Comments on: “Nations Don’t Invade Other Nations in the 21st Century” http://www.historyishappeningnow.com/2008/08/25/nations-dont-invade-other-nations-in-the-21st-century/ Yet another political blog Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:51:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ian http://www.historyishappeningnow.com/2008/08/25/nations-dont-invade-other-nations-in-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Ian Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:10:42 +0000 http://www.historyishappeningnow.com/?p=224#comment-163 I think it's absolutely correct that McCain is expressing his real views here - views he would defend vigorously. McCain's comment isn't a "gaffe," therefore, but an absurd position the press cannot criticize for fear of being called unpatriotic. I especially enjoy Barnes' remark that the issue of nations invading other nations "isn't really significant." I can't think of anything more significant, especially given McCain's statement that Russia's invasion of Georgia was probably the first really important international crisis since the end of the Cold War. I think it’s absolutely correct that McCain is expressing his real views here – views he would defend vigorously. McCain’s comment isn’t a “gaffe,” therefore, but an absurd position the press cannot criticize for fear of being called unpatriotic.

I especially enjoy Barnes’ remark that the issue of nations invading other nations “isn’t really significant.” I can’t think of anything more significant, especially given McCain’s statement that Russia’s invasion of Georgia was probably the first really important international crisis since the end of the Cold War.

]]> By: Lee http://www.historyishappeningnow.com/2008/08/25/nations-dont-invade-other-nations-in-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Lee Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:22:08 +0000 http://www.historyishappeningnow.com/?p=224#comment-162 I think this response perfectly captures what is wrong with our mediasphere. The idea that gaffes on the Right (the Far Right, by the way) deserve no exposition or mention is something like the "spontaneous philosophy" of all Serious commentators, to adapt a concept put forward by the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci. It just doesn't occur to anyone in the mediasphere that McCain's comments contain anything remotely approaching a contradiction or irony or that his hypocrisy might delegitimize him in any way. It's as natural as pie not to say anything about his claim. But, well, if Obama goes bodysurfing shirtless whoa boy, now that's Serious News. More to the point, McCain is not here making a gaffe, but expressing his real views: when we invade someone, it's not a country invading another country, it's just the right and proper order of the world. We--and by we, I mean our military-industrial elites--are always excluded from the rules and laws we expect others to follow. Our elites are not subject to the rule of law, only those other nasty guys. It's a Rule of Law for them, Anything We Like for us. I think this response perfectly captures what is wrong with our mediasphere. The idea that gaffes on the Right (the Far Right, by the way) deserve no exposition or mention is something like the “spontaneous philosophy” of all Serious commentators, to adapt a concept put forward by the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci.

It just doesn’t occur to anyone in the mediasphere that McCain’s comments contain anything remotely approaching a contradiction or irony or that his hypocrisy might delegitimize him in any way. It’s as natural as pie not to say anything about his claim. But, well, if Obama goes bodysurfing shirtless whoa boy, now that’s Serious News.

More to the point, McCain is not here making a gaffe, but expressing his real views: when we invade someone, it’s not a country invading another country, it’s just the right and proper order of the world. We–and by we, I mean our military-industrial elites–are always excluded from the rules and laws we expect others to follow.

Our elites are not subject to the rule of law, only those other nasty guys. It’s a Rule of Law for them, Anything We Like for us.

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