all-encompassingly

machiavelli on iraq

a few weeks ago on all-encompassingly, we pondered what the german philosopher immanuel kant would have thought of howard dean. it wasn't pretty. our conclusion:

kant would call howard dean imprudent, and probably give him a good old-fashioned prussian beating.

now we turn to another old european mind (from back in the day when europeans were good for something), niccolo machiavelli. his work, the prince, is a treatise addressed to the medici family that teaches principles of political power. though published in 1513, the work can be applied to foreign policy today. it should be noted that this analysis is not mine. you might have gotten that from the presence of capitalization, or perhaps the fact that there was some thinking involved. it comes from carolyn, who wrote a paper on this subject:

The principles in The Prince provide insight into the issues that arose with the war on Iraq and the current issues involved with occupation and transition to a new government.

Importance of Acting Quickly: In regard with political disorders, Machiavelli noted the following: “When trouble is sensed well in advance it can easily be remedied; if you wait for it to show itself any medicine will be too late because the disease will have become incurable”(10). He later states, “Political disorders can be quickly healed if they are seen well in advance (and only a prudent ruler has such foresight); when, for lack of a diagnosis, they are allowed to grow in such a way that everyone can recognize them, remedies are too late” (10). In regard to the decision for war with Iraq, Machiavelli’s argument would support President Bush’s decision to attack, with or without strong evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction being a threat for national security; a leader needs to act at times on intuition before a problem is truly manifested if he is to succeed. In fact, David Galbraith believes that much of the turmoil in Iraq would have been negated if the United States had acted against Saddam Hussein back in the 1980s (Human Rights Lecture Kennedy International Center: Collusion Human Rights and Realpoltik).

Maintaining a Conquest: Machiavelli noted that a country that is united is more difficult to conquer, but more easily ruled afterward; while a country that is divided is easily invaded, but more difficult to rule afterward (15). This observations can serve as a warning. They have indeed proved true with Iraq, a nation with various factions that was quickly conquered, but is difficult to rule afterwards.

Administering the New Government: As Machiavelli’s theories have proven true thus far, the United States would be wise to take note of his observations about administering a new form of government.

Problems the New Administration Will Face: He notes that as new institutions and laws are made the people will only respond to them partially, “Partly from fear of their adversaries, who have the existing laws on their side, and partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience”(19). Therefore, it will likely take time for a democratic type government to gain full support in Iraq. A new government does not ensure lasting results, as “the populace is by nature fickle; it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to confirm them in that persuasion”(19). Machiavelli also noted that because the new administration has no strong roots, new governments are easily destroyed with the first big trial (21).

Role of Religion in Government: Machiavelli discussed ecclesiastical principalities and observed that they “alone are secure and happy”(37). The religious institution, when connected to government, gives authority to the ruler. The United States has expressed reservations about a Shiite ruled government in Iraq, but the New York Times reported the following on 20 November 2003: "Our basic position is that as we get to know more of Iraqi society, we're more comfortable with a democratic process, and if that emerges with a predominant Shiite role, so be it," said an administration official.

see also tony blankley

or you could have it clinton's way:

(Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 1999) -- In the most hard-line stance taken to date, President Bill Clinton today announced plans to pave the entire nation of Iraq with a 12-inch layer of quick-setting, reinforced cement.

"This move will end, once and for all, Iraq's threat to its neighbors and underwrite a lasting peace in the Middle East," Clinton said. "Upon completion of Operation Desert Parking Lot, Iraq will, at last, become a nation with nothing to hide and no place to hide anything. That applies to weapons of mass destruction, as well as Saddam Hussein. If Saddam would happen to be in one of his underground bunkers when the cement is laid, the official position of the United States of America would be 'Oops.' "

The border-to-border paving operation had already begun when the President made the announcement at a press conference held early this morning. Heading northeastward from the Saudi Arabian border, a line of heavy earthmoving equipment is leveling the terrain, moving just ahead of a fleet of pre-mixed cement trucks. Operation Desert Parking Lot is expected to take several years, depending on the level of resistance met.

"The Iraqi people are being given every opportunity to relocate from the country in a peaceful and orderly manner," Clinton said. "Bombing runs aimed at razing buildings in Baghdad and other more heavily populated areas of the country will not commence until our Caterpillars approach their outskirts."

Clinton characterized the plan as a "more humane alternative" to past military attacks, which have resulted in heavy civilian casualties. Operation Desert Parking Lot, however, drew mostly negative reactions around the world.

Formal protests came from countries expecting the biggest influx of Iraqi refugees as the paving advances, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, the Palestinian territories and Iran. Saudi objections have been softened by an offer of first dibs on the lucrative recreational concession possibilities raised by the new expanse of Iraqi pavement.

Among other nations critical of the operation were France, Russia and the Duchy of Grand Fenwick. The only significant support came from the British, who are airlifting additional cement trucks and gravel to the effort.

Resettlement of the paved Iraq will not be permitted, according to Pentagon officials. "Irock," as media wags have already renamed the country, will be under constant satellite and seismographic surveillance. Any incursions detected either on the sheet of concrete or below its surface will be met with immediate military response by strategically placed U.N. forces. Exceptions are expected to be made for limited development of skateboarding parks and skating rinks on designated areas of the Iraqi slab.

To symbolically cement a new era of peaceful relations with the balance of Middle East nations, a giant "Smiley Face" will be painted in the approximate geographic center of the new Irock. The Fox television network has already expressed an interest in obtaining rights to the image for promoting That '70s Show. [source]

The New Wave in Shopping: The Magalog

In the past there has been discussion about addressing car-related topics on all-encompassingly.com. I know that myself, and I'm sure others, have been anxiously anticipating these posts. But, alas, months have come and gone and still nothing.

