It’s often said that history repeats itself. Opponents of counterterrorism subscribe to Henry Stimson’s philosophy of national defense. Stimson, then Secretary of State under Herbert Hoover, shut down Foggy Bottom’s code-breaking bureau on the grounds that “gentlemen don't read other gentlemen's mail.”
http://www.amazon.com/Reader-Gentlemens-Mail-American-Codebreaking/dp/0300098464
But the only problem with a Gentleman’s agreement is that our enemies don’t always act like perfect gentlemen.
And although the original statement had specific reference to espionage, it encapsulates a view of national defense which is very much with us to this day.
So the solution is for us to stoop to their level? Fight fire with fire?
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that Lenin had a nice name for folks like onelasttime...
ReplyDeleteonelasttime said...
ReplyDelete"So the solution is for us to stoop to their level? Fight fire with fire?"
Shocking, isn’t it? Why, I have it on good authority that firemen have been known to the stoop to the level of an arsonist by setting a backfire in order to create a firewall to prevent a wildfire from, say, jumping a freeway.
Firemen fighting fire with fire. I mean, how low can you stoop?
I hope onelasttime isn't a cop.
ReplyDeleteI hate to think what shooting an armed murderer holding a bunch of schoolkids hostage would do to his conscience. "I...I...I **stooped**!!! Oh, regret!"
I seem to recall that Lenin had a nice name for folks like onelasttime...
ReplyDeleteSo did PT Barnum.
Steve, if someone comes up to you and flicks you off, do you return the favor?
ReplyDeleteonelasttime said:
ReplyDelete"Steve, if someone comes up to you and flicks you off, do you return the favor?"
Why don't you try turning your question into something resembling a reasoned argument? Unless and until you're prepared to present an argument for what you believe, there's nothing for me to respond to.