America Resorts to Economic Blackmail

[skywalker]

Personally, I don't care if it is a "perfectly acceptable political tool". I just wouldn't do it to someone that is a friend to get what I want. It would be nice if the nations involved were friends, it's naive,to think so, I know. But I can think about it.

Mark

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Davros: Shakes head - no Cerek - somehow I don't recall ever suggesting that France was in the right about that, or suggesting that the US was the bad guy. You are making inferences that I have not implied, and your conclusions regarding both are not ones I agree with. I simply asked the question did you think it was right. I find these days that I have more of an interest in knowing if people are being honest to themselves rather than being honest to their causes. I think many of us are far too committed to the causes we espouse and the danger with that is that the replies and the defenses become automatic. Sometimes the simple truths are being missed in the wash-up.

First of all, Davros, I offer my apologies for mis-interpreting your statement. You are right that my "defenses" get raised automatically and the point of asking WHY we believe as we do IS a valid one.

So - to answer your question - do I think the U.S. is "right" to take this stance with Russia. The answer is YES. As Ronn pointed out, they don't want to actively support us, but they certainly want to benefit from our actions once it's over and done with. For the U.S. to say "Don't be so certain about the amount of economic windfall you will recieve from this" seems like a perfectly legitimate position to take.

To reference the popular children's tale....none of the other animals want to help the hen grow wheat, take it to be ground into grain, or bake the bread...but they ALL line up to ask for a piece of the bread after all the work has been done. I think America has the right to say, "Sorry, you didn't help with this...so we don't owe you any benefit from our actions."

As to my defenses and my accusation of the U.S. being "painted as the bad guy" - let's just take a look at some of the thread titles in this forum.

1) America Resorts to Economic Blackmail - started by skywalker.
2) Why doesn't the U.S. pay it's debts? - started by Moiraine.
3) U.S. dirty tricks to win vote on Iraq war.. - started by Dreamer128.


Maybe I'm the one that's wrong, but these titles certainly don't sound very "objective" to me.

Originally posted by Davros: So that makes it all right then ....................................... .................................................. ..................... .................................................. ..................... ............................... doesn't it?

Actually no it doesn't. What it says and clearly shows is, "This is how the game is played". If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen. Every nation is free to act as it chooses, but the moment you choose, you must realize that every choice has a consequence and a reaction..sort of like the third law of thermodynamics I believe.

PS. I liked what you said to Cerek, it is good to have someone make you check to see if you were being honest with yourself.

[ 03-06-2003, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

Originally posted by skywalker: Personally, I don't care if it is a "perfectly acceptable political tool". I just wouldn't do it to someone that is a friend to get what I want. It would be nice if the nations involved were friends, it's naive,to think so, I know. But I can think about it. Mark

Exactly how has this friend shown his friendship? just curious. I think I posted somewhere that it can be argued that there are several nations in europe that cannot be classified as "friend" even though they are or have been or are again members of NATO.

[Nachtrafe]

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: Wow, that's almost as bad as telling the Russians they were "poorly raised" and that they "missed a great chance to shut up".

[img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

"Forest Gump Voice": And that's all I have to say about that.

[ElricMorlockin]

Originally posted by skywalker: The issue is leading by example. If the US wants to be topdog and lead the World into a better future, it needs pay close attention to its Foreign Policy. It's not about who else is doing wrong, it's about looking at ourselves and asking are we doing right. Mark

I agree! And what better way of doing this than teaching these countries the meaning of free trade, and the consequences of playing hard ball over oil and exclusive trading rights. If in this issue, you go against us because of your own self interests, why would you be suprised that we will do the same?
That my friend is simply business.

[Davros]

Genuine thanks to Cerek and MagiK for their reponses. I also on an ethical perspective don't think it is right, but I also appreciate from a practical perspective the reasons why it is being done.

[Wutang]

I wish the US would just stop resorting to economic blackmail. It can only backfire in the long run and it really isn't helping to improve image of the US.

The US should just accept a country's decision and move on.

[Animal]

Looks like the US is desperate for more support. When you think about Saddam is no dummy. The more time he buys, the more sympathy he gets.

I can't say as I agree with this either, it's certainly not the way to conduct yourself as a power.

[Ronn_Bman]

Originally posted by Animal: When you think about Saddam is no dummy. The more time he buys, the more sympathy he gets.

That pretty much says it all. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]