How Cool Are Even the Best War Machines?
A quick talk with a friend who writes: Craig: You might be interested in this impressive technology.
Craig: No offense, but war machinery doesn’t impress me, regardless of how advanced.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=WC8U5_4lo2c%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded
Friend: I understand. Man is very adept at creating weapons to kill, but not nearly as skilled at employing technology for pro-survival purposes.
Craig: Exactly right. We generally go where the money is, and war is incredibly lucrative. It’s my purpose to get people to inspect and ultimately reject the idea that money should be the driver of our thinking and behavior—especially when it is derived from things that are clearly wrong, like killing and maiming innocent people.
I didn’t watch enough of the video to find out what it is all about. Like most videos, it failed to get to the point quickly. If it had had a brief introduction, perhaps five seconds or less, then got directly to the point, I would have watched it. But I’m not interested in hearing kettle drums bang, watching an unnecessary and slow scan of the side of a battle ship, etc. etc. I want facts, not drama!
Craig,
There used to be a bumper (fender) sticker on cars which said;
IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER. IF YOU CAN READ THIS IN ENGLISH, THANK A SERVICEMAN.
No one who has seen the awesome power of an American Aircraft Carrier Task Force, can’t help feeling a sense of excitement and wonder at military prestige of the USA.
I owe my life on more than one occasion to the courage, sacrifice and skill of pilots from those carriers.
US Carriers like the USS Enterprise, USS Constellation,USS Coral Sea, USS Bon Homme Richard, and many others never failed to respond to calls by desperate ground troops, no matter how great the risk, or dangerous the task.
The US and it’s Western Allies have only survived by building superior weaponry, and displaying a willingness to fight in defense of liberty, or national interest.
The service personnel who make up the armed forces of the US and Allies, are drawn form a cross section of the general population. The only thing that distinguish them, is their willingness to sacrifice their lives to defend there fellow citizens, and their country.
They deserve the best tools to accomplish that task. Sneering at defense force personnel, demeaning their contribution and portraying the importance of the people ready to die to protect your way of life as some sort of corrupt money making venture, is despicable.
Let’s not be coy. Service personnel are not trained as police. Their job is to kill the enemy . It’s a sad reality that all wars have an unavoidable number of civilian casualties.
Usually, the enemies of the US and it’s Western Allies are vicious, barbaric fanatics, possessing absolutely no regard for human life and will use civilians (including children ) as weapons of war without a moments thought. The forces encountered by the US and Western allies since 1939 have regarded genocide, indiscriminate slaughter and every kind of war crime as standard modus operandi.
I’m afraid singing a few versus of Kumbaya, and offering some herbal tea and meditation, will not dissuade such fanatics.
A) War is not the answer.
B) Even if that weren’t true, war against ISIS and other deranged terrorists is not winnable. (Of course, if Trump is elected, he’s going to wave a magic wand and make all that disappear.)
Craig,
” War is not the answer”.
Once all other methods have been exhausted, war is the only answer ! Once having embarked on a war, it’s wise to make sure you are the best at warfare!
Military action must always have only one limited objective, degrading the enemies ability to wage war. The aftermath must be able to be solved by a political resolution.
I have my doubt that ISIS or any other fanatical foe, is likely to listen to reason from well meaning pacifists. But, please, … feel free to try ! Maybe a few verses of Kumbaya, and a bit of groveling and apologizing for our liberal lifestyles might just do the trick, but I doubt it…
I remember all those earnest folk who claimed Pol Pot was only a misunderstood ‘freedom Fighter”, an enlightened patriot wanting to bring peace and harmony to his people.
If the American war mongers all left, Pol Pot and the MAO backed Kymer Rouge would bring peace, harmony and enlightenment to Cambodia.
Only invasion and hard fighting by the ruthless NVA saved the few survivors of Pot Pot’s insane genocide.
Without a strong, ruthless military, the State of Israel would not have survived.
Actually, President Donald Trump could make Isis disappear. The US has the military power to simply eliminate ISIS and all sympathizers. The methods may not be politically acceptable to the American people, but it’s militarily possible. It only requires different (and unacceptable) rules of engagement.
Military action only secures an opportunity to put a political solution in place. It’s not the job of the military to provide the political solution.
But hey, as I say, I’m willing to change my mind when I see you pop up in Mosul with crowds of repentant ISIS followers, all singing “Give Peace a chance”, I’ll be delighted to join in the chorus !
Please do yourself a favor and remove the condescending “kumbaya” from your vocabulary.
Craig,
Oh, c’mon ! The phrase Kumbaya is hardly condescending!
The song is a very old American folk hymn. Originating from the scouting movement in the 1920’s, it became a stirring rally anthem by such peace activists as Pete Seeger, Lynn Rohrbough and Tony Saletan.
In 1962 the legendary Joan Baez made the song a proud anthem of the American Civil Rights movement.
No one who witnessed (as I did) those freedom marchers singing this anthem against the dogs and batons of Bull Conner’s brutal police, could fail to be inspired by the courage and sacrifice of those marchers, and be ashamed of doing nothing to stop the violence.
Unfortunately, over the years the phrase has been used to describe those espousing an admirable, but naïvely optimistic view of the world.
Meaning no disrespect, but I think that’s a pretty fair description of anyone who advocates that the best way of dealing with ISIS, Heinrich Himmler, Pol Pot or Genghis Khan etc, is not to employ force to dissuade their ambitions !
Craig,
Neville Chamberlain thought that war was not the answer. Accordingly, he attempted to reach an accord with Hitler and thought that he had succeeded; he had not as we all know. Fortunately, England did not say “War is not the answer.” and submit to being Nazi slaves. There are situations when war cannot be avoided unless those attacked are willing to surrender unconditionally. And, I am quite glad that we did not surrender to Japan or Germany but instead went to the aid of the countries which had been invaded.
