Anti Militarist - specially for youPosted byUser: What price LibertyFrom: m4.c2.telstra-mm.net.au On: September 27, 1999 at 15:30:28 I confess that I find it interesting that a person who has clearly had the benefit of education espouses such virulent rubbish. What are we left to conclude but that you are in some way a supporter of the violence and attrocities that have been visited upon the ET people by the indonesian military. Many of your arguments are fatuous to say the very least, but in particular response as to why ET and not the rest of Indonesia: - Indonesia is a sovereign state duly recognised as member of the community of nations, The particular point with East Timor is that the government of Indonesia gave an undertaking to the Community of Nations to allow the people of that country the right to vote for independence freely and without coercion. To ensure that vote would be fair and free of coercion the UN secured agreement to allow the process to be overseen by impartial witnesses. Further your assertion that the US and other governments have responded to this crisis as a result of economic interests rather than out of well held altruistic beliefs is clearly incorrect for several reasons. Firstly if economic benefit was the underlying motive then a status quo within the region would have proven to be far more acceptable, stability within any region is unilaterally preferable, and is particularly sought in developing regions in order to protect the investments that made by external corporations and governments. Secondly, in your hypothesis that the remainder of the world, and in particular USA and Australia stand to make economic benefits from providing security for the ET people is patently flawed, as the enormous expense for providing this humanitarian mission is being borne directly by the Nations who are involved in the UN peace keeping mission. A net cost if you would like to view it in accountancy terms, that will go on for many years, and for which no re-imbursement will be sought. I could continue on and rebut the remainder of your facile missive, however I will instead suggest that you undertake some study of the situation and hope that you might find room in your heart to pray for the unfortunate people of East Timor, and condemn the aggressors who have clearly casued this situation.
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