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It is getting too rigid

Reader comment on item: [Lee Harris on Why the U.S. is] Discarding War's Rules

Submitted by Alain Jean-Mairet (Switzerland), Jul 23, 2003 at 03:26

Lee Harris' thinking work is excellent. Talking about it is a good thing too, although it most often neglects the reflection part and then goes so fast to the conclusion that it already sounds a bit like (electoral) propaganda.

Just after 9/11, I was appalled at the reaction of America. It was proven as neglecting its intelligence of foreign affairs, bad organized against terrorism, bad informed about what was revealed to be its worst enemy. And its first (and only broad scaled) reaction was to bomb Afghanistan. It was stupid. Or, to tell it more politely, it was lacking intelligence, it was but a quick-fix. And it missed its clamed goal (capturing Ben Laden).

In Iraq, it sounded like things had settled down enough and that the plan was good. But the "rehabilitation" was actually not planned at all. Again, lack of intelligence: a fast and total success in Iraq would have confirmed the correct position of the US better than Lee Harris ever will.

My country, today so peaceful (yawn), has once been a champion of the strong way, never making any prisoner nor leaving any survivor on the battlefield. And it gained great profit from that politic. It was the right (only viable) way back then. But there were real battlefields then.
At the planet level, terrorism is a social or, to make it more attractive, a humanistic problem, rather than a war. You then need more police than army forces, more clear policies than rigid strength. And, first and foremost, you need intelligence. In the 70s, Central Park was a hell; now, it is a nice place. What went good?

The West did act with too much restraint until now, it is true. But the problem is not those few power-crazy and aggressive people. It is about making the world a better place to live for all of its inhabitants. And, yes, insuring, by force whenever needed, that those who pursue this goal will indeed be able to attain it. But first things first... !
Submitting....

