Things We Know About War
On the 100th anniversary of the ending of that incredibly pointless and bloody conflict, World War I, here are a few thoughts on what we know about war.
1. As General Smedley Butler put it, war is a racket. It's no coincidence that the biggest boosters of a given war stand to profit greatly from it.
2. They are bad for liberty and responsible governance. As James Madison pointed out, wars are an invitation for governments to lie to the people, to become more authoritarian, and to play fast and loose with civil liberties and ethical norms.
3. They never go as planned. It was telling that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld had no Plan B for the 2003 Iraq invasion, even though it was a war of choice. It devolved from their rosy projections within a matter of weeks.
4. Innocent people always die, and women and children in war zones suffer the most.
5. In the US at least, veterans never get the care they need upon returning from battle. I propose the Bogen Rule: We will pursue no military campaigns until we can guarantee that no returning veteran -- not a single one -- will go without the care they need, mentally, emotionally, physically.
6. The results are always ambiguous. Since WWII, no war the US has been involved has ended up a success. Period. Who won? Nobody won.
1. As General Smedley Butler put it, war is a racket. It's no coincidence that the biggest boosters of a given war stand to profit greatly from it.
2. They are bad for liberty and responsible governance. As James Madison pointed out, wars are an invitation for governments to lie to the people, to become more authoritarian, and to play fast and loose with civil liberties and ethical norms.
3. They never go as planned. It was telling that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld had no Plan B for the 2003 Iraq invasion, even though it was a war of choice. It devolved from their rosy projections within a matter of weeks.
4. Innocent people always die, and women and children in war zones suffer the most.
5. In the US at least, veterans never get the care they need upon returning from battle. I propose the Bogen Rule: We will pursue no military campaigns until we can guarantee that no returning veteran -- not a single one -- will go without the care they need, mentally, emotionally, physically.
6. The results are always ambiguous. Since WWII, no war the US has been involved has ended up a success. Period. Who won? Nobody won.
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