While Burnside's methods in many respects should be condemned, the fact
remains he was frustratingly aware that the enemy he opposed was
succedding in their expansion of influence because of a lack of will on
the part of elected politicians. He was an idealistic patriot who
ultimatly became cosumed by his own power to influence events beyond his
occupational station. What caused him to become increasingly bold in
making not executing policy was the fact that he knew better than most
the ruthlessness of his enemy and was willingly to fight them in the
same vein.
As for the Carter administration's similar lack of will, which was in
office wen this series was aired, they were repeatedly out maneuvered by
the Soviets (and th Iranians) and left with a whimper after 4 years of
office. What were they suppossed to do? How about using the classic
approach that has been relatively successful ( with the exception of
Viet Nam) and that is arm and support the indigenous rebel forces. Once
that was done in later years, by the Reagan Administration, the Soviets
left that country shortly thereafter. Further that policy demonstrated
to the closely watching world that this new administration would fight
this military and ideological war on every front. This reenergized
European resolve against the Soviets and strenghtened Nato, etc.
Your fascist friend,
--WebTV-Mail-777852972-1798
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From: "Adams, Ernest" <eadams@ea.com>
To: "'sandbaggers@skylee.com'" <sandbaggers@skylee.com>
Subject: RE: Cast Sighting
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 12:15:17 -0800
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I think you'd have to be a flaming fascist NOT to seriously disapprove
of Burnside's methods. They're both undemocratic and cruel. Consider the
first episode, where he threatens to have Alan Denson's fiancee falsely
arrested for shoplifting and prostitution in order to break them up,
which undoubtedly contributed to her suicide.
Burnside is an ideologue who is certain that he is right and everyone
else is wrong. In his position, he's a deeply dangerous loose cannon.
That is the point of the series.
What, precisely, was the Carter administration supposed to do about
Afghanistan? Invade for the rebels, so that Russian and American
soldiers would be shooting at each other? Afghanistan was the Soviet
Viet Nam -- a long, debilitating, and ultimately fruitless war. It
provided a lot of valuable intelligence about the strength of the
Russian military. The outcome of that mess was about the best that
America could have hoped for -- it weakened Russia's credibility and the
Communist Party's grip on power. Two years after their withdrawal from
Afghanistan, the Soviet Union was dissolved.
--WebTV-Mail-777852972-1798--