[OT]Re: History Lesson: was America under attack

[Michael Melland]

Hi Tom,

First off I agree with your statement, it shows compassion and makes perfect
sense in a sane world... however...

That said, the era of not involving a "relatively" innocent population in
warfare ended with the advent of the American Civil War.  The doctrines
governing the conduct of warfare were rewritten largely by US Grant, WT
Sherman, Philip Sheridan and other period US military thinkers.  Any ideas
about the "innocence" of the general population largely ceased with
Sherman's "March to the Sea" which had the intent of breaking the South's
will to fight (i.e.: citizens resolve and ability to support and supply the
War effort).  We need only to look at more modern conflicts to see the
results of modern warfare.  Nazi planes conducted the first saturation
bombing of a defenseless civilian target when they obliterated the town of
Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Allied fire bombings of Cologne and
Dresden, and the "A" bombings in Japan are all excellent examples of massive
civilian involvement in modern warfare. In hindsight were these attacks
effective.... yes.  Were they necessary....... generally yes.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if anyone expects or desires a
surgical, antiseptic conflict where only the bad guys are targeted, killed
or injured you really don't understand.  Sadly.... innocents on both sides
will be killed and wounded as part and parcel of modern warfare.  As we used
to say..... "There it is."

IMHO it's unavoidable even with todays precision munitions.  One of the
perceived weaknesses of the US by others regarding our methods of warfare is
that we always try to play fair, this time we shall see.


> Hello to all. As American's we have to look at what has happened. We have
> become strong because of this. We also have to remember this terrible
thing
> was done by radicals and not all Muslims. So look into your hearts and see
> that we need to direct our wrath at the one's responsible not the ones
that
> are innocent.
> Tom WB0SGA

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