rejecting a diktat

[Jon Ford]

Am I alone in finding the discussion of "diktat"  in the posts below 
terribly inane and irrelevant to the situation in Iraq? If you look up 
"diktat" in a dictionary you find it refers to any authoritarian decree; it 
derives from the same root as  the English word "dictator." Now it might be 
meaningful to speak of the Iraqui Parliament being brave in rejecting a 
"diktat" from the UN or from Bush or whoever if in fact that parliament 
existed in a framework in which their vote mattered a little. However, these 
fellows serve only at the whim of a dictator, Saddam, and so I can't see any 
"bravery" in their acts-- their every vote is an act of fear and acquiesence 
to the all-powerful daily diktats of SAddam. And the "sacred motherland" of 
the resistant Serbs isn't very relevant here as an analogy. The fact is that 
  modern  Iraq, despite having archeological roots that go far back in 
history to ancient Babylon,  is  today a patchwork country held together 
mainly by the force of Saddam's soldiers, his weaponry, propaganda, and the 
anger of many citizens about the "diktat" conditions imposed on Iraq after 
the Persian Gulf War, conditions which have led to a weakened economy and 
poor nutrition, etc. As for the comment of Eisenstadt that was deemed so 
catty it made CArolyn cry "meow," I have no idea who "John" could refer to, 
as this is not how I spell my name, nor does my father spell it that way, as 
Mike well knows--- so they must be referring to some other individual.

Jon Ford



>From: globe@zipcon.net
>To: Michael Eisenstadt <michaele@ando.pair.com>
>CC: austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net
>Subject: Re: rejecting a diktat
>Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 11:28:56 -0800 (PST)
>
>   Meow to your last question, Michael.
>     Carolyn
>Quoting Michael Eisenstadt <michaele@ando.pair.com>:
>
> > Carolyn Garner wrote:
> >
> > > ...No country would ever willing let foreign
> > > troops on its soil.  The Serbs were given the
> > > same deal right before W.W.I and they refused
> > > knowing their refusal would lead to invasion
> > > which it did.
> >
> > Yes, the Austro-Hungarian empire gave the Serbs
> > an unacceptable diktat which the Serbs rejected
> > causing WW I although i dont offhand remember
> > the terms
> >
> > Carolyn, did John recall this from his 20th
> > century world history reading?
> >
> > best
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I hope the Iraqi Parl.'s vote will give some anxious moments to Bush
> > and
> > company
> > about the Iraqi people supporting our invasion.  Bush, Cheney and
> > Rumsfield are just a bunch of
> > bullies wanting to beat up on someone they think they can win easily.
> > They believe it will be
> > easy pickens all that nice oil,  but I wonder how easy it will be to
> > protect the oil fields
> > from sabotage?
> >  Anyway I hope Mike is right..manichean or no manicheans (i always
> > thought they ran around in
> > little feathers with claws on the end?)
> >  am listening to Janos Starker's complete bach complete suites solo
> > cello, recorded in the mid
> > 60's
> > carolyn
> >
> >
>
>
>
>  Carolyn Siscoe
>  GLOBE BOOKSTORE     visit our site on
>  5220 B Univ Way NE     Abebooks.com, Bookavenue.com, &
>                         TomFolio.com
>  Seattle,Washington
>   USA
>   98105
>
>   206 527 2480


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