Site original : Richard Stallman's Political Notes
The US is an exception among countries in several ways. Here are a few unfortunate exceptions that we Americans ought to fix.
The ICC is supposed to prosecute people for war crimes when their own countries fail to prosecute them. The US should sign the ICC treaty; but them it should never leave prosecution of American war criminals to the ICC. The US should prosecute them.
Bolsonaro's followers openly promoted their violent plans (to attack Brazil's highest government buildings) on antisocial media platforms, with hardly any hindrance.
The governor of the Brasilia region and its security chief were Bolsonarists, and did not cooperate in protecting the government from the planned riot. They have been fired.
*1,500 Bolsonaro Backers [arrested] After Far-Right Coup Attempt in Brazil.*
It is good that they did not let all the rioters get away. But it would have been better to hold everyone who had attacked the government buildings, at least enough to identify them and search them. Bolsonaro's followers remain a threat to democracy and liberty in Brazil, and (due to their commitment to deforestation) to the survival of civilization as well. The US is an exception among countries in several ways. Here are a few unfortunate exceptions that we Americans ought to fix.
The ICC is supposed to prosecute people for war crimes when their own countries fail to prosecute them. The US should sign the ICC treaty; but them it should never leave prosecution of American war criminals to the ICC. The US should prosecute them.
(satire) * Police Ask For Public's Help In Falsifying Report.*
War game simulation suggests that an attempted Chinese invasion of Taiwan would fail, leaving Taiwan in devastated condition though unconquered, while wrecking the Chinese military and causing substantial casualties for the US and Japan. These casualties would be large by the standard of 21st century US wars, but small compared with what the US experienced in the Vietnam War or the Korean War.
Taiwan would rebuild its infrastructure with help. Being devastated for a decade is not as bad as becoming brainwashed slaves forever.
Another article about the same war games reports on projected political effects of the war's damage, but I think it exaggerates that. If the US had defeated China and still possessed most of its armed forces, no other enemy would risk a conventional war.
I wonder how this would affect global heating and climate defense.
The article also suggests how Taiwan could build a more effective defense for much less money.
If China were not a totalitarian dictatorship, I think it would choose not to attack Taiwan, rather than suffer such a defeat. Surely some sort of compromise and peace would be better for everyone. Even Xi might choose peace, and I hope he does; but he may not care about the cost or the casualties to China as long as he wins.