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Altruism benefits no one

Reader comment on item: War as Social Work?

Submitted by Maryallene Otis (United States), May 7, 2003 at 18:41

This is an impressive article. Dr. Pipes is absolutely right. A country's primary goal in any military action should be its own security as long as it is a relatively free country that respects the individual rights of its citizens. Any benefits to those outside that country are not a bad thing, but in no way should be the focus of a war. Just like an individual, the United States has a moral right to defend itself, including via pre-emptive strikes. This would only change if the United States became a totaliarian regime, at which point a freer country would have the right, but not the obligation, to liberate our citizens and destroy our weapons.

For more on this issue, see the works of Ayn Rand.
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Reader comments (51) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1A new military strategy in Afghanistan that might work. [353 words]Bill PazaratzNov 6, 2010 22:46179994
"War As Social Work" [201 words]Renee BouvierNov 8, 2007 15:32113438
Enhancing America's Security vs. War as Social Work [22 words]jennifer solisOct 13, 2007 14:40111385
WELcome democracy [92 words]samanJul 12, 2005 22:1623422
The Long Term [180 words]AdamJul 23, 2003 11:5010178
War as Social work [164 words]A.K. LenceskiMay 23, 2003 02:149196
A problem [605 words]David IseckeMay 14, 2003 17:489069
Brilliant! [26 words]Carmen Waggoner, Ph.D.May 14, 2003 11:159053
reason for military intervention [102 words]dave morrisMay 9, 2003 19:528979
Real war [189 words]A.A.May 9, 2003 18:388978
Strengthening alliances [247 words]Antonio ChavesMay 8, 2003 14:278960
USA saved Aussie bacon as well [166 words]Craig LawrieMay 8, 2003 00:418939
Social Work and National Interest [171 words]William KinneyMay 7, 2003 23:018937
The administration has an obligation to the American people to provide what it promised [223 words]Alex CMay 7, 2003 20:098934
Altruism benefits no one [125 words]Maryallene OtisMay 7, 2003 18:418933
Thank you for calling attention to the media's spin [171 words]K WallMay 7, 2003 16:308930
How about DeSoto property rights? [48 words]Jules C.May 7, 2003 13:178929
Well Done [14 words]Moshe CohenMay 7, 2003 12:488927
Then why....? [73 words]Barbara RunkelMay 7, 2003 05:428921
Remember 9/11 and American security? [160 words]Ivan BarnaMay 7, 2003 01:268919
Amen [131 words]Jim FitzgeraldMay 7, 2003 01:108918
Well put! [15 words]PennyMay 7, 2003 00:018916
The road to hell [16 words]Vivek L. DevMay 6, 2003 23:358915
It doesn't follow [226 words]Jim RyanMay 6, 2003 21:498914
Unique point of view [22 words]Ann CiccolellaMay 6, 2003 19:568912
Brilliant Insight [62 words]Peter H. RonaiMay 6, 2003 19:328911
Whose Security? [305 words]Giulio BattistonMay 6, 2003 18:328909
Take a Spin [5 words]N. HayesMay 6, 2003 18:288908
Americans help make the economic recovery become possible... [84 words]Tilman WinklerMay 6, 2003 18:188907
Islamist Schools [95 words]Graham Rael-BrookMay 6, 2003 16:538906
Nation Building [152 words]Paul M. NevilleMay 6, 2003 15:008904
Very well-said about war [125 words]rjalexandMay 6, 2003 14:518903
Amazing [51 words]Larry BensonMay 6, 2003 14:298902
War against Iraq [72 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Samir Khalil SAMIR, SJMay 6, 2003 14:098901
Philanthropy is our interest! [191 words]AvrahamMay 6, 2003 13:368900
I respectfully disagree [128 words]Boris GurevichMay 6, 2003 13:268899
Surrender And Be Free! [176 words]EdMay 6, 2003 13:208898
Thank you: intelligence with common sense [25 words]Marcella JenkinsMay 6, 2003 13:158897
Social work required [131 words]JockoMay 6, 2003 13:108896
Right on!!! [107 words]Jacob B. Padgug, Ed.D.May 6, 2003 12:588895
A ray of sanity [126 words]Patrick BramwellMay 6, 2003 12:148894
Other Wars [88 words]Jeff FosterMay 6, 2003 12:068893
Pipes says what Bush Admin Thinks [180 words]Larry DerfnerMay 6, 2003 11:278892
With respect, this time you're off-track. [239 words]David ScholemMay 6, 2003 11:198891
Iraqi Freedom [24 words]Ron WeinerMay 6, 2003 11:178890
Germany after WWII [54 words]G.C. Colan, Esq.May 6, 2003 10:568888
"Moral" interests [233 words]Ali LebanonMay 6, 2003 10:138884
The Ultimate War Goal? [146 words]Alain Jean-MairetMay 6, 2003 09:578882
Dr. Pipes has identified a MAJOR guiding principle. [86 words]DSm.May 6, 2003 09:518880
Nemesis of Islamists [180 words]R.D. CrockettMay 6, 2003 09:198879
Oh how the truth hurts! [155 words]Daniel LenardMay 6, 2003 09:168878

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