[Peace-discuss] Forget "Accountability" for Somali Pirates

[Robert Naiman]

Totally agreed. I am not arguing against accountability, but the
invocation of "Accountability" as a thought-stopper. "People have to
be held accountable." Actually, they don't. But sometimes the
unexamined belief that they do is an obstacle to rational action. All
other things being equal, accountability is a good thing. But in any
situation, it has to be weighed against other objectives.

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM, LAURIE SOLOMON <LAURIE at advancenet.net> wrote:
> It is not a question of being for or against accountability; it is a
> question of equitable assignment of responsibilities and accountabilities.
> If we hold the Somali Pirates accountable, shouldn't we hold the rest of the
> world accountable for producing and/or sustaining the conditions which
> caused the Somali fishermen to become pirates and which perpetuate a need
> for them to practice piracy as a means of earning a livelihood?  A rational
> person would say prevention is cheaper than retribution and more rational to
> boot.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net
> [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Robert Naiman
> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:48 AM
> To: Peace-discuss List
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] Forget "Accountability" for Somali Pirates
>
> The word "accountability" has a nice ring to it. Who can be against
> "accountability?"
>
> I can. I am against "accountability" in any context where the likely
> overall cost of proposed actions to promote "accountability" outweigh
> the likely benefits. And so should every other rational person be.
>
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/forget-accountability-for_b_1865
> 80.html
>
> http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/14/719842/-Forget-Accountability-for-So
> mali-Pirates
>
> --
> Robert Naiman
> Just Foreign Policy
> www.justforeignpolicy.org
> naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
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>
>
>



-- 
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

"It's 11 AM in Washington. Do you know where your foreign policy is?"