Comments on: When One Extreme Helps Another http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ben/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/ crypto and public policy Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:15:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Aaron Swartz http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ben/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-400 Aaron Swartz Sat, 24 Jul 2004 17:55:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/benadida/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-400 <a></a> Is all that stuff about the French true? I assumed it was just the usual conservative propaganda.

Is all that stuff about the French true? I assumed it was just the usual conservative propaganda.

]]> By: Ben Adida http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ben/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-399 Ben Adida Fri, 23 Jul 2004 20:44:34 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/benadida/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-399 <a></a> Greggy, you're right that the neocons would not have seen the light of day, and I certainly don't claim that in my post. However, the other people involved, say the more moderate Republicans, might have seen an option to be more reasonable without losing face. And certainly, I'm not claiming that the French are responsible for Wolfowitz and co. I'm only saying that, if the French's goal was to truly prevent war, they might have had a better card to play. But you're right, not playing that card doesn't constitute responsibility.

Greggy, you’re right that the neocons would not have seen the light of day, and I certainly don’t claim that in my post. However, the other people involved, say the more moderate Republicans, might have seen an option to be more reasonable without losing face.

And certainly, I’m not claiming that the French are responsible for Wolfowitz and co. I’m only saying that, if the French’s goal was to truly prevent war, they might have had a better card to play. But you’re right, not playing that card doesn’t constitute responsibility.

]]> By: greggy http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ben/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-398 greggy Fri, 23 Jul 2004 19:22:30 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/benadida/2004/07/21/when-one-extreme-helps-another/#comment-398 <a></a> "But maybe a more objective stance from France might have tempered the neocon extreme." Not in a million years. This suggestion ignores a mountain of evidence that the neocons could never have been stopped by rational or objective analysis. The froggies may not be angels, but they sure as shit are not even secondarily responsible for the mad fantasies of Perle, Wolfowitz, & Co. from seeing the light of day.

“But maybe a more objective stance from France might have tempered the neocon extreme.”

Not in a million years. This suggestion ignores a mountain of evidence that the neocons could never have been stopped by rational or objective analysis. The froggies may not be angels, but they sure as shit are not even secondarily responsible for the mad fantasies of Perle, Wolfowitz, & Co. from seeing the light of day.

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