Re: [ejlist] "The horror, the horror" (Re: Juenger and Kosovo)

[John King <john.king@st-johns.oxford.ac.uk>]

I realise that Kosovo is an emotive issue - let's keep the Juenger
perspective if at all possible. 

Gary's original point was, IMHO, contentious but well made and with a
clear reference to Juenger's, itself not exactly uncontentious, strategy
of the Waldgang. I personally feel that the Titanism approach may be most
productive - were the events in Kosovo and elsewhere signs of Titanism or
is the category inadequate?

One of the most difficult aspects about the conflict has been trying to
reconstruct the motivations of the different parties involved which has
shifted over time. Much analysis has been significantly wanting -
particularly over the past year. The situation was messy and complex and
NATO intervention has certainly changed some parameters but the situation
remains messy and complex in other ways. Given which, both sides rely on
simplifications which then themselves become factors in the situation -
both on the ground and in the wider world in the attempt to shape opinion
and change the scope of action.

Whilst I certainly do not believe that any of us can attain any form of
unshakeable truth concerning the situation as a whole or abstract entirely
from our current psycho-socio-historical locations, I do believe that one
of the valuable contributions Juenger made was to have provided
provocative and highly suggestive ideas through which such situations
might be read in a wider perspective. Consequently, if we are as an Ernst
Juenger list going to discuss such situations, let us do so with some
reference to his ideas - from whatever period.

Best wishes,

JK

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John King
St. John's College	
GB - Oxford OX1 3JP
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