I try to assume that you will show some sense and you produce this. Ah well, I must stick to my modus operendi: hope springs eternal. You are terribly misinformed. The "whole world" said nothing of the kind. We would have had the same deal going into Iraq that we had going into Afghanistan had France and several other countries not had secret (not so secret) deals with Saddam and guaranteed him that they would block the US from forming a coalition to enforce the UN resolutions. Our choice was caving in to France & Saddam or enforcing the resolutions with a coalition of the willing. Forget the garbage you are throwing out. It is Leftist nonsense -- just not true. You are sniffing the wrong glue. You just aren't interested in really thinking about these things, are you? You stick to the Leftist party line and prefer Bush-bashing. Okay, forget I said anything. I'm off to the river with my dogs. Lawrence _____ From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Geary Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 12:58 AM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Amis Antithesis The thing is, Lawrence, the whole world told those stupid, plutocratic-fascist little shitheads in Washington not to invade Iraq. But they knew that they understand the world better than anyone else, even though they'd never experienced the world beyond their country clubs and library stacks. Surprise, surprise! What everyone told those geniuses has proven to be true. So now we have a clutch of Stasi boys running around the world torturing and disappearing and assassinating people and generally destroying what little moral standing America has left in the world in the name of saving her. And, get this, Lawrence, now our President -- unarguably the most dense and incompetent man in world (except maybe for the Pope) -- holds forth that a Third Spiritual Awakening is taking place in America. Dear God. And yet you still believe in them and their henchmen. My, my. If the last 6 years hasn't taught you anything, Lawrence, I have no hope of doing so here. So, I'll sign off and pledge anew not to engage in these fruitless debates. Mike Geary hoping not to relapse Memphis ----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Helm To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006 11:45 PM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Amis Antithesis Mike, As to Pankaj Misra's article, this is all Leftist-party-line stuff I read a long time ago -- regurgitated simplistic stuff -- a waste of time to read -- at least for me. I've actually been reading some cutting-edge theories recently (Olivier Roy, James Bowman, Gilles Kepel for example); scholars thinking through the issues and voicing their own opinions -- and don't bother saying I'm reading stuff I agree with because I don't agree for the most part with two of those three authors and have serious doubts about the third but they are fascinating to read. I don't know what you mean about taking orders, but think of my focus this way: I have always wanted more time to study as well as write. I had a good deal of free time in aerospace but now I'm unfettered. I have a good pension and 401 and can afford to buy all the books I want, and I have the health and leisure to read them. My ambition is to know. I'm not a member of any group. I'm not an activist. Even a cursory familiarity with what I've been reading should show you I've been reading widely. Yes, I've eliminated the rereading of the Leftist point of view (which says to you, Irene, Andreas, Simon, etc that I am missing the one true truth), but I have studied it. I am not terribly interested in revisiting it because it was the failed view of Edward Said and John Esposito (both of whom I've read) -- the view that failed to anticipate Militant Islam. But I have been seeking out various points of view, even the viewpoint of the Islamists themselves. Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Geary Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006 7:18 PM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Amis Antithesis LH: >>And this one too, sent out without comment????? What is it? A nervous >>twitch? Hitting the reply/send instead of "delete"? One too many Jack >>Daniels? Banging the keyboard in frustration and accidentally sending >>these uncommented upon messages to Lit-Ideas? << No, not Jack Daniels unfortunately, just some interruptions and a badly aimed cursor. I must say, I was surprised at your response to Pankaj Mishra's article. I found it spot on and your response to it jejune. But you probably won't be surprised at my response either. I don't see any sense in arguing it as I suspect you're too deeply mired in your My Country Right Or Wrong simplicities to understand anything but an order from a superior. Alas, that's your life. Just thought you should know that Pankaj and Simon aren't alone. Mike Geary Memphis ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html