Gonna jump back into this discussion
Then the Luftwaffe/Condor Legion bombed the city of Guernica to ashes the Spanish Republics did not have the ability to respond in kind.
Good thing, I hate seeing *civilians* on either side of a war die.
When the Japanese bombed the cities in Mainland China, the Chinese did not have the ability to respond in Kind.
Same as above.
The U.S. and England did not set the standard for bombing Civilian Targets. That was set by the Germans and Japanese and Italians. They did it long before the U.S. and England.
True, and the Germans also started killing intellectuals, gays, Jews and deviants. It does not justify for any other side to do so.
[quote9
I don't agree that bombing civilian targets (Population Centers/Cities) is a viable tactic. The Analysis of the bomber campaigns of WWII bear this out, all it did was stiffen civilian resolve to resist.
[/quote]
Yes, and this war known prior to the dropping of the atomic bomb and the massive bombings of German cities. Which sort of begs the question: why did the allies to it then? Strategig values? Well, some factories and railyards were located in cities, but these were located in rather small areas. Revenge? Certainly a possibility, and given the severety and brutality of the war, understandanble *to a certain extent*.
IMHO the U.S. and England were returning in kind policies that the Japanese and German had taken unto themselves long before U.S. and English involvement. They should have been prepared to reap what they have sown.
They were indeed. The question is; should they have done so? Or should they have taken the moral high ground?
A sadistic murderer tortures his victims before killing them. Should society respond in kind, or should society represent something more civilized; aim for a more abstract ideal? Opinions differ, but at least in my country, the former has a big majority.
Ergo, what I am saying is. IF the Germans and Japanese established the policy of bombing defenseless civilian targets, then they also accepted the concequences of their actions. That a Like or similiar action may some day be taken upon them.
I agree, but it is really a tangent and not relevant to the acts of the allieds.
No it doesn't make it right, no it doesn't make the people who partook of such actions heros. It does make them realist.
We agree it doesn't make them right. It also sounds as if you are ready to accept those reasons as excuses, apologetics, if you will.
The Vikings were big on an eye for an eye. The feuds between families are legendary; read an Icelandic sagae and you'll find the gore almsot floating from the pages. It is not, however,a viable solution to a very complicated and advanced morally upright society. At least I do not think so. One cannot stoop down to the lowest level of humanity and still remain dignity, integrity and moral strength.
I would be nice if wars were fought with the high standards of chivalry and morality that you call for and espouce. Think about it, under those circumstances there would be no reason for a war to be fought.
It would be very nice indeed. And the allieds had, in the case of the bombings of civilians, and opportunity not to respond in kin. They did, and I believe that is what RAM finds unacceptable.
Still, even if war were chivalorus affairs, they'd still be there. "Dear Sir, I believe that land is ours; history shows it." "Oh, but my dear man, you are incorrect; perhaps your historians are revisionists and in error. We have evidence that quite clearly shows it is ours". "Nay, they are not in error, and I fear we must take it back by force if you do not agree to settle this peacefully" "It appears to me there is no acceptable peaceful solution, Sir. Let the war begin"
I try to look at things a bit more relistically.
Me too, but I fight off my own cynicism with a sense or realistic idealism. As I believe you too do; sounds like it from the posts you've made.
Quite frankly the U.S. is lucky that people make more of an issue of Slavery than the Native American Policy.
Couldn't agree more. The white US is lucky, that is

.
<S!>
------------------
StSanta
JG54 "Grünherz"
"If you died a stones throw from your wingie; you did no wrong". - Hangtime