In the article by Nouzeilles, the notion of the "Doctrine of National Security" put forth by the United States was mentioned and this ethos was also discussed at some length by Montaldo in the second reading of the week.

On a side note, prior to entering into a discussion regarding the "Doctrine of National Security" and Praetorianism, I found it interesting to see the words "Never Again" used in a report denouncing Human Rights violations. I would think that this notion of "Never Again" would have been a great slogan to raly around the first time... but it seems to be losing whatever appeal it may have had to me the more and more I see that people have "vowed" or thought that this last time would be the last time. I seem to be getting more and more pessimistic as time goes by.

The story of Argentina starts and goes as some of the stories go regarding human rights... country has a severe economic downturn and people begin to become upset at their lot and their life.. i.e. the government has failed to protect their rights... therefore, someone or a group of people rise saying that they will protect and further the lives of all only if they will be trusted for a time to get it done.. people rally behind.. government gets scared... starts atttempting to secure their position by "necessary means" etc... etc...

I do not know the specifics of the Argentinian governmental process, however, it seems to me that the inability of the people of a nation to be able to remove a government or person from power quickly but without violence seems to be lacking in most countries.. or is it? Again, I do not the specifics of most political structures... While I understand that removing people from power is not an easy to do in the first place as those in power do not want to relinquish their power and those people are usually powerful themselves in one way or another...

Regardless, it seems to me that many "developed" countries that lapse into trouble with rights and political institutions usually have a crisis event that makes the economy/ lives of the people very trying.. and if this crisis cannot be handled well and efficiently by those in power, then the situation will become much worse. A person can only say "Trust me" for so long before people begin to lose faith in those words and want change. Then, in order to keep power, national security comes into play, as a functioning country cannot have violent rebellion occuring nor can there be anarchy.. which causes problems to worsen as those who have the courage to speak and act begin to have themselves marginalized.. Praetorianism works its way in there as fraudulent leaders would not be inclined to ensure that the rights of their subjects/ those who elected them to power.




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