This article leaves an impression of Lewis as simply an agent-provocateur, a nihilist with connections, as it were.
After the Cold War, what would be the point of Lebanonizing Central Asia? Far better to cut deals with the feeble governments of the Caucasus, allowing for US oversight and military bases in exchange for cash security guarantees. The ones that don't cooperate [Chechnya, Georgia(?)], we can leave to the Russians.
Well, I was just wondering how dogma is disseminated in this, the Last Remaining Superpower On Earth. How are generally known factsarrived at? How are experts annointed? Who annoints them?
I found this on, of all places, a Che Guevara discussion site. It's interesting to me that the poster did not site the source. I was too lazy to track it down myself. But it seems that it is probably from a "contaminated" source and the comrades might have dismissed it because of its source--as happens on so-called "free wheeling" conservative discussion so often. I confess, when I'm feeling lazy I engage in a bit of "information baby out with the source bathwater" myself.
Who trains us to become such rigorous self-censors I wonder? There are several interesting "facts" presented in this alternative view of the Sage, don't you think?
In this extreme binary-thinking age of "you are either with us or you are with the terrorists" it seems to me that the light spectrum is shrinking ominously--almost down to nothing but powerful, continuous UV rays.
For example, do you remember when you first heard an annointed Sage pronounce that "the global economy is here and we must learn to live with it,"? Do you recall any great debate upon the subject of the global economy--here in the land of freedom?
As to your question:
"...After the Cold War, what would be the point of Lebanonizing Central Asia?...
I'm rather stunned that you don't see the point. It seems obvious to me. What was the point of "Lebenonizing" Yugoslavia?
But we must avoid thinking impure thoughts lest we find ourselves on the side of demons.......