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 'Philosophy'
Means and Ends – “The Trial of Henry Kissinger” – Christopher Hitchens
January 18th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Means and Ends, Morality, 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, Security Policy, 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
Groaning Wounded – “Fromelles” – Patrick Lindsay
January 16th, 2012 · No Comments · Anzac, History, Humanism, Philosophy, War, WW1
The reality was that, from midnight on the day of the battle, the flow of casualties had swamped the capacity of the medical staff and the stretcher-bearers and the front-line trenches were chock full of the wounded and dying… While the front lines were a confusion of wounded and dying, many more still lay exposed [...]
The Long Term Survival of the Human Species – “The Origins of AIDS” – Jacques Pepin
January 14th, 2012 · No Comments · Humanism, Philosophy, Policy, Science
This is a reminder that the most dangerous threat to the long-term survival of the human species is the human race itself. Of course, this has been obvious for some time. My generation and the one before us grew up with the fear of a nuclear holocaust. Even though the number of nuclear missiles has [...]
Immigration and Race – “The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever” – Philip Gould
January 11th, 2012 · No Comments · Campaigning, Complexity, Culture, Democracy, Electoralism, Ethnicity, Humanism, Leadership, Morality, Multi-culturalism, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, UK Labour, United Kingdom
The politics of grievance can be harsh and it is never easy moderating a group where the sole focus is immigration. But immigration, like crime, like welfare abuse, is not an issue we can avoid; we must deal with it head on. Not just because of the sense of unfairness that people hold but also [...]
Tags:Democracy·Focus Groups·Immigration·Labour·policy·Politics·Refugees
The Responsibility of Progressives – “The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever” – Philip GouldIn defence of focus groups…
January 7th, 2012 · No Comments · Campaigning, Electoralism, Ideology, Means and Ends, Morality, Philosophy, Political Communication, Politics, Progressive Politics, UK Labour, United Kingdom
I believe in the ascendancy of progressive ideas and progressive values. I believe in political parties that serve the people and advance their hopes. And I believe that it is the responsibility of all of us involved in progressive politics to advance our case with the greatest skill and professionalism. The people we seek to [...]
Tags:Campaigning·Electoralism·Labour·progressive politics·UK
Hatred and History – “Disgrace” – J.M. Coetzee
December 13th, 2011 · No Comments · Africa, African, Crime, Fiction, History, Literature, Revenge
Halfway home, Lucy, to his surprise, speaks. ‘It was so personal,’ she says. ‘It was done with such personal hatred. That was what stunned me more than anything. The rest was … expected. But why did they hate me so? I had never set eyes on them.’ He waits for more, but there is no [...]
It’s All Relative – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre
November 26th, 2011 · No Comments · Communism, Humanism, Means and Ends, Morality, Politics, Power, Spy Thriller
“I mean, you’ve got to compare method with method, and ideal with ideal. I would say that since the war, our methods—ours and those of the opposition—have become much the same. I mean you can’t be less ruthless than the opposition simply because your government’s policy is benevolent, can you now?” He laughed quietly to [...]
Sympathy – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre
November 25th, 2011 · No Comments · Humanism, Spy Thriller
We have to live without sympathy, don’t we? That’s impossible of course. We act it to one another, all this hardness; but we aren’t like that really. I mean … one can’t be out in the cold all the time; one has to come in from the cold… do you see what I mean?
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Better Get a Lawyer – “Columbine” – Dave Cullen
November 21st, 2011 · No Comments · Crime, Revenge, Sociology
The Harrises and Klebolds both hired attorneys. They had good reason: the presumption of guilt quickly landed on their shoulders. Investigators didn’t expect to charge them, but the public did. National polls taken shortly after the attack would identify all sorts of culprits contributing to the tragedy: violent movies, video games, Goth culture, lax gun [...]
Tags:blame·crime·mass murder·mental illness·parenting·revenge
