I first heard "the enemy of my enemy" described as a traditional south asian political truism that explained why it was possible for the English to colonize India -- England was every other local ruler's "friend".
Sandwichman --- Carrol Cox <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jim Devine wrote: > > > > > > this is proof, once again, that Chairman Mao's > dictum that "the enemy > > of my enemy is my friend" is total and utter BS. > > I don't remember Mao saying exactly that. I do > remember something like > it, though I can't remember the exact wording, and > when I read it I both > disagreed and _also_ saw, in the context in which he > said it, that it > made some sense. Something like it was, of course, > the foundation of the > United Front Against the Japanese invacion. And it > is easy to make up > hypothetical (but reasonable) situations in which it > holds. If a > purse-snatcher scares off a would-be rapist, for > example. I would say > the dictum (as you phrase it) is neither right nor > wrong in the > abstract. Its whole meaning depends on context. > > Carrol > __________________________________________________________ Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca
