tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post7761620063641631378..comments2024-03-29T03:19:09.227-04:00Comments on The Philosopher's Stone: QUICK RESPONSESRobert Paul Wolffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11970360952872431856noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-22670004698785777812013-09-03T23:59:12.076-04:002013-09-03T23:59:12.076-04:00I believe the Syrian problem must not just be a ru...I believe the Syrian problem must not just be a rush to arms but also a strategic mind-set on a positive end result before the first shot, on our side, is fired. <br /><br />I was recently reading Michael Grant's translation of Cicero which I believe is still relevant today. Here are the parallel passages that struck me:<br /><br />"It is hard for any Roman general fighting in Asia, Cilicia, Syria or the kingdoms of the interior to limit his attention to the enemy and to successes in the field... Words cannot express the hatred, gentlemen, in which we are held in countries overseas because of the scandalous, extortionate behaviour of the persons we have sent out to govern them."<br /><br />--pages 66-67 'Cicero: Selected Political Speeches' Penguin Classics ISBN: 978-0-14-044214-4Michael Llenoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05689105280485818465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-88278994394197905312013-09-03T09:40:22.349-04:002013-09-03T09:40:22.349-04:00Thanks, Tony. I will.Thanks, Tony. I will.Robert Paul Wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970360952872431856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-3621838844008924222013-09-03T09:09:08.130-04:002013-09-03T09:09:08.130-04:00You should check out the evidence (?) being collec...You should check out the evidence (?) being collected on Syria on this blog: http://brown-moses.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/a-detailed-summary-of-evidence-on.html<br /><br />Not sure what to make of Iranians or Syrians (or spies?) posting videos online of their activities if this is the case, but the Syria story continues to change daily. <br /><br />Tony Couture, Philosophy Department, UPEITony Couturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152011867765494204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-2592996486596427012013-09-01T19:59:27.469-04:002013-09-01T19:59:27.469-04:00There is something that the United States and othe...There is something that the United States and other nations could do immediately: namely, provide aid to the millions of Syrian refugees and the neighboring countries that have been taking them in (humanitarian aid, as it used to be called). It's very difficult to believe President Obama and his spokespersons when they claim to have the interests of the victims of Syria's civil war in mind.<br /> Our preposterous drone, rocket and bombs substitutes for foreign policy initiatives would not serve the interests of the victims of the terrible Syrian civil war. Nor does our substitute for foreign policy initiative serve our nation's interests. Needless to say, it doesn't serve the interests of the powerless peoples of the middle-east either.<br /> Many thanks to Mr. Polk and you. Rayestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269561495771323020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-83644003804314960492013-09-01T10:27:53.688-04:002013-09-01T10:27:53.688-04:00It is premature to say that Assad was responsible ...It is premature to say that Assad was responsible for this incident. Indeed, as Polk points out, he had very little if anything to gain by ordering the use of chemical weapons. Until there is considerable more clarity about this incident than currently exists, it would be prudent to refrain from putting the blame for the incident on Assad.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10439229866909328279noreply@blogger.com