Tyrants should be left free to tyrannise their own people - Intelligence Squared

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We must act to stop tyrants

Speaker: James Rubin

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Arguing against the motion 'Tyrants should be left free to tyrannise their own people', James Rubin asserts that this debate is about whether one should do anything at all to prevent tyranny, not just about whether we should intervene militarily. He says the debate is not about the Bush administration, and has nothing to do with whether you like George Bush's call for spreading democracy. Rubin suggests that if you supported sanctions on South Africa against apartheid or support sanctions against the military junta of Burma, then you have to vote against the motion.

James Rubin

Journalist and political advisor

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