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Old 03-23-2006, 19:46   #14
lrd
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tk27
lrd,
While there are much more informed minds on this board then myself, I would like to take a crack at it.

1. Barnett sources violence in the international security environment to 3 separate perspectives:
- System – think Cold War turning hot, Warsaw Pact v. NATO. Or simpler flags v. flags
- States – Iraq invading Kuwait in ’90. Or simpler flag v. flag
- Individuals – Milosevic’s ethnic cleansing in Serbia during the 90’s.

He includes transnational terrorism in “Individuals”, b/c it is violence that does not occur between states but inside them. This is because “all terrorism is local”. Ultimately all terrorist acts have to happen in a State (think flag) and typically the acts involve specific grievances with the State (think policy done under the flag). But the acts are committed by actors of neither a system (flags) nor a State (flag) but by individuals (no flag).

2. I believe you have misread. The "not to conquer a state for particularistic gain” sentence is in relation to the U.S.-led coalition representing the system liberating Kuwait from Iraq in ’91. Gain was a motive for Iraq, but the system spearheaded by the U.S. did not invade Kuwait for its own gain but rather to return Kuwait to the system.
Thanks for the post. I have comments re: this, but I just got in from a trip.

I'll get back to you.
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