As I remember, Henry (and that was many days of an arduous trip ago), I was
referring to Michael's insistence that we invade Zimbabwe next to get rid
of Mugabe. That was odd in itself, but I took him to mean that we should
invade all the other countries whose people are unwilling or unable to
dislodge governments that we deem, rightly or wrongly, unacceptable. But
even if for some reason he only meant we should invade, and feel justified
in invading, a particular southern African country, he was exhibiting both
grandiosity and a distorted sense of reality. Hence my suggestion that he
seek help. Note that I refrained from presenting a diagnosis.
Had he restricted himself to the case of Iraq I would have thought him
wrong-headed, but I wouldn't have doubted his sanity.
Professionally speaking, it is a positive sign that my suggestion still
bothered him a week later.
Now I have to take my tongue out of my cheek--very uncomfortable if held
there too long.
It's good to remember that when we've invaded countries in the past
directly or by proxy we have indeed on occasion rid the world of monsters,
often but not always of our own creation, but we've also, too often to
expect the world or even a lot of citizens like me to feel real trusting of
our government's judgement or motives, rid the world of exemplary regimes
that had the misfortune to disagree with some of our policies or to make
some of our business interests feel insecure.
Mark
At 08:25 AM 3/31/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm sorry to see David & Michael resign; they both have a lot to contribute
>to this list. I think Mark Weiss does indeed owe Michael an apology for
>personal flaming (the "psychiatric help" canard : rather bizarre coming
>from a professional). & I think the list managers should have called him
>on it.
>
>Henry
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