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Lessig: We Are Squandering Away The Future
Illissius writes "Lawrence Lessig has a new article up on Wired, with the title Our Kids Are in Big Trouble. I suck at summarizing, so here's a choice quote: 'Gone is the sense of duty that made so compelling Kennedy's demand "ask what you can do for your country." We don't even ask what we, as a nation, can do for our kids. The rhetoric of self-interest so deeply pervades politics that an ideal as fundamental as building a better future has been lost.'"
Normally, I wouldn't respond to this type of political statement, but since this is the politics section of /., I suppose I will.
I don't think even now we understand the full relationship between Saddam, the Sunni/Shiite/Kurd mess, Al-Queda (sp?), and other volatile groups, people, and events in this part of the world. Saddam probably was unaware of the 9/11 planning, yes. But was he supporting it? That's always a bit more tricky - define "support". Direct financial aid? Maybe, maybe not. Harbouring terrorists? Almost definitely. Moral support? Most absolutely.
If leaders had to wait until all the facts are available, we would never have any action. For one, those who oppose those leaders would simply conceal some facts, and render those leaders incapable of action. Strong leaders take action on educated (as informed as possible) guesses. In politics as in business .. as in family life. If you suspect your teenage daughter of having sex, do you wait to see her pregnant before having a chat with her, or do you try to keep her from those consequences by a "pre-emptive" strike and talking to her before (hopefully) she ends up pregnant?
Decisive leaders, like decisive fathers, act based on the preponderance of evidence, not on having all the facts. Once you have all the facts, it's too late. Once the first plane hit the tower, it was too late to stop the second plane!