I'm starting to think "precision" war is a scourge on humanity

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by archangel003

So, given this scenario, what do you think should be done?

290 missiles a day are launched into your country from MLRS sites based in and around civilian housing.

Tell the country and the civilians that they have X amount of time to stop these rocket attacks. If they don't, destroy the whole country.

[archangel003]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Tell the country and the civilians that they have X amount of time to stop these rocket attacks. If they don't, destroy the whole country.

And if they've been doing it for years?

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by archangel003

And if they've been doing it for years?

You have to make a determination of whether it's a country's government doing it or criminal elements within the country without the approval of the government. If it's criminal elements, then you cannot let them provoke you into destroying the entire country. If it's a government, then you destroy the entire country.

[archangel003]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

You have to make a determination of whether it's a country's government doing it or criminal elements within the country without the approval of the government. If it's criminal elements, then you cannot let them provoke you into destroying the entire country. If it's a government, then you destroy the entire country.

The "criminal elements" are part of the government.

So you support Israel?

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Think about it...

First, how likely would someone be to attack us if they knew we'd completely destroy everything and everyone in their country? That's a hell of a deterrant.

Secondly, it's not necessarily that you are attacked first. If the military determines that another country is about to invade you, then go ahead and attack first.

Third, what do you propose we do instead? Do little "precision" strikes and occupations on every country that could potentially attack us one day? Have the past few years not taught us this doesn't turn out well? Is this a sane strategy?

People try to shit on "waiting to get attacked first" but how do you get around this without becoming an aggressor warmonger yourself? I don't see how that's any more appealing or sustainable, especially when total destruction is such an effective deterrant anyway.

oh i don't know, look at 9/11 and pearl harbor

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

oh i don't know, look at 9/11 and pearl harbor

But without the benefit of hindsight, how do you know whether a preemptive attack will really stop an attack or it will just start an unnecessary war? Invasions are pretty rare. Potential invasions are everywhere.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by archangel003

The "criminal elements" are part of the government.

So you support Israel?

I'm ambivalent toward Israel.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

But without the benefit of hindsight, how do you know whether a preemptive attack will really stop an attack or it will just start an unnecessary war? Invasions are pretty rare. Potential invasions are everywhere.

you don't know...that's why you gotta take care of all of them

[archangel003]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

you don't know...that's why you gotta take care of all of them

[beez]

Originally Posted by 7960

so countries create war so they can justify having a military??!?!??/

I'm not sure how you extracted that from what I said. It's not about justifying ownership of a military but rather the prolonged use of the military itself in combat.

[motivez]

I understand what you're trying to get at, but there's no reason civilian populations and innocent people should needlessly suffer for the actions of either their government or elements within their country.

The people you're talking about aren't going to give a shit whether or not their people suffer, and it's not going to deter them from acting like brutal dictators or crazy terrorists if that's what they are.

[Nonphixion]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I've actually read something very similar before. Someone was saying that we expect a lot from our precision missiles, and often more than they can actually perform. They had examples of precision missles dropped by America who claimed to have hit the exact target what actually it hit quite a few yards away and in some cases even killed innocents.

Yes, this was demonstrated greatly with the first strike of the Iraq war, the administration claimed it was a "Leadership Palace". In actuality it was a man's small private farmhouse. Two F-117 Bombers were sent in to level this farm, with satellite guided bombs they killed an obscene amount of civilians.

YouTube - First Strike of Iraq War
YouTube - Smart Bombs and Civilian Casualties