While, I am hardly an expert on cars, I thought that I could contribute some variety to the blog by discussing something that is near and dear to virtually every woman's heart, shopping.

Last month Lucky magazine was named Advertising Age's Magazine of the Year. David Brooks recently discussed this new genre in the New York Times Editorials/Op-Ed.

Noting the tendency for magazines to cater to an elite crowd and feature fashions that never make it off the runway (well, okay, I concede-they also appear at the Academy Awards), Brooks praises this democratic magazine. Below are some excerpts:

"The hottest new magazine in the land is called Lucky.

Lucky's success isn't due only to its sensibility. The founders realized that they could do away with some of the things that clog up other magazines, like articles. There are almost no articles in the magazine. There's no advice about relationships. No celebrity profiles. In fact there are almost no celebrities. The models are normal-looking women, and often are in fact Lucky magazine staff members.

Instead there is stuff. Lucky bills itself as "The Magazine About Shopping." There are pages and pages filled with pictures of shoes, lipstick, perfume and handbags. It's a hybrid between a magazine and a catalog: a magalog.

Some critics see the magalog's success as a sign of the end of civilization. But Lucky succeeds because it applies an aggressively democratic sensibility to the world of fashion.

But in the world of Lucky, there is no beau monde. There is no fashion hierarchy. There are no authority figures, nor any social elite (that's why there are no celebrities). There's just the happiness of the local mall.

There aren't even any trends. Anything can be cool if you want it to be. Moreover, the distinction between upscale and downscale is exploded. Lucky exhibits $500 pants side by side with stuff you could find at Wal-Mart. Lucky appeals to the modern sort of shopper whose consumption patterns don't conform to her income level. She'll shop at Dollar General for stuff she doesn't care about and then rocket up and buy $400 boots at Neiman Marcus to feed her shoe fetish.

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote a rather important book on how, in America, the democratic personality supplants the aristocratic personality. The democrat smashes hierarchies. The democrat is interested in everyday happiness, not lofty excellence. The democrat simply does not acknowledge the existence of social class. Nobody is above me and nobody is below me. We are all equal, and we are all Lucky."

For those of you whose curiousity is piqued go to: www.luckymag.com

Happy shopping.

13th Annual 'Make a Difference Day'

editor's note: welcome to all-encompassingly! if you come here often, you may be expecting our usual taunting of liberals, terrorists, or the cowardly french. well, that is not going to happen today. carolyn is going to blog at you about something really meaningful. i promise we'll be up to no good again next time. but, for now, be awed by the wisdom of carolyn.

Saturday, October 25 marks the annual Make a Difference Day, sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine. The object is to encourage everyone to look around his or her community and find out what needs to be done and act. Those that volunteer on this day are encouraged to report their activities to USA Weekend Magazine and ten projects are awarded $10,000 donations. Organizers hope the day will encourage those that are not involved in regular service to get started, while encouraging regular volunteers to step-up their activities. It is good to note that the day is not completely altruistic; volunteers and their projects are spotlighted in USA Weekend.

This is your invitation to make a difference.

Now, I realize that an invitation from a weblog is hardly moving. Perhaps you'd like to know why I'm encouraging you to act?

I just completed a history course entitled Jews and the Holocaust in which the instructor, Dr. Paul Kerry, requested that we not merely ask ourselves, "what would I have done, but what will I do?" The course focused on the rise of the National Socialist Party in Germany, the racial laws that were imposed, the consequences, and the response of the world, particularly those under National Socialist control, during the 1930s and 1940s. Underlying the scholarship of Holocaust historians one sees the struggle to answer the question, Who is responsible for the Holocaust? What level of responsibility is held by those of the Nazi party, the German army, the civilians, foreign nations, etc.? In recognition that the nations of the world have the responsibility to protect against genocide, following the end of World War II the United Nations was formed with an international commitment and promise of: "never again."

Unfortunately, despite the international commitment, the crime of genocide persists. The massacre of the Tutsi in Rwanda and the Kurds in Iraq are some of the more recent occurrences where international intervention came too late. As William Schulz noted, "The right words at the right time truly can be a matter of life and death."

I am convinced that by becoming more actively involved on the local level, we will be less indifferent and quicker to respond to crises on the international level. I have learned a great deal from studies on those that rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Many researchers, including psychologists and sociologists, have studied the actions of rescuers. John Slawson, executive vice president emeritus of the American Jewish Committee and social psychologist, was one of the first to approach this area of study. (I mention him specifically, only because I wonder if we are perhaps related?) Anyway, the actions of rescuers provide us with a model to follow.

Bib Latane and John Darley, social psychologists, have noted a five-stage process that turns observers into active participants. These are: noticing that something is amiss; interpreting the situation as one in which people need help; assuming responsibility to offer that help; choosing a form of help; and, finally, implementing that help.

Research has also noted that rescuers often acted reflexively because of core moral values that were instilled in them during childhood. General characteristics of rescuers' childhood included the following: a nurturing, loving home; an altruistic parent or beloved caretaker who served as a role model; a tolerance for people who were different; and an upbringing that emphasized independence, competence, discipline with explanations, and caring.

The above studies reemphasized to me the importance of being an aware citizen, the need to take responsibility for injustices I see around me and to act, as well as the importance of the family in raising children that are likely to make a difference in society.

Dean Rusk, Secretary of State under President Kennedy, said
"there will always be trouble in a world in which at any one time two-thirds of the people are awake."

Be aware.

Make a difference.