Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 15:32:14 -0500 (EST)
From: danceswithcarp <dcombs-AT-bloomington.in.us>
Subject: Re: Chomsky replies re Kosovo




On 18 Apr 1999, Nico MYOWNA wrote:

> Some Chomsky comments which show a few of my arguments about this Kosova  
> war. I think, Carp should not call my argumentation "shrill" and "hyper-  
> bole", but Bart's reaction on "A few states on the Balkan", because, if we  
> beliefe Chomsky, the T. Snow Columne *was* right.

Chomsky is an academic, a very bright academic.  He is a veritable fount
of trivia and details.  He also tends to intellectualize the obvious, and
obsfucate the less obvious.  I have never been A Big Fan of Chomsky as I
find him too tedious to read and take seriously.  But even more so I have
always been suspect of anyone who starts off with a conclusion and then
builds a case to support it.

Even I can do that.

His basic premise here is that since the U$/UK/NATO has a very spotty
record of interventions in other areas, then they are in no way qualified
to intervene in any area.

I think there's a latin saying for that line of reasoning, something close
to "pro hoc, ergo proctor hoc."  Or more simply put, "Because of this,
because of that."  Sort of like saying, "Look, look.  The tree branches
are waving.  That will make the wind start blowing."

It's almost always wirked for me, too.


carp