I think that people were there for different reasons. For myself, I think that NATO primarily exists to serve NATO’s own strategic interests — if those interests correspond with human rights issues, then fine, but that is not their primary concern.

For myself, I was there for a number of reasons, but to pick one — I view NATO as part of an overall system of state-sponsored non-state actors engaged in a neo-colonial enterprise. Most of this is economic : the IMF insists on structural readjustment as part of aid to a former colonial nation, the resulting burden crushes the local economy, the state collapses, and if that region is strategically important, NATO or others might intervene physically. I was there because I view the current system as flawed, and NATO is just a part of it.

To say that Kosovo is better for NATO intervention is like saying the ends justify the means — it’s hard to say that the civilians killed as ancillaries to NATO actions are better off today because of NATO’s intervention. Both of these are beside the point. The actions and results of military engagements are not transparent, and as scandals periodically arise and are forgotten, I have have become more and more uncomfortable with supporting or trusting the better judgement of the leaders of NATO and other military organizations.

At the end of the protest, we listened to a number of short speeches by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as they told of how they felt that they were deceived by the US military and NATO. They had all received medals for their service and they returned them because they felt their actions had not been worthy of honor. It’s a certain kind of bravery to do that, and I went to hear them speak because I wanted to support them in that act.

Full disclosure: I served my NATO-member country in uniform.

You do have to concede that ancient Vedic “platitudes” are much more colorful and amusing than the present ones. From an information-theoretic viewpoint, one could perhaps argue that they convey more information. At least, they do deliver more entertainment. Echo chambers certainly are not sources of new knowledge.

Lastly, NATO is just a PC name for “American Empire”. The rulers do what they want, the ruled do what they must.

I disagree — express your views vociferously, and when you later change your mind, denounce your previous position as vociferously. To wait, as you suggest, is to disengage.

Given your ancestry, — You speak of platitudes and switch to orientalism. Here is some ancient Vedic thought (Atharva Veda I.21) : “Indra, subdue our enemies, lay low the men who fight with us: Down into nether darkness send the man who shows us enmity.” One might as well quote the Bible.

you ideologues are guilty of manslaughter : this is absurd. Why were roads blocked? Because NATO wanted security — they would have wanted it regardless of a few protestors. If an ambulance couldn’t have made it up Lake Shore Drive, it’s because of the conference, not because of the protest. By your logic, I should call those citizens who tacitly support NATO accessories to the murder of civilians.

The point is not that everyone should be out protesting (that’s a different argument) — the point is that the city had a choice to host this conference, and blames the protestors for the inconvenience caused to its citizens. Blocking the highway for a motorcade to to the airport was incredibly annoying to the people of Chicago and had 0% to do with the existence of a (completely legal) protest march.

nice thoughts expressed in nice words …

best

Respectfully, this post is disappointing: too many feel-good platitudes.

Sometimes it is better to abstain from political statements until one’s political education (which is not the same as one’s technical education) is solid enough. I speak from personal experience.

Given your ancestry, it would be nicer to see some ancient Vedic thought in a political post, instead of this distasteful French crypto-anarchic mental virus.

Don’t fall back on the petty concerns of how you are inconvenienced.

If protesters block streets and an ambulance is delayed for 10 minutes, and as a result someone in urgent need of medical care dies, you ideologues are guilty of manslaughter. Consequences matter more than lofty intentions sometimes…