Noble lies and perpetual war: Leo Strauss, the neocons, and Iraq

[jakeXT]

Danny Postel 15 October 2003

...

A second fundamental belief of Strauss’s ancients has to do with their insistence on the need for secrecy and the necessity of lies. In his book Persecution and the Art of Writing, Strauss outlines why secrecy is necessary. He argues that the wise must conceal their views for two reasons – to spare the people’s feelings and to protect the elite from possible reprisals.

...

http://www.opendemocracy.net/faith-iraqwarphiloshophy/article_1542.jsp

Sounds familiar

[Recursion]

1. Err... Strauss said writers did it to protect *themselves* from reprisals, not "the elite"

e.g., Plato hiding an atheistic message in his dialogs because he didn't want the Athenians to kill him, too.

[SamKnause]

2. Lies and War

...............to protect the elite from possible reprisals.

That has certainly been accomplished !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

War criminal; no problem.

Banks laundering drug money; no problem.

Illegal foreclosures; no problem.

Usery and mafia tactics; no problem.

War profiteering; no problem.

Police brutality; no problem.

Illegal spying; no problem.

The list goes on and on.

The 1% have the best representation and protection their money could buy.

The 99% got the shaft.