Comments on: The Dangers Of Precedent http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/05/02/the-dangers-of-precedent/ n. the principle of good order<br /><br /> "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:15:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: BarryD http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/05/02/the-dangers-of-precedent/comment-page-1/#comment-31967 BarryD Tue, 05 May 2009 12:47:05 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9362#comment-31967 " If such crimes are permitted to go unpunished, their apologists will continue to work overtime to shape the debate in later years and decades in favor of the decisions leading up to those crimes, and the more time goes by the apologist will be able to fall back on one unassailable retort: “If this was a crime, why didn’t anyone in the government investigate and prosecute it as such?” Having warned against witch hunts and “criminalizing policy differences” in the beginning to intimidate the responsible institutions into inaction, the apologists will then remind the public that no charges were ever filed and no convictions were secured. " And this is quite deliberate, IMHO. Many of these people are young enough to look forward to at least one more GOP administration and (not God, but their master) willing, another war or two. ” If such crimes are permitted to go unpunished, their apologists will continue to work overtime to shape the debate in later years and decades in favor of the decisions leading up to those crimes, and the more time goes by the apologist will be able to fall back on one unassailable retort: “If this was a crime, why didn’t anyone in the government investigate and prosecute it as such?” Having warned against witch hunts and “criminalizing policy differences” in the beginning to intimidate the responsible institutions into inaction, the apologists will then remind the public that no charges were ever filed and no convictions were secured. ”

And this is quite deliberate, IMHO. Many of these people are young enough to look forward to at least one more GOP administration and (not God, but their master) willing, another war or two.

]]> By: TGGP http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/05/02/the-dangers-of-precedent/comment-page-1/#comment-31918 TGGP Mon, 04 May 2009 03:18:21 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9362#comment-31918 <a href="http://isteve.blogspot.com/2005/09/bill-whittle-dangerous-loon-or.html" rel="nofollow">Bill Whittle</a>, "dangerous loon or emasculated liar", whips himself into a self-righteous lather defending Truman's nukes, FDR's firebombings & Lincoln's total war <a href="http://www.pjtv.com/video/Afterburner_/Jon_Stewart%2C_War_Criminals_%26_The_True_Story_of_the_Atomic_Bombs/1808/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Bill Whittle, “dangerous loon or emasculated liar”, whips himself into a self-righteous lather defending Truman’s nukes, FDR’s firebombings & Lincoln’s total war here.

]]> By: JJM http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/05/02/the-dangers-of-precedent/comment-page-1/#comment-31902 JJM Sun, 03 May 2009 15:26:41 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9362#comment-31902 I guess the question hinges on whether or not the Dresden firebombing and nuclear bombardment of Japan were instrumental in destroying nationalistically-driven imperialism in Asia and Europe. I guess I don't know enough to answer, but I'm inclined to say, "no." I guess the question hinges on whether or not the Dresden firebombing and nuclear bombardment of Japan were instrumental in destroying nationalistically-driven imperialism in Asia and Europe. I guess I don’t know enough to answer, but I’m inclined to say, “no.”

]]> By: Bob Weber http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/05/02/the-dangers-of-precedent/comment-page-1/#comment-31891 Bob Weber Sat, 02 May 2009 21:41:34 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9362#comment-31891 History by itself cannot give ethical guidance. The better revisionist historians (by this I absolutely do not mean the holocaust deniers!) have had two purposes. Expose the base motives and deeds behind the facade of Official History to (1)debunk the myth of America the Uniquely Virtuous and thereby (2) hope to prevent such things happening again. Unfortunately, as we are seeing, this can also be used to "justify" present and future atrocities: Sometimes you have to do evil to facilitate the Greater Good. (Wring hands, fix wistful expression on face.) Tough times call for Tough Decisions by Tough Men! And who are we to criticize? History by itself cannot give ethical guidance. The better revisionist historians (by this I absolutely do not mean the holocaust deniers!) have had two purposes. Expose the base motives and deeds behind the facade of Official History to (1)debunk the myth of America the Uniquely Virtuous and thereby (2) hope to prevent such things happening again.

Unfortunately, as we are seeing, this can also be used to “justify” present and future atrocities: Sometimes you have to do evil to facilitate the Greater Good. (Wring hands, fix wistful expression on face.) Tough times call for Tough Decisions by Tough Men! And who are we to criticize?

]]>