A Lesson in Logic and International Law

I. Non-intervention is a matter of morality.

II. Support of the Cuban rebels is a matter of morality.

III. Therefore, non-intervention and support of the Cuban rebels are equivalent.

IV. And the Russians had better not object to the syllogism, because they used the same one in Hungary.

V. Americans have no right to object either, since the principle of non-intervention by invasion is a basic part of the American tradition.

We made it repeatedly clear that the armed forces of this country would not intervene in any way."--JFK.

"This is not the first time that a small band of freedom fighters has engaged the armor of totalitarianism."--JFK.

"If A and B are both equal to C then A and B are equal to each other."--Euclid.

"We do not intend to be lectured on intervention by those whose character was stamped for all time on the bloody streets of Budapest."--JFK

"Remember the Maine."--anon.

"Send in the Marines."--Teddy Roosevelt.