BS: US/British Planes Fire - PART DEUX

Subject: US/British Planes Fire - PART DEUX
From: Skeptic
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:09 AM

Old thread Here

Subject: RE: BS: US/British Planes Fire - PART DEUX
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 07:45 AM

All war oriented killing is terrorism. It's meant to be. If one's opponents aren't terrorized they aren't apt to run away and lose. And the "State" is the one the "people" who's country it is that decides on the level of terrorism and the method of delivery of the terrorism.

Essentially I agree with you Norton. Laying down rules about war is in one sense a way of pretending that it is not as dirty as it is. At the same time I think there is a value in recognising that there are some things which should be recognised as war crimes. There was a difference between what was done in My Lai and what most GIs did. If that difference is denied we ruin the risk that the disgust people feel at things like My Lai spill over into how people feel about ordinary GIs who share that disgust.

At one time I think people hoped that gradually the category of things recognised as war crimes would get to put greater restrictions on what those running wars felt they could get away with. In fact it seems to have gone the other way - the proportion of dead and maimed in wars who are non-combatant civilians has grown by leaps and bounds over the past century, till now civilians outnumber combatants many many time over. I think the only exceptions to that in recent years were the Falklands War, and the second Gulf War.

Subject: RE: BS: US/British Planes Fire - PART DEUX
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:28 PM

McGrath - I couldn't agree more. I think all of us are saying the same thing here. War is not a good thing and we all need to do our part to help change the way we do this business. It's about resources for the rich and, at least in my opinion, once that is eliminated we can give peace a chance. I always hoped that those of us who came back from Viet Nam and told what we witnessed would help put an end to it. Sadly it moved the focus from ending the war to blaming the troops that fought it. I've really enjoyed this thread. I've learned even more about how people from various walks view the experience. I've really enjoyed the amount of credibility it has added, for me, to the songs I sing and what they do for me. Can't say what they do for the audiences but for me it has been good.

I really want to "Thank" everyone who has contributed to this thread (and those that may contribute in the future). It has all been honest and if we can't talk about it then it will certainly make for a closed approach to the next time we get involved.