From: OPE-L Administrator (ope-admin@ricardo.ecn.wfu.edu)
Date: Wed Feb 26 2003 - 15:53:01 EST
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Greetings! From: "Cyrus Bina" <binac@mrs.umn.edu> Date: Tue, February 25, 2003 6:50 pm Dear Rakesh, I am glad that you were able to see Brenner, Mertes, and Anderson. Among these wonderful people, in my opinion, only Brenner is on the right track (on the question of oil). However, speaking of domestic elections belongs entirely to a different level of analysis. As you have indicated in your OPE-L piece, most democrats do not seem to have any disagreement on this matter with Bush. Therefore, in my opinion, question of stealing the show, so to speak, from the rival party is not the case here. From the standpoint of this "small bunch" that run the Bush Administration, the world is devoid of another "superpower;" "we are the only superpower;" and 9-11 is the best thing that has ever happened to America. They think in terms of military wherewithal and the historical "authority" of America (read Pax Americana). Finally, they instinctually feel that in the fast-paced world besieged by universal uncertainty, the time is not on their side. Therefore, Colin Powell, clumsily mimicking the posture of a transnational CEO, speaks of time as it his money is running out. Another point is that one should not separate US military from the rest of these bunch at the level that is worthy of analysis. At this point, in my opinion, we still need to build enough categories and level of analyses that will enable us to MEDIATE between the highest level of "abstract" and the lowest level of "concrete." Also, we need not label this as politically or economically driven. I would argue both elements are present in all this. On your other question, I haven't seen the book by Mommer yet. Best, Cyrus
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