05-28-2020, 06:59 AM
Come to think of it, wars might have at least three excuses.
The first gets the troops ready and eager to fight. Generational Dynamics labeled it xenophobia. There is an instinct not to kill as well as a contradictory urge to violence. You have to get your army ready to use their weapons, on edge so to speak. The US Army, for example, trains their people in quickly and effectively serving targets. In Bush 43's war, keeping score by body count, shelling a village that housed a sniper, wiping out a wedding party where weapons were being fired in the air in celebration, show a contempt for life, for the supposed enemy. This is often very real.
There is a greedy reason. The leaders see an opportunity to gain something, be it resources, territory or whatever. This is much more rational and controllable.
There is a propaganda or idealistic reason. Your motives as reported to the press are made to sound noble or pure. You are out to free slaves, find WMDs, or trying to create a co prosperity sphere that has Asia for Asians and kicks the foreigners out. Sometimes it is even real, not just an excuse for the greed.
I'm not convinced you should look at one aspect to the exclusion of the others. You can have the most contempt filled armed forces, the most idealistic and eager population, and that goes no where if the leaders don't provide the transport and supplies to get folks in harm's way.
The first gets the troops ready and eager to fight. Generational Dynamics labeled it xenophobia. There is an instinct not to kill as well as a contradictory urge to violence. You have to get your army ready to use their weapons, on edge so to speak. The US Army, for example, trains their people in quickly and effectively serving targets. In Bush 43's war, keeping score by body count, shelling a village that housed a sniper, wiping out a wedding party where weapons were being fired in the air in celebration, show a contempt for life, for the supposed enemy. This is often very real.
There is a greedy reason. The leaders see an opportunity to gain something, be it resources, territory or whatever. This is much more rational and controllable.
There is a propaganda or idealistic reason. Your motives as reported to the press are made to sound noble or pure. You are out to free slaves, find WMDs, or trying to create a co prosperity sphere that has Asia for Asians and kicks the foreigners out. Sometimes it is even real, not just an excuse for the greed.
I'm not convinced you should look at one aspect to the exclusion of the others. You can have the most contempt filled armed forces, the most idealistic and eager population, and that goes no where if the leaders don't provide the transport and supplies to get folks in harm's way.
That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
