I can understand those opinions.
But to me its quite simple, there is war and there is peace.
I take the view, that humanity is inherently corrupt and violent, and trying to deny this fact is only serving to prolong suffering and create unrest. Life is survival, diplomacy is an attempt in keeping the situation peaceful. But as a Marine once said "Diplomacy is saying nice doggy until a recon sniper gets the range".
Wars will be fought, no war is winnable, but the aim is to lose the least. I have shaken hands with guys who have lost limbs, Ive known people who have been blown to hell and back by an IED in that hellhole of a desert and its been my family going out into harms way for almost 150 years.
Its clear to me that in a war of ideaology, whether it be religion or political difference, or the simplest which has motivated all wars... independence and freedom. The war will be endless until the destruction of the capability to fight, or the annhilation of the populace of one of the protagonists.
On Iraq and insurgency, the local populace is not what I was driving at. I was talking about strictly military considerations. The VC, laid traps, ambushes, operated at night, used human shields, booby trapped war dead, used civillian's as weapons traffickers and so forth. The US did its fair share of nasty stuff too, but my point is, they couldnt level a town or carpet bomb Hanoi (rough examples) because the Russians, and the people at home and all other political and "Rules" wouldnt like it. Many Americans and Australians for that matter lost their lives because of these decisions. And even in Iraq, its a repeat, no action can be taken to fight insurgency when the insurgency is the local populace we are trying to help, as well as the fact the rules and opinions prevent us from fighting it anyway.
And in response to penguins insightful and intelligent rebuttal to me which was "you are one F****ed up kid arent you?"
Allow me to say this, what makes me any different to your position, save being on the oppisite end of the argument. I could call you a sheltered little punk if I wished to but I didn't until now.
Now I do not pretend to know EVERYTHING about it, but it occurs to me that if America wants to fight wars on principle, it should at least fight on invitation. If it does WITHOUT invitation, then it should fight to win, with no rules.
Thats all I have to say really.
