags:nationalism·Rudyard Kipling·Security
“Fifty Orwell Essays” – George Orwell
November 5th, 2011 · No Comments · Civilisation, Security Policy, Uncategorized
A humanitarian is always a hypocrite, and Kipling’s understanding of this is perhaps the central secret of his power to create telling phrases. It would be difficult to hit off the one-eyed pacifism of the English in fewer words than in the phrase, ‘making mock of uniforms that guard you while you sleep’.
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Tags:Civilisation·pacifism·Security
You Want the Truth?? – “Rudyard Kipling” from “Fifty Orwell Essays” – George Orwell
November 4th, 2011 · No Comments · Civilisation, Colonialism, History, Means and Ends, Politics, Security Policy
(Kipling) sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilized, are there to guard and feed them. Again, it’s Orwell’s ruthless realism that sets him apart from other progressive writers. Particularly progressive writers of his time.
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Tags:Civilisation·military·Rudyard Kipling·Security
The Price of Civilisation – Looking Back on the Spanish War from “Fifty Orwell Essays” – George Orwell.
October 17th, 2011 · No Comments · Civilisation, Extremism, History, Means and Ends, Morality, Non-Violence, Pacifism, Politics, Security Policy, War
We have become too civilized to grasp the obvious. For the truth is very simple. To survive you often have to fight, and to fight you have to dirty yourself. War is evil, and it is often the lesser evil. Those who take the sword perish by the sword, and those who don’t take the [...]
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Tags:Ethics·George Orwell·means and ends·morality·Spanish Civil War·war
Passing the Baton Between Empires – “Anthills of the Savannah”. Chinua Achebe
September 25th, 2011 · No Comments · Africa, Colonialism, History, Power, Security Policy, Totalitarianism, War, WW2
After a long career of subduing savages in distant lands they discovered the most dangerous savage of all just across the English Channel and took (Churchill) on and brought him to heel. But the effort proved too great and the cost too high, and although they acquitted themselves with honour they made sure that they [...]
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Tags:Africa·colonialism·Dictatorship·WW2
British Soldiers and Barnyard Animals – “The Jungle Book” – Rudyard Kipling
September 22nd, 2011 · No Comments · Colonialism, History, Nationalism, Policy, Security Policy
Then I heard an old grizzled, long-haired Central Asian chief, who had come down with the Amir, asking questions of a native officer. “Now,” said he, “in what manner was this wonderful thing done?” And the officer answered, “An order was given, and they obeyed.” “But are the beasts as wise as the men?” said [...]
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Tags:Allegory·Empire·military·propaganda
Hitler’s Eyes are on Corio – “The Light on the Hill” – Ross McMullin
August 30th, 2011 · No Comments · Australian Labor Party, Campaigning, History, Politics, Security Policy, War, WW2
Early in 1940 a federal by-election was created in Corio when Menzies appointed one of his senior ministers, R.G. Casey to the newly created post of Australian ambassador to the United States. Menzies was pleased to have removed on of his leadership rivals, but the ploy backfired. In the by-election the voters ignored his fatuous [...]
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Tags:ALP·Australia·Campaigning·khaki election·Labor·nazis·Politics·scare campaign·WW2
