----- Original Message -----
From: "Baardwijk, J. van DTO/SLBD/BGM/SVM/SGM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 3:22 AM
Subject: RE: Landmines RE: US Foreign Policy Re: *DO* we share a
civilization?
> This is a set of double standards: I must provide sources to back my
claims,
> but when you disagree with them, you apparently don't have to provide
> sources to back your claims.
>
Of course there is a double standard. Your thesis was that the use of
landmines in Korea by the US is a crime against humanity. My thesis, and
Gautam's, is that this is a subject that is open to differences of opinion
among reasonable people. Yours is that keeping the land mines is a crime
against humanity.
Well, what is the proper action for the world when a nation commits a crime
against humanity. Well, the leaders of Serbia are now in a jail, having
been tried or awaiting trial for crimes against humanity. IIRC, long prison
terms will be imposed if they are convicted.
I assumed that you considered this a reasonable way to deal with crimes
against humanity. If so, it would be logical to call for the extradition
and trail, of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Clinton, Bush, and key Senate
leaders, followed by long jail terms. If this is not what you think is a
proper action, then maybe the phrase "crimes against humanity" was a bit of
hyperbola, or maybe you do not think that leaders who commit crimes against
humanity should be brought to justice by the international community.
Personally, I'm guessing that hyperbola was used, but I would appreciate
clarification.
I think that the evidence you offered definitely shows that the need for
landmines in Korea is open to debate. Indeed, if you remember, I added some
evidence, quoting the Senator Leheigh who has access to top secret material
and is pushing to have the US sign the treaty. The fact that, while most
members of the US military think the mines necessary, well informed military
and ex-military officials do differ. So, unless one wishes to argue that
these men lack judgment, one needs to accept that reasonable, well informed
people do hold that the land mines are unnecessary.
So, if you wish to change the debate from whether the US is in the process
of committing crimes against humanity to whether the advantages of using the
mines in Korea outweighs the disadvantages inherent in an exemption being
given for the use in Korea, I think that would be an interesting debate.
I'm personally leaning in that debate towards the disadvantages outweighs
the advantages, but I can argue either way.
Dan M.
