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Chan-Seung Lee

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:49 am Post subject: unless

Quote:

Beacause America has stood by South Korea since the end of the Korean War, South Korea in turn must stand by its ally's side now, they say. This sentiment is admirable and may justify our sending military aid to the United States if it is attacked in the future.
However, unless we have now decided to be involved in any and all military conflicts of the United States in all corners of the world, this sentiment cannot justify our involvement in a war against a third party such as Iraq.

I think that the bold part, 'unless we have now decided to be involved' is not correct and instead 'unless we should decide to be involved' is rather correct.
Can you tell me if I'm wrong or right with some explanation?

Thanks.

Bob S.

Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: unless

Chan-Seung Lee wrote:

Quote:

unless we have now decided to be involved in any and all military conflicts of the United States in all corners of the world, this sentiment cannot justify our involvement in a war against a third party such as Iraq.

Both are correct, depending on the writer's intentions.
'unless we have now decided to be involved' implies that we are now acting as if we did decide in the recent past to be involved (maybe we did not consciously make such a decision but our actions imply that we made such a decision anyway).
'unless we should decide to be involved' means we have not yet made such a decision and are not acting as though we did.

Did that make sense or make it more confusing?

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