For a long time I've been confused by the concept of "rules of warfare", and this is because the nature of war is that all rules are suspended at the violator's convenience.
I've thought long and hard on what the conventions governing warfare are actually trying to do. It's laudable, in the sense that the Magna Carta was a laudable step t…
For a long time I've been confused by the concept of "rules of warfare", and this is because the nature of war is that all rules are suspended at the violator's convenience.
I've thought long and hard on what the conventions governing warfare are actually trying to do. It's laudable, in the sense that the Magna Carta was a laudable step toward decentralization of power. But the very nature of warfare, which is simply a test of power, make it a bit of a conundrum to suppose that whatever the rules are, they'll be adhered to and enforced by which ever side has the power to win. The outcome of the power contest will determine those rules that are enforced (if any) and those that are ignored.
It's the nature of reality and a tough one for many to accept because it offends the morality of the common man, which is not the same morality as that of the wielders of power.
For a long time I've been confused by the concept of "rules of warfare", and this is because the nature of war is that all rules are suspended at the violator's convenience.
I've thought long and hard on what the conventions governing warfare are actually trying to do. It's laudable, in the sense that the Magna Carta was a laudable step toward decentralization of power. But the very nature of warfare, which is simply a test of power, make it a bit of a conundrum to suppose that whatever the rules are, they'll be adhered to and enforced by which ever side has the power to win. The outcome of the power contest will determine those rules that are enforced (if any) and those that are ignored.
It's the nature of reality and a tough one for many to accept because it offends the morality of the common man, which is not the same morality as that of the wielders of power.