Sometimes entering into a war is a mistake. One may use Vietnam as an example. Surely the gunboat-supplemented Monroe Doctrine in South and Central America were not justified even though our adventurism in Columbia made the Panama Canal possible. Our waring against the Philippines to colonize them was unconscionable.
As to what is occurring on the Arabian peninsula, I’m not convinced that anyone completely understands the situation. However, one could well question the position that people should be left to be victimized by ISIS. And, the war against ISIS IS winnable. The question is not whether or not it is winnable, but rather, whether what would have to be done to win it could be justified.
Our (and I don’t mean only the U.S.) supporting oppressive governments on the Arabian peninsula with oil money may well be the primary cause of the problems there.
@ Frank and Marco P
Glad you ended the last Post by saying that Our and Others support for Repressive Arabian Peninsula countries governments may be the problem.
The Sunni and Shite Holy War going back over 1,000 years or more is Root Casue 1. Repressive governments is Root Cause 2
We got caught up in cultivating false and un holly alliances with those countries as consequences of our long running cold war with Russia. People forget and the young have no clue that we had this long running cold war that created false client states and Un Holy alliances that have evolved and denigrated over time.
Many predict the Implosion of Saudi Arabia in less than 10 years if serious changes don’t get put in place and their Shite minority are growing restless and are under influence of Iran just like Iraq. Objectively, our Hubris brought much of this upon the situation
that is View from my line of sight.
We support Israel which we should for Moral reasons but their continued expansion into other peoples lands creates stress among-st some of the other players. Their situation is tough and complex and they need support. See the need for Reconciliation before its too late and it may well be.
But there will be no peace over there until a few more false leaders fall, but chaos will most likely set in like it did in Iraq once the strong man is gone???Sad broken cultures.
America and the Europeans must shoulder some Blame for creating the divisions that now exist. Getting consensus on Effective ACTION remains Elusive
I am sure that our military Chiefs have identifed plans to take out ISIS quick but the trade off is high real high Innocent civilians deaths.
So because we are a high moral nation as are our allies like UK and others we refrain from the collateral terrible collateral damage assessments that have been done. Perhaps that is it.
A tough situation perhaps ISIS will flame out in short time but they are morphing and spreading out who knows ??
Currently I am reading “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” by John Perkins. He goes into how the Cold War affected foreign relations in ways that younger people might not know about unless they have studied history. I suggest reading the book for other reasons also; it is available from the usual sources.
It is clear that our U.S. foreign policy has not always been benign and altruistic. However, no one should discount the good that was done at considerable expense by the Marshall Plan which helped European nations recover from World War II. Our foreign policy should not be characterized as all good or all bad. Rather, it has been checkered; surely that is true of all nations.
The religious problems among Muslims will not be solved until Muslims, like the majority (but not all) of Christians, have learned to respect people holding other viewpoints and beliefs. In earlier times there were bloody conflicts among different groups of Christians which resulted in people being burned alive at the stake, torture, and all sorts of ghastly behavior. Discrimination based on religion did not end until well into the 20th century, or even into the second half of the 20th century. It may be some time before Muslims catch up. Fortunately, many already have caught up.
Hi Frank,
Well said, very well said !
Craig there seem to be those rare individuals who feel no accord with war, weapons, or acts of aggression. I admire that.
For me and I suspect others it is a matter of (only partially intellectual) training that overcomes a violent instinct. You can tell me that war does not overcome an enemy filled with hate, frustration or in basic need. Still there is a basic instinct to protect myself first and then those who I identify with on many different levels.
I find myself privately curious about the latest mostly logistical or tactical devices for the military. I am interested in military thinking and its failures. I am also interested in military weapons but mostly for their successes and failures and how they may have changed the course of history.
I could easily see how someone else could move from this position to be entranced with the damage particular weapons could do. I notice that the fascination with damage seems to be more prevalent than an interest in creating for many people.
But I am also wary of this aspect of my being. Like the “dark side of the force” it is seductive and threatens to overcome rational consideration. It tries to suggest direct and simple resolutions when complex problems require more careful consideration.
So I envy your position but I sit on a wall that overlooks two distinct possibilities. It is there I wonder if the Prince of Peace himself would not have taken up the sword if he had lived long enough.
@ Breath on the Wind,
Perhaps He did. Cleansing the Temple of Merchants and Money Changers is a good example :).
@ Frank
Yes sir Frank well said good summary. We have dirty hands and also we have done good deeds.
Religious Wars have been Horrible Stain on Humanity over the decades.
I read that book a few years back it influences my Perspective for Sure. He has redeemed himself I think by sharing the Truth and I have heard the author of the Confessions of a Hit Man speak in Denver. He brought the house down good info. chilling too.
Another book that you may appreciate as it covers a multi decade time period is the Sorrows of Empire by the late Chalmers Johnson a former high level State Dept Executive.
I agree that young Millennials would be well served as would others if they were exposed to these types of factual historical Truths .
They shatter many of the Lies and show case many a Inconvenient Truth about this countries convoluted and destructive foreign policy.
They shed light on the state of rampant ignorance of events , facts, issues, and why things to a degree are the way they are.
when I finally get conservative leaning folks to read this type of material they under go some Transformation and Open up more.
Some people thhink we can just go bomb ISIS into submission the 1,000 lb Nail to a 10 lb problem . Too many people think its better to be Strong and Wrong rather than Wise and Careful.
maybe the lingering effects of cowboy mentality ??!! LOL !
@ MARCO
YES SIR Marco FRANK LAID IT OUT WELL. ITS THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE SUN SHOULD BE SHED AND SHARED SO PEOPLE STOP MAKING BAD DECISIONS or at least have no excuses or plead Ignorance!