George Handlery about the week that was. The danger of violent pacifism. Who is running on his real record? Accepting foul promises. Che emerges in Vienna. Protecting aged terrorists seeking retirement. Which Krugman got the prize? A swimmer who is even on land all whet. The Dictator’s Tantrum # 5.
 
1. Historically, before the era of modern war – the military mutation of the industrial revolution – the tendency was to resort to war as an alternative to the search for non-violent solutions. Today the cultural preference for war yields to the West’s rejection of military responses. This does not always happen because better means than force are available. It is done due to doubts whether self-defense is practically or morally justified. The danger of the past had been the conditioned reflex of mindless militarism. The threat for us to fear now is an uncritical, and towards those daring to question its premises, aggressive dogmatic pacifism.
 
2. The Economist has organized a global consultative participation via the internet in the US‘ election. The available results give “99%” of the countries to Obama. While the sample is not scientific – only those with access to the weekly and the internet could participate – one thing is clear. Never has anyone in superpower America ascended to power with as much global support as BO is likely to. The disappointment of the sobered at home and abroad will match the present enthusiasm fueled by illusions.
 
3. Observing America’s election contest and its PR from abroad, one is tempted to assess the causes of the Democrat’s success. Could it be that Obama is running off his record? Meanwhile McCain is running on a record. Only it is not the one forged by him but one that was invented for him.
 
4. Mr. Bolton is right – as far as outsiders can tell – when he claims (October 13) in the WSJ that the US has “surrendered” to North Korea. America gives, after non-compliance, what she would have partially withheld in case Kim had kept his word. All this in exchange of yet another pledge being the latest in a series of broken promises. This can be seen as a pre-election move that anticipates the new administration’s line. As such, it is a signal of the series of capitulations, retreats and compromises to be made without a quid pro quo to come in the years to follow.
 
5. Che is alive! Not in the jungle as a guerilla but in a park in Vienna as a statue. In one of the laudations Mr. Häuptl, the Burgomaster of the city, revealed a surprising finding of his. The claim that Che was a murderer is false. The political opponents of the Socialists performing the inauguration have suggested that a list with the names of Guevara’s personal victims be placed on the sculpture.
 
6. More about terrorists. Sarkozy refuses (October 12.) to extradite Marina Petrella. She is an Italian woman who was a leading member of the murderous Red Brigades. Sarko’s predecessor, Mitterand granted asylum to all Brigadists on condition that they renounce terror. Thereby, once these people failed in Italy they could rely on a safe house in France. Did the reduced risk embolden them to kill more people? Your guess! Now, facing extradition, Petrella became sick. She suffers from depression. (Guess why?) Currently she is in treatment. A sick person should not be thrown to the mercy of a vindictive state. If you are nasty you venture to speculate that being able to stay in France will cause Petrella’s condition to improve rapidly. Therefore, the open question is what will happen once those treating Ms Petrella are forced to admit that, low and behold, she is cured. A good indicator is Carla Bruni’s (Mrs Sarkozy) involvement in the case. It is reported that, having visited Petrella, Bruni, with a Royal gesture, promised continued protection to the poor fifty-something woman persecuted by the revenge seeking and now hoping for peaceful retirement.
 
7. It is possible, even necessary, to separate in one’s mind Paul Krugman the economist Nobel laureate from the polemical publicist. Regarding the award, the questions pertaining to its legitimacy do not relate to the scientist’s merits. The issue here is whether all the members of the committee that decided to honor Krugman have kept apart the two roles he plays. Furthermore, it would be interesting to know, in truth, which one of the two Krugmans got the prize.
 
8. Fascinating revelations. Andreas Hargitay is a Hungarian swimmer. He has two world and four European championship titles. A US-located Hall of Fame of the sport has elected him to be included on its honor roll. Hargitay refused to attend the ceremony. Apparently, even outside the pool Hargitay manages to be all wet. He refused to participate because “in Iraq and Afghanistan” US forces are “massacring hundreds of thousands.”
 
9. Perhaps it is not accidental but the above item makes the writer recall a story newly contributed by a participant. Some state sponsored project distributed “Green” leaflets to the young pupils of a neighboring school. The children were told to go out on the street and to hand out the flyers to passers by. After the exercise, the teacher gathered the kids and they were instructed to repeat what they regarded as the most impressive commentaries made by the recipients. Knowing what was expected the students reported great public interest and approval. Only a boy who had been a lively participant of the pre-distribution discussion of the leaflet’s content kept silent. Finally, when asked to participate, he said that he does not want to. Well, he must, he was told. After some pressuring, he hesitatingly consented on the condition that no one will mind.
“So, what were you told? Spit it out.”
“OK, but you have ordered me to say it.”
“Sure. Now go ahead!”
“Someone asked me ‘what kind of a big a**w***e is your teacher?’”
 
10. The flames raging in the financial markets and the casting of central bankers as fire fighters prompts this observation. Socialism and Capitalism share some features. One is that abuses occur in both systems – as they have in all pre-industrial economic structures. However, there is a significant difference in between the abuses in the two orders. In Socialism, power can be used to cover up the spilled milk. Properly pressured, all will claim that there is more milk, even honey in the container than before and what looks like the puddle is actually a dry spot. Furthermore, in Capitalism there is, next to greater risks, also more to steal.
 
11. It has been said that some financial institutions were “too big to fail” so they got bailed out by their governments. The reassurance implied by the slogan might have contributed to the recklessness of managers. If so we might also talk about “too big to fear.” Those inebriated in such a manner were also “too blind” to see the icebergs and became too naïve by their delusion to fear them.
 
12. The admission of low-scoring individuals to law schools – provided they hold membership in a protected group – has an interesting justification. They can inject special views into discussions. Let us hope that this principle will not be applied to engineers who ultimately build bridges we have to pass and to doctors who might dissect us. The deliberations mentioned sound like the kind of “bull sessions” of the unqualified that the writer used to love while residing in a college dorm.
 
13. The “Dictator‘s Tantrum” # 5. Hardly had installment No. 4 been posted or a new development changed the situation. Suddenly the Libyans decided to repudiate two things. No, the renunciation of arbitrariness was not one of them. However, the flights can continue and the money stays in Switzerland. Are the Gadhafis anticipating that they might have to depart their domain suddenly and with only carry-on luggage? Regarding the cancelled measures, the official line is that such punitive steps have never been contemplated. Meanwhile some Swiss citizens remain retained in Libya and things can continue their usual arbitrary way.