RE: World war 3
September 22, 2014 at 6:58 am
(This post was last modified: September 22, 2014 at 7:17 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Well, there's the notion that in some cases by going down a certain path to "defeat" the enemy you have, effectively, become them. That calls into question whether or not you have "won" in the first place - and why it would even matter that you fought....but, yes, if we approach "winning" and "losing" as a question of living or dying - I think many would prefer life, "at any cost"-even. All of this ignores our ability to think around the opfor - to find a way to "win" that we would not consider an issue of doing -whatever- might work. A decent victory, as opposed to one which would generate shame (though, in the balance of it, whether your enemy agrees that your strategy and tactics were decent and -not- shameful is another matter...lol).
Personally, I like to split the difference. It is the warfighters job to win, whatever the cost...to present even the most terryfying options -as- options. It is the leadership and the societies job to reign in those warfighters and give them direction, limits, rules of engagement. We're placing them in a peculiar situation, not exactly a place where you can sit down and agonize over the nature of the conflict before you assualt the pillbox-their job demands that they at least be willing to do horrible things to the other guy, to act without further review or debate...that's who we want, that's what we encourage, that's whats required.
-Obviously I've had a decade to think about this after the fact. Had you asked me my opinion in my twenties..well...."through the foe, to the objective" and all that jazz.....no further thought required.
Personally, I like to split the difference. It is the warfighters job to win, whatever the cost...to present even the most terryfying options -as- options. It is the leadership and the societies job to reign in those warfighters and give them direction, limits, rules of engagement. We're placing them in a peculiar situation, not exactly a place where you can sit down and agonize over the nature of the conflict before you assualt the pillbox-their job demands that they at least be willing to do horrible things to the other guy, to act without further review or debate...that's who we want, that's what we encourage, that's whats required.
-Obviously I've had a decade to think about this after the fact. Had you asked me my opinion in my twenties..well...."through the foe, to the objective" and all that jazz.....no further thought required.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!