"By the 1960's, the authorities could write that peace was more important than law. Enforcement of international law was entrusted to the United Nations - whose charter stated that no power could interfere in the internal affairs of another, and made self defense the only reason for resorting to force.
A small country could seize the property of a great power; murder her citizens, defy every contract and convention; and the authorities would gravely announce that the Great Power had no right to take military action. The powers could only sue before a court that could not enforce its judgments.
Pretty soon, nobody paid much attention to international law."
- "Enforcer", High Justice (1974)
"As he went through the rather dingy corridors Enoch thought about Alden. Incomprehensible, like all Americans. The whole country seemed to have a collective guilt complex about its past successes. The world struggled after the impossible goal of obtaining a way of life that Americans had achieved, while the Americans grimly hung onto what they had and covered themselves with self reproach. Incomprehensible people, all of them."
- "Enforcer, High Justice (1974)
I saw elsewhere on the internet, a quote that resonates.
ReplyDelete"Like Weimar Germany, America is at that point where 1/3 of its citizens will kill the other 1/3 while the remaining 1/3 watches..."
Wow Glen - that is a pretty powerful quote. And yes, I think I agree.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if you have read Pournelle. I am enjoying him greatly and plan to pick up more of his works.
I may have read one or two long ago TB. If I recall he used to team up with Larry Niven and they belted out some great yarns together.
ReplyDeleteYou do indeed recall correctly Glen - other than Footfall, I have never read any of their combined efforts.
ReplyDelete