Re: Let's see how this plays out...
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I have to admit, I do envy you your single-minded pragmatism when it comes to what you perceive to be in the interests of your country's safety. It must make the world a far less complicated place from your point of view.
I think thats a pretty accurate assessment as to where I stand. My US-centric mindset isnt based on selfishness as much as it is based on my understanding of how the worlds governments work behind the scenes.
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But don't you think that if the U.S. decides to go easy on this guy and not hand him over, that they lose any right or moral high-ground when demanding that other countries hand over known terrorists that they are sheltering?
I subscribe to a "greater good" mentality on issues like this.
For a moment im going to turn off the spin machine..
The US has used terrorism just as much as any major power in the world. As I said, its a tool in global politics. The difference, in my opinion, is that the US has used terrorism for the greater good. (Undermining communism and authoritarian governments)
I see what happened on 9/11 not as Terrorism attacking Establishment, but as AQ attacking the United States, they simply chose terror as their method of attack. In other words, I see America at war with a group of people, not a method of attack.
So in my mind there is no conflict of morality or intent in asking for anti-american terrorists to be handed over, and not handing over one of our own. If the people we ask are our friends then we should expect that they help us and they should expect the same. Castro has never been our friend.
This leads me to the most important part of the story, in my mind.
This guy directly worked for the US against Castro and now we, as it appears, will be turning him over to Castro - or at least punishing him for fighting against Castro.
Again the problem has nothing to do with morality or whats right and whats wrong. What does this tell Iraqis who may be thinking about helping us out in that country? What does it tell Afghanis?
In my mind our loyalty toward those who have shown loyalty to us is much more important in securing our own safety and standing in the world than our moral positions.
I believe America has always stood for the greater good, but the game of geopolitics is dirty and its irrational to pretend America hasnt been a player in that game. And from my experience loyalty (ie not turning over a former agent to the government he worked against) is much more important that percieved morality as everyone percieves it differently. ~;)
