RA "Strike a Blow for Democracy in Asia"

Audience

Readership interested enough in Washington politics to write, call, or otherwise sway the result of a vote.

Question

WATCO of limiting or removing ROL (rule-of-law) education aid to Cambodia?

Reasoning

Ethos

The State Department and the Asian Wall Street Journal are quoted as sources of authority. The author of the article implies that he is an authority as well, by evaluating the article as "correctly reporting."

Ordinary citizens rather than the dictatorial government of Cambodia are the ones requesting aid for ROL education.

Pathos

The article appeals to the disappointment of Vietnam. Argues that following current course would result in a similar tragedy.

Also appeals to dislike of dictator by presenting the US as being more of an obstacle to human rights education than the dictator.

Logos

Removing ROL education would hinder the development of democracy in Cambodia, because removing ROL would hinder the development of an educated populace.

There is no infrastructure or populace capable of supporting ROL. Visible progress has been made in restoring both populace and infrastructure by way of US aid.

Aid for ROL education should be provided regardless of the current form of government, because it is essential for the development of a democratic government. Likewise, it does not support a dictatorial government.

Sufficient

While the argument seems sound, the author, as director of a program likely affected by the change in funding, is left open to the criticism that he is protecting his job.

Typical

The argument uses resources that are typical to a newspaper format (with perhaps the exception of quoting another newspaper.)

Accurate

As director of a Cambodian aid program, the facts are likely accurate. The actual connection between ROL aid and the development of the infrastructure is only implied: he could be glossing over the fact that the most influential programs were not funded by the US government. However presenting that kind of evidence would not work in a newspaper article format.

Relevant

At the time of writing, both sides of congress were in the process of deciding how much to cut aid to Cambodia. Suspension of current funds was an administrative decision that could still be reversed.

Effective?

The article would be slightly more persuasive to me if it were written by an impartial spectator. However it seems sound.