There's a cognitive dissonance about some aspects of this terrible conflict.

The Russians are rightfully being criticised over their indiscriminate assault on civilians and Putin is known for assassinating and imprisoning his rivals and critics.
However we're still quite chummy with the Saudis who continue to pound and starve citizens in Yemen and their leader is pretty keen on the use of bone saws on foreign journalists.

Likewise we never saw the results of the "shock and awe" campaign on citizens of Iraq except a small leak courtesy of Julian Assange.

Also, clumsy as it was, Biden was continuing the arrangement to leave Afghanistan that had previously been negotiated by Trump and Trump abandoned his Kurdish allies in Syria, just as George Bush Snr abandoned them in Iraq. I doubt we will be able to depend on them for assistance again.

I suspect "cognitive dissonance" is a feature of most conflicts.

Dear davidf,

I would be interested to hear your thoughts about this debate between Bernard-Henri Lévy and Aleksandr Dugin in 2019 pre the invasion.

http://youtu.be/x70z5QWC9qs

Levy's support of Western liberalism is robust but
Dugan's arguments show just how much respect for its positions are being challenged and placed under threat.

Oh dear, AC, this is becoming rather embarrassing for you.

Let's recap. You found a video which claimed that there were documents showing that the US was going to start wars and change governments in 7 countries over a period of five years from 2005-2010. There isn't the slightest evidence for this document and/or policy other from this one man who didn't revel it until he put it in his book which he was then promoting.

This forms all the evidence for your beliefs. In a complete reversal of the normal way of things you then try to fit events to the theory rather than fit the theory to events. And you do it unsuccessfully.

Remember, the time frame is 2005-2010. The overthrow of Saddam falls outside that. The overthrow of Gaddafi falls outside that. Assad wasn't overthrown. There was no change in government in Sudan in that time.

If you want to believe this, knock yourself out. But I suspect you'll continue to look askance as events don't concur with this story. However carry on as though everyone who hasn't fallen for this unevidenced rubbish is in the wrong is rather amusing.

Dear mhaze,

You asked for evidence. If evidence was required for belief religion would disappear.

Dear Steele Redux,

I started listening to the debate. It was preceded by an ad. Shortly after it started it was interrupted by an ad. I returned to my book which was free of ads.

Dear davidf,

There are times I forget some people are still plagued by youtube ads.

Having installed http://adblockplus.org/download many years ago it is not something I am afflicted with.

If you do end up availing yourself of this very useful extension and thereby watching the video ad free then I feel it would reward the effort.

As the presenter says, it is rare to have two philosophers with such opposing views debate face to face nowadays, and while a transcript would no doubt do the exchange some justice it would not convey the body language of the participants especially that of Levy.

I found the contest of ideas presented very much worth my while.