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   REPLY: 2:221/1.58@fidonet fab6e541   
   PID: Synchronet 3.17c-Win32  Feb 22 2020 MSC 1924   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.10-Win32 r3.151 Feb 22 2020 MSC 1924   
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   -=> August Abolins wrote to Dennis Katsonis <=-   
      
    AA> @MSGID: <623B2E03.516.fidointernet@bbs.mozysswamp.org>   
    AA> @REPLY: <623AED93.515.fidointernet@bbs.mozysswamp.org>   
    AA> Hello Dennis Katsonis!   
      
    AA> ** On Wednesday 23.03.22 - 20:49, you wrote to me:   
      
    AA>> https://nypost.com/2022/03/21/elon-musks-starlink-satellites-   
    AA>> helping-ukraine-drones-destroy-russian-tanks-report/   
      
    DK> That's great, companies are now fighting wars themselves.   
    DK> This is a worrying development as we have unaccounted for,   
    DK> undemocratic, rogue entities now shaping politics.   
      
    AA> I wouldn't call Musk's involvement rogue.   
      
      
    DK> China is taking note of this, and the message here to the   
    DK> world (and to China) is that you can rely less on the USA,   
    DK> because no matter what your official political   
    DK> relationship with the USA is, companies will do their own   
    DK> thing.   
      
    AA> Perhaps there is such a thing as the right thing.  :/   
      
   That is not for companies to decide.  Matters of international politics should   
   be dealt by statesmen who understand diplomacy, international relations, not   
   CEO's who think because they know how market a product, or make some money,   
   that they can solve the worlds political problems.   
      
   This is a recipe for disaster as international relations is not beholden to   
   these rogue actors.   
      
    AA> I see it as Musk just taking an initiative on humanitarian   
    AA> grounds to help restore what an unwelcome aggressor has   
    AA> destroyed: communications.   
      
    AA> A gov't doing it could take too long to get organized.   
      
    AA> It would be not different if a bunch of doctors got organized   
    AA> on their own, call themselves Drs Without Borders, and go help   
    AA> people with meds and medical expertise.   
      
   Offering medical assistance is completely different to enabling and supporting   
   military activities.   
      
   Russians and Chinese won't see it the way you do, which is important because   
   they both have nukes, and the ability to defeat the US in war should one start.   
    This is a time to tread carefully, to negotiate a peaceful solution, but if   
   some random CEO is going to do something which starts a conflict, we're   
   stuffed.   
       
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