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James Graham's avatar

V interesting to read this column now, July '22, when NATO has finally gotten its way, enmeshing us in the massive folly of an unending proxy war with Russia. I spent the last half hour trying to find a Trotsky quote about how US imperialism is perceived as "blameless" and can't. You've restated it. As Gide said, "Of course it's all been said before but nobody was listening so we have to say it again." Quibbles ? The French don't hate Americans. In that regard, you're projecting.

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David Gottfried's avatar

I welcome your comment.

Even if the French don't hate Americans, I always thought that French patriots had good reason to:

As I said in my essay, when American forces seized French possessions in Northest Africa, the Americans gave them to the Vichy French, the bastards who collaborated with the Nazis. That terrain should have be given to the FREE FRENCH

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James Graham's avatar

That was smthng I didn't know, thanks! I don't know the condition of the Free French at that point in time, so more research necessary - I just reacted to your big leap. Nonetheless, a sharp piece.

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Jonathan Alter's avatar

This whole post offers spicy food for thought--and great arguments.

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David Gottfried's avatar

Thank you for your kind words

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Jan 13, 2022
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David Gottfried's avatar

Your assertion that "Korea must feel torn because it is literally torn and all because of the larger political games around it," reminded me that so many conflicts between states have been instigated by larger states.

For example, the British did a brilliant job of amassing a huge empire through the policy of "divide and conquer," a policy of fomenting battles between rival groups so the Brits could clean up after rival ethnic groups killed each other: A) They instigated battles between Hindus and Muslims to ensure their domination of the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) and B) they promised Israel and the West bank to both Jews and Arabs, setting the stage for conflict between those two groups.

But most people don't know this and England always comes off smelling like a Rose.

My grandmother, who of course never went to College, said that Britain was a whore dressed up like a lady.

Of course, I must concede that although I often hate the brits, I sometimes love them for their literature and if not their progressive politics, their aspiration and belief in the realization of the true and the good and the beautiful.

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