Sherman's War on Terror
Neo-neocon explains how one of the great warriors of history, US Gen. William T. Sherman might handle our present situation in Iraq:
Sherman also had a way with words. He's the author of many famous quotes about war which show a fascinating combination of the compassionate and the implacable. Sherman felt the two were closely linked in war--in order to ultimately be compassionate, one had to be ruthless, because half-measures kept the population in an undefeated state, ready to wage war again:
War as a remedy for war--it seems paradoxical. And yet, it worked for Sherman. And it seems that the dreadful wars of the twentieth century--World Wars I and II--bore out the principle that if a war is bad enough that a people actually feels defeated (not just humiliated or tricked, but defeated and war weary), they are unlikely to start another.
Here in the South, we hate Sherman. But there's no denying there hasn't been a war down here lately.
Sherman also had a way with words. He's the author of many famous quotes about war which show a fascinating combination of the compassionate and the implacable. Sherman felt the two were closely linked in war--in order to ultimately be compassionate, one had to be ruthless, because half-measures kept the population in an undefeated state, ready to wage war again:
- Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and defeat.
- War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.
- The scenes on this field would cure anyone of war.
War as a remedy for war--it seems paradoxical. And yet, it worked for Sherman. And it seems that the dreadful wars of the twentieth century--World Wars I and II--bore out the principle that if a war is bad enough that a people actually feels defeated (not just humiliated or tricked, but defeated and war weary), they are unlikely to start another.
Here in the South, we hate Sherman. But there's no denying there hasn't been a war down here lately.
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