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 [...]
Entries Tagged as 'war crimes'
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
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
“Revenge is Sour” from “Fifty Orwell Essays” – George Orwell
November 11th, 2011 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Power, Revenge, War, WW2
Properly speaking, there is no such thing as revenge. Revenge is an act which you want to commit when you are powerless and because you are powerless: as soon as the sense of impotence is removed, the desire evaporates also. In enlightened minds maybe…
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Tags:power·revenge·war crimes·WW2
