Kinder, gentler war
This post over at the Internet clearing house, I mean Instapundit, makes some interesting points. We have become so used to the idea of sanitary war and the ideal of moral perfection, combined with our inexperience in actual war that there exists a deficit of horror. By that, I mean Rwanda and Bosnia, along with Sudan and Zimbabwe at the moment, are more natural than unnatural. Actually, I think I read that on a National Review Online book review of Jared Diamond's latest book...
Anyhow, no one wants to discuss what will happen if something bad really happens. Despite 9/11 in the U.S., 3/11 in Spain and 7/7 in London, and of course with the prospect of more to come, our response has been limited and controlled. I believe this is true, even if you include the war in Iraq.
A nuclear bomb would change this, as has been speculated by notables such as Den Beste. Would we respond proportionately, with a countervolley? Or would we be able to control our troops in foreign lands?
These contemplations are where the apocalyptic scenarios of military 'efficiency' start. An efficient military machine would not have some International dream to restrict them, such as the Geneva convention. I hold the example of Nazi Germany as that of military efficiency- accomplishing much with little. However, they are also a good example of why rigid ideology leads naturally to hubris, among other incidents during their short reign.
The future is a fickle mistress, but it seems that the past never really leaves.
Anyhow, no one wants to discuss what will happen if something bad really happens. Despite 9/11 in the U.S., 3/11 in Spain and 7/7 in London, and of course with the prospect of more to come, our response has been limited and controlled. I believe this is true, even if you include the war in Iraq.
A nuclear bomb would change this, as has been speculated by notables such as Den Beste. Would we respond proportionately, with a countervolley? Or would we be able to control our troops in foreign lands?
These contemplations are where the apocalyptic scenarios of military 'efficiency' start. An efficient military machine would not have some International dream to restrict them, such as the Geneva convention. I hold the example of Nazi Germany as that of military efficiency- accomplishing much with little. However, they are also a good example of why rigid ideology leads naturally to hubris, among other incidents during their short reign.
The future is a fickle mistress, but it seems that the past never really leaves.
posted by sunguh5307 at
10:59 PM
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