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Reader comments (79) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Not neccessary to know enemy [72 words]Joy BoothJan 21, 2004 02:1413454
The News from Iraq [270 words]Matt PrasteinAug 30, 2003 02:4410925
Hits the Nail on the Head [40 words]RonIAug 22, 2003 14:1710728
Know thy enemies!!! [95 words]kaderAug 21, 2003 15:1710710
Why discarding the rules is a bad strategy [211 words]Jacob FisherAug 11, 2003 08:1210503
Breaking the Rules [52 words]Elizabeth CooteAug 6, 2003 12:5210461
Thank you [15 words]Joel MorrisAug 2, 2003 16:5410419
Discarding War's Rules dated 22 July, 2003 [188 words]S.C.PandaJul 31, 2003 06:0410362
Realities [183 words]Bernard LangdonJul 30, 2003 23:1910357
maybe we need to rethink a war on terrorism [461 words]Peter HerzJul 29, 2003 01:5410287
Proportionate Response? [38 words]FRANCIS HARTIGANJul 28, 2003 16:3010278
New policy's success reflected in eliminating Hussein brothers. [49 words]FRANK G ZAVISCAJul 27, 2003 19:0810265
Right on Point [28 words]Pat LavinJul 26, 2003 22:1310257
Gratitude and Concern [268 words]Timothy Schiff, Ph.D.Jul 26, 2003 19:3910256
Great article! Is there a link to the Harris column? [28 words]TishJul 26, 2003 13:4710254
The New Rule Book says, "Let's play to win" [363 words]RPaineJul 25, 2003 23:1010243
This article is prescient [64 words]RowenaJul 25, 2003 15:3310241
Thank God [46 words]Ralph MaggioniJul 25, 2003 10:3410238
GREAT article! Now I see why CAIR and AMC don't like you... [233 words]Roddy McClainJul 24, 2003 22:4510231
Response vs perceived potential [353 words]Hector RodriguezJul 24, 2003 22:4310230
Amazement [12 words]Lee NaranjoJul 24, 2003 22:2410229
Wisdom Par Excellence [74 words]M&JJul 24, 2003 21:4510228
Morally Commendable [119 words]Michoel ZeldisJul 24, 2003 18:4810225
I couldn't have said it better! [66 words]T'yomaJul 24, 2003 17:3810221
2A constructive and non-violent solution to terrorism. [647 words]Victor LipshutzJul 24, 2003 16:2210219
Don't bring a knive to a gun fight!! [113 words]David J. BastyrJul 24, 2003 15:2610217
Common Sense And Intelligence [56 words]Heywood JablomiJul 24, 2003 13:1910212
Changing rules of warfare ... (let's include China) [483 words]Chuck IngersonJul 24, 2003 12:4710210
as usual, you are right. [64 words]jeann wardJul 24, 2003 11:2810206
Moral Relativism [99 words]Stephen BermanJul 24, 2003 09:5910203
They aren't the Nazis or the Japs [120 words]Glenn KlotzJul 24, 2003 09:0210201
Afghan Veteran weighs in [205 words]MAJJul 24, 2003 08:5710200
Rules of War [387 words]W. DuPree MooreJul 24, 2003 06:1110193
In Our Interests [254 words]Arlinda DeAngelisJul 23, 2003 18:3910186
Well Done! [87 words]Jon AlvarezJul 23, 2003 16:2610183
The Cold War had an effect too. [133 words]Carey E. StronachJul 23, 2003 12:3510181
Whose rules? [236 words]Michael ElvinJul 23, 2003 12:1110180
To win we must be prepared to sink below their level. [162 words]GRAHAM RAEL-BROOKJul 23, 2003 11:3310177
unilateral US action in middle east [231 words]mark urbanJul 23, 2003 10:2810175
Harris [50 words]MarkJul 23, 2003 10:0110174
Impose a double standard [43 words]YehudaJul 23, 2003 06:5110170
Taking the Gloves Off! [281 words]TerrallJul 23, 2003 06:3110169
It is getting too rigid [338 words]Alain Jean-MairetJul 23, 2003 03:2610167
can't agree with you more [263 words]Laura MaizelsJul 23, 2003 02:2910166
Islamist Fantasists [466 words]Peter J. HerzJul 23, 2003 01:3010164
Western Restraint or Liberal Fear [197 words]Josh FarstJul 23, 2003 01:2310163
Pipes' Analysis Right On Target [82 words]Sheila PickerillJul 23, 2003 00:3210159
Bravo Mr Harris [27 words]Molly KafesJul 22, 2003 20:5310149
rediscovering common sense [140 words]leleneJul 22, 2003 20:3510148
Two-thirds on target [92 words]Gary SiegelJul 22, 2003 20:0410147
Thanks for another fabulous column! [75 words]Louis CastellanoJul 22, 2003 19:3910146
Well this is LONG overdue.......... [86 words]Ciaran PalmerJul 22, 2003 19:0910144
Discarding war's rules [317 words]Vijay DandapaniJul 22, 2003 16:4610142
If only... [152 words]Michael LeibowitzJul 22, 2003 16:1410141
About time [38 words]Charles GatesJul 22, 2003 16:0310140
Why the U.S. is discarding war's rules [41 words]michael gibbonsJul 22, 2003 15:0510139
A very insightful article [54 words]BRIAN TAYLORJul 22, 2003 14:5710137
Lee Harris' Article [32 words]Paul KaplanJul 22, 2003 14:5610136
Half-measures [220 words]Joseph GrossmanJul 22, 2003 14:5210135
Excellent [12 words]John BacileJul 22, 2003 14:2710134
The governments vs the governed [96 words]Richard GayJul 22, 2003 13:4210133
Hear! Hear! [484 words]MarkJul 22, 2003 13:1410132
It's about time someone said this. [66 words]Reuven AaronJul 22, 2003 13:1010131
Hitting the nail on the head [40 words]PauloJul 22, 2003 13:0910130
Wonderful! [40 words]Dr. Herbert NevyasJul 22, 2003 12:5810129
This guy is great [29 words]Ken BesigJul 22, 2003 12:5010128
Right on! [187 words]Joe FitzgeraldJul 22, 2003 11:5710127
Walks, Talks and Quacks [74 words]Margaret DoddererJul 22, 2003 11:4610126
Militant Islam [293 words]john GrahamJul 22, 2003 11:3310124
Lack of Standards [277 words]Giulio BattistonJul 22, 2003 11:1510123
It sounds good, but… [147 words]Alain Jean-MairetJul 22, 2003 10:5310122
Re: Assured destruction [235 words]Cas BalickiJul 22, 2003 10:4910121
Harris article - discarding war rules [64 words]Gene LambsonJul 22, 2003 10:4410120
War rules [19 words]Sally HerbertJul 22, 2003 10:3310118
A New Set of Rules is needed [247 words]Iris HicksJul 22, 2003 10:2810117
best by test [75 words]B.R BradshawJul 22, 2003 10:2110116
why the u.s. is discarding war rules [22 words]beni t. deanJul 22, 2003 09:5210113
A fight to the finish [37 words]Melvin A. FechterJul 22, 2003 09:2110111
Sequelae to preemption [48 words]Alan E. GellerJul 22, 2003 09:0010110

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