Posted by zeugma on November 3, 2005, at 22:59:47
In reply to Re: the perils of paradox » zeugma, posted by alexandra_k on November 3, 2005, at 4:00:18
well it resembles some kind of paradox of deterrence.
if you can only deter an enemy (White House) by sincerely threatening retaliation (bringing all kinds of classified attention to light that may indict high officials) which you know you will not want to carry out, since it will then be pointless and self-destructive (because release of said information compromises the CIA even further), you will not be able to form the intention to retaliate because you know you won't fulfill it.
from "Paradoxes from A to Z" by Michael Clark
I suggest the defense strategy relies on this paradox, making the investigation toothless because it will compromise national security.
it has some elements of prisoners' dillema as well
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:574371
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20051022/msgs/575219.html