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re: Which thread are you reading?
azstrummer — (archived)

I think of Saddam much like a reckless teenager in believing he can push things to a point and still survive. Still, a rabid teenager is going to drive fast, squeal his tires, get macho with his friends, etc. but he's simply not ever going to believe he can survive driving his car off a cliff. Even reckless people have their limits to pushing their luck. I truly believe the decision to use a nuke on another nuclear power is past that point for nearly all people. It is guaranteed suicide.

Think of Saddam as a Mafia don. His history truly points to there being a huge similarity. They assassinate their rivals, deal in dispicable crimes, buy off politicians and cops, but they all know that there's a limit to how they have appear to the public. The public will put up with their presence as long as they feel that the Mafia crime is occurring in isolated little areas. It's only when the crimes start affecting their own lives that they get up in arms and demand the authorities start cracking down.

It's much like that with the world. Any leader or country that attacked another country with a preemptive nuclear attack would bring instant condemnation by the entire community of powerful countries. Any sympathies or business interests they might protect in small skirmishes or bad behavior would pale in comparison to their revulsion of the ultimate act.

Art

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