The article previously quoted was not an isolated instance of Gerard Toals'
pro-NATO, Atlanticist and interventionist stance. This is from Intergraph,
original from Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 17, 515-533.
A strategic sign. The Geopolitical Significance of "Bosnia" in U.S. Foreign Policy
http://www.intergraphjournal.com/enhanced/vol1issue2/strategic%20sign/strategicframes.htm
"UNPROFOR also constituted a political and bureaucratic self-interest for
European powers in such a way as to discourage, hinder and block decisive
forceful action by the international community as a whole against acts of
genocide and to end the war. Without adequate military firepower, a more
robust mandate and political support for a more decisive policy in Bosnia,
UNPROFOR became the symbol of the political and moral bankruptcy of the
European and United Nation's approach to the Bosnian war...
US leadership and interventionism in Bosnia since 1995 has been a relative
force for positive change. While the attitude of the U.S. military leadership
to their role in Bosnia is certainly ambivalent, the United States and its
allies are nevertheless investing millions of dollars in a praiseworthy
attempt to bring a semblance of order, stability and reconstruction to the region..."
Toal acknowledges the help of the USIP Bosnia (now Balkans) Working Group,
including the ex-ambassadors to the Bosniak federation and the state Bosnia.
Its other members include:
"...
- United States Congressional Members
- United States State Department
- United States Department of Defense
- United States Central Intelligence Agency
- United States Information Agency (USIA)
- United States Agency for International Development (US AID)..."
Is this critical geography? I have to say it is in the grand tradition of
post-war critical theory, which (as you will recall) was a largely US-financed
'answer to Communism'.
Is it left geography? Well, who is to say. After all, Tony Blair or Tony
Giddens will tell you that 'left' means structuring society so as not to
hinder the creative entrepreneur. If 'left' means pro-NATO, then 'left' means
pro-NATO. It is pointless to dispute the ownership of words.
--
Paul Treanor
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/
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