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Reader comment on item: War's New Face

Submitted by Marc Molino (United States), Apr 18, 2003 at 15:17

I could not agree more with Mr. Pipes that the face of war has changed drastically, but I do not understand ...the explanation or proof of how those who go to war now "fight for the other side." Propaganda, PR, and media spin have become a huge part of war and naming a military "operation" with the words "justice," "freedom," or "liberation" does not magically confirm the intentions with such values. When the idea of confronting Iraq was first mentioned by the U.S., the intention was to protect ourselves from the weapons of mass destruction and his enabling of other terrorists. Those arguments didn't go over so well, so they were slowly spun with an emphasis more on how we were going to liberate the Iraqi people as if somehow right now, after years of oppression under Saddam, they suddenly deserved it. I sincerely hope the Iraqi people remain liberated and all of this leads to a better life for their society, but our intentions were not what I would call entirely altruistic, nor have I seen or read about many other conflicts that any militaries have gotten involved in with strong ulterior and self-serving motives. Hopefully, all this works out for the safety of the U.S. and the well-being of the Iraqis, but only time will tell that.

As for casualties, we don't "do bodycounts" anymore according to General Franks. While the duration of combat has been reduced and technology has provided better targetting methods, it has also introduced larger explosions, more shrapnel, and vile and dangerous remains that can plague a country from years (e.g., unexploded projectiles that sit like land mines for years, depleted uranium that seeps into soi and water, etc.). And for all our advances, it seems roughly 60% of coalition injuries were caused by ourselves and not the "enemy."

It seems like the distinction between enemy governments and their people will only be clearer as time progresses. Even in democracies, the actions of the government do not necessarily constitute the will of the people.

So, times are changing, but so are methods for manipulating public opinion, access to information, and shaping one's message, all of which makes it pretty tough for normal citizens to get a clear overall picture.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Chuck Wagen HAGEL -- DHIMMI OF THE MONTH [68 words]james burkeOct 30, 2009 08:04163817
War's New Face [124 words]H. BendorAug 4, 2003 10:5810436
A joke? [32 words]Plain TruthApr 21, 2003 22:508523
governing relgion [220 words]Paul WilliamApr 20, 2003 23:588487
Hooray! [31 words]Richard munsonApr 20, 2003 21:358484
My comments to Garry Prior: [177 words]Jeanne GravesApr 20, 2003 09:448475
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet! [131 words]AvrahamApr 19, 2003 23:148474
Great Minds Think Alike [98 words]Arlinda DeAngelisApr 19, 2003 17:008473
Bravery vs. stupidity [74 words]M. SimonApr 19, 2003 16:378471
marketing wars new face... [372 words]Marc MolinoApr 18, 2003 15:178452
US of A [220 words]Mike O'HearnApr 18, 2003 09:178447
But has it been effective? [281 words]Tom PensylApr 17, 2003 23:018442
We Can't Afford War and Restoration [124 words]catherineIHApr 17, 2003 19:218438
Another decline: Disappearance of treason? [98 words]F VoshellApr 17, 2003 16:218435
Competitive Advantage [95 words]Bill HadneyApr 17, 2003 15:478432
Well written and persuasive [2 words]George W. Kunzman, Jr.Apr 17, 2003 15:328429
Changes in modern warfare [443 words]Doug PetrillaApr 17, 2003 15:258428
The face of war obscured.... [392 words]Shep FargotsteinApr 17, 2003 14:048425
Anti-Israel bigotry: How to Dehumanize Israeli Civilians - Academically [741 words]NicolasAug 18, 2020 11:088425
1939 Palestine - already terrorists used human shields - Mufti's man [672 words]HistoJun 23, 2021 09:358425
Hanas arrests Mustafa Asfour for criticizing using human shields - HRW's / racist Arab Omar Shakir: quiet.. [193 words]OmarAug 14, 2021 18:018425
Changing culture [84 words]Chad DesLauriersApr 17, 2003 12:438423
War with a new face [143 words]Vasudev GodboleApr 17, 2003 10:428422
Go read "The Art of War", etc. [185 words]Deran EatonApr 17, 2003 09:288421
Let's change the language of war [583 words]Garry PriorApr 17, 2003 02:588417
timidity of non-hostile moslems [73 words]Joseph WechslerApr 16, 2003 21:528414
What to do About Arafat [77 words]Paul M. NevilleApr 16, 2003 19:538410
Changing face of war [181 words]Chip SwitzerApr 16, 2003 17:288407
Words save blood - so give words a chance [235 words]Glen WishardApr 16, 2003 17:258406
only half of the story [30 words]Steve SaafApr 16, 2003 16:218404
We show them our tactics [207 words]Del Jones, CPPApr 16, 2003 16:188403
Article on Transformation of War [178 words]David BrownApr 16, 2003 09:478390
Paradoxical [229 words]Glenn KlotzApr 16, 2003 08:578388

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