IP: How to read Margaret Thatcher

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 11:15:09 +0000
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: "Charles Arthur, The Independent" <carthur () independent co uk>
>
> Hi ...
>
> Perhaps it should be noted that Margaret Thatcher is not regarded in the UK
> now as having any political leverage at all; even the Conservatives didn't
> want her visible in the past general election. People know that they're
> paying the price now for all the tax-cutting slash'n'burning of the 1980s
> in today's crowded and filthy schools and hospitals.
>
> Whoever ghostwrote this may have spoken to her, but really if you were to
> assume it's her thinking then to get an accurate view of the world, you
> should invert any definitive statement in it. As follows:
>
>
> At 2:44 pm -0500 on 11/2/2002, you wrote:
>
> >This article from TheNotNYTimes.com
> >America will never be the same again.
>
> American will be the same again.
>
> It has proved to
> >itself and to others that it is in truth (not just in name)
> >the only global superpower, indeed a power that enjoys a
> >level of superiority over its actual or potential rivals
> >unmatched by any other nation in modern times.
> >Consequently, the world outside America should never be the
> >same either. There will, of course, arise new threats from
> >new directions. But as long as America works to maintain
> >its technological lead, there is no reason why any
> >challenge to American dominance should succeed. And that in
> >turn will help ensure stability and peace.
>
> Things are going to get hairy, and all the spending on military hardware is
> actually going to detract from your economy. (See James Suroweicki in this
> week's New Yorker: you can have guns or butter, but not both.)
>
> >Yet, as President Bush has reminded Americans, there is no
> >room for complacency. America and its allies, indeed the
> >Western world and its values, are still under deadly
> >threat. That threat must be eliminated, and now is the time
> >to act vigorously.
>
> The threats have eased off a lot.
>
> >In many respects the challenge of Islamic terror is unique,
>
> In many respect the challenge of Islamic terror is just like any other
> terrorist organisation - say, the IRA
>
> >hence the difficulty Western intelligence services
> >encountered trying to predict and prevent its onslaughts.
> >The enemy is not, of course, a religion - most Muslims
> >deplore what has occurred.
>
> Most Catholics hate what the IRA do in "their" name, as do Protestants with
> the UVF.
>
> And so on.
>
> Interesting that this was pushed to the NYT. I guess her agent or whatever
> knew that nobody in Britain would want it.
>
>         Charles
>
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------
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>         It's even better on paper
>
>
>
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