It's the Hurons vs. the Iroquois all over again

Submitted by Peter Herz (United States), Oct 18, 2006 at 07:39

Roll up the old map of international law and national interest. The People's War has definitely come to stay; for nothing succeeds like success. After a century of posturing against all war save class war, we've reached the end of civilization. The laws of war are now a relic of the days when the younger sons of gentry lined up the riffraff of society in gaudy uniform ten miles outside the nearest village and took potshots at each other with inaccurate muskets.

Unfortunately, what has not been noted is that the People's War, in which both sexes and all ages are potential combatants, and in which uniforms and military traditions don't count, all is truloy fair. The side that denies itself such weapons as torture, terror, and forced conversion will be at a disadvantage in a world in which the losers are literally lunch.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".