Business Day *Arrogant adventurism* *Peter Vale, Letters, Business Day, Johannesburg, 5 October 2010*Paul Moorcraft's article (How to avoid a humiliating Nato defeat by the Taliban, October 1) is a dribbling attempt to condone Westerners' social engineering in the wake of their now certain defeat in Afghanistan --- this said, it cannot pass without comment.
The views expressed in the piece rely on that mix of racism and arrogance which have marked the West's retreat from every misguided international adventure since the end of the Second World War.
So, it is certainly wrong that Pakistan should have nuclear weapons. But why should three Nato countries --- the US, Britain and France --- who disregarded global public opinion and invaded Afghanistan, have them?
Is it because the British (or rather the English) can be trusted to organise a cricket team?
As for the assertion that "intelligence sources" claim the African National Congress has turned a blind eye to jihadist training camps in Mozambique and SA, what is one to say?
Everybody --- except Mr Moorcraft, it seems --- knows that the intelligence community cannot be trusted to tell the truth --- not in the past, not now, not ever. Does he not know that British intelligence "sexed up" the dossier which sent Tony Blair into Iraq at the request of another leader, George W Bush, who ordered the intelligence community what to say?
The Iraq war will also end in British (and other) tears.As it does --- surprise, surprise --- many suggestions on social engineering in that country will follow from London's wholly overcrowded think- tank community.
The ending of the wars in Afghanistan (and in Iraq) are important developments because they mark a form of global retreat from Western adventurism.
We need to understand this, historically and theoretically. However, this won't be forthcoming from those whose only sources are conceit, racism and intelligence tittle-tattle.
*Peter Vale* * * *Nelson Mandela professor of politics, Rhodes University* *From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=122811* * * * * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
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