1/ Let's examine a spectrum of conflict, shall we?
Just below of "nuking civilian population centers" and "bombing hospitals and refugee camps" is "bombing religious and cultural sites."
There is literally no upside.
But hey, watch the clickservative media fanboys...
Just below of "nuking civilian population centers" and "bombing hospitals and refugee camps" is "bombing religious and cultural sites."
There is literally no upside.
But hey, watch the clickservative media fanboys...
2/ ...do exactly what they did with Trump's pardon of men who committed war crimes.
Of course, a few members of the Senate will do the "Well, the President isn't a politician and sometimes he speaks off the cuff and I wish he wouldn't tweet." <furrowed brow emoji>
Of course, a few members of the Senate will do the "Well, the President isn't a politician and sometimes he speaks off the cuff and I wish he wouldn't tweet." <furrowed brow emoji>
3/ In the dawn of time (89-93), I was a very young appointee at the Pentagon. Best job ever. Cheney was SECDEF and I got thrown into some Very Cool Shit.
We had this little war with Saddam when he got frisky. It worked out pretty well, and I want to revisit something from it.
We had this little war with Saddam when he got frisky. It worked out pretty well, and I want to revisit something from it.
4/ After the war, SECAF Rice commissioned the Gulf War Airpower Survey.
I have consulted my copy and wish to provide you with a quote about the RULES the US followed in the planning and execution of the air war.
It's important, because it's the same rulebook...
I have consulted my copy and wish to provide you with a quote about the RULES the US followed in the planning and execution of the air war.
It's important, because it's the same rulebook...
5/ ...any rational, moral, smart nation follows.
"Though formal restraints by civilian authorities on the military planners were never articulated, in retrospect five can be identified. First, casualties among Iraqi noncombatants would be held to a minimum."
"Though formal restraints by civilian authorities on the military planners were never articulated, in retrospect five can be identified. First, casualties among Iraqi noncombatants would be held to a minimum."
6/ "Second, harm to structures of cultural and religious significance to the Iraqi people would be avoided. Third, damage to the Iraqi economy and its capacity for postwar recovery would be limited."
7/ "Fifth, nuclear weapons would not be used."
The military doesn't produce leaders at the senior level who wake up and think, "Our national interests are served bombing religious sites or civilian populations." This is a good thing, and by design.
The military doesn't produce leaders at the senior level who wake up and think, "Our national interests are served bombing religious sites or civilian populations." This is a good thing, and by design.
8/ But this is the moral corrosion question that faces us.
Ambitious men (hai, Mike Pompeo) and ambitious generals seeking to please a President without limit, strategy, or the ability to see beyond the time horizon of his own ADD-ragetweets are common in today's Washington.
Ambitious men (hai, Mike Pompeo) and ambitious generals seeking to please a President without limit, strategy, or the ability to see beyond the time horizon of his own ADD-ragetweets are common in today's Washington.
9/ For Trump and his base, this is a pure, domestic political play, chasing the dragon of greater and more egregious transgressions from law, norms, and strategic vision in order to keep his core voters revved.
Military and civilian defense leaders might want to be careful...
Military and civilian defense leaders might want to be careful...
10/ ...because if the options range from "soft power diplomatic" to "nuke Tehran into a glowing radioactive plane of glass" Donnie might choose the far edge of the spectrum of options just to see the pretty fireworks.
6B/ (sorry for omission)
"Fourth, the lives of the hostages held by Iraq would be protected to the extent possible."
"Fourth, the lives of the hostages held by Iraq would be protected to the extent possible."
