A show of hands from CB's supporters, please, who feel "it is OK to kill non-Americans in massive numbers"...
Very interesting way of framing the question Zonder...
The United States killed "massive numbers" of Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to the perception that it would avoid massive numbers of American soldiers from being killed were they required to invade Japan...
And I feel that was perfectly justified...
However, killing massive numbers of people is not necessarily the only course available.. Certainly not when technology permits us to use guided munitions to limit collateral damage.
However, without the implicit threat that such a possibility exists, then opponents would factor that into any strategy they adopt in opposing the US. A threat of force must have no limitations.. Only then will it create sufficient fear in the hearts of our enemies and bring them to negotiated settlements.
Personally, I believe that every President should leave such possibilities deliberately vague, granting maximum flexibility for US policy....
But Zonder.. this goes deeper than your sentiments being outraged at such statements..
Because the world is a BRUTAL place, often governed by BRUTAL UNELECTED LEADERS who got into that position of power through sheer power and BRUTAL COERCION...
They have FEW qualms about exercizing such threats of inflicting massive casualities.. Saddam certainly has few qualms about the topic since he has ALREADY used chemical weapons against innocent civilians.
So to tie the hands of our military and political leaders by suggesting that we would NEVER follow a particular course of action and limit our options only acts to invigorate those who know no limits...
Just imagine how nasty any community would be without any police to keep the peace?? You'd be required to protect your own property, your own rights, your own family, and your own lives from everyone who would like to deprive you of them... And to do this, I can guarantee that anyone, INCLUDING YOURSELF, would take ANY STEPS NECESSARY to insure that your loved ones and everything you have worked for are protected...
And for me, that means I would eliminate anyone/anything that threatens my life.. And if, in the heat of the moment (eg: firefight) an innocent person was caught in the middle and killed, it would be regrettable...
But then again, if you're dead, your not able to feel remorse about anything, or anyone...
That said, the US military certainly has a limited record of deliberately seeking to inflict casualities amongst innocents, if it can be avoided..
Hawk@dependsonhowyoudefineinnocents.com |
