Study War No More, I Think Not
This is Steven Petrick Posting.
There is a belief prevalent in civilized societies that it is possible to "study war no more", and that if you force your own people to not study war, why you will have peace. After all, if you are not studying war, your neighbors will see that you are not a threat and will themselves abandon the study of war. So all that is necessary to have a peaceful world is for us to stop studying war. Unilaterally disarm, and all will follow our example.
Does not work because, like crime, the greatest invitation to a visit by rude neighbors is to be seen has having something desirable and no means to retain possession.
Much like the local police forces (city police, county sheriff, etc.), the military stands watch. You do not want to try to create a police force to come deal with a street gang rampaging through your neighborhood, you want the police to be able to deploy the riot squad NOW. And to be effective, they have to have the equipment and training in advance.
If you do not protect your wealth, sooner or later someone will decide that you do not really need it, or that he has the level of force needed to take it from you. That applies whether you are walking down your own home street and are confronted by a mugger, or if you are a country and with insufficient military force to dissuade your neighbors.
Yes, we have good relations with our neighbors . . . TODAY. Tomorrow is, however, an unknown land. Tomorrow may bring a more radical leadership to either of our neighbors and they may decide to "correct the errors of history".
There is a belief prevalent in civilized societies that it is possible to "study war no more", and that if you force your own people to not study war, why you will have peace. After all, if you are not studying war, your neighbors will see that you are not a threat and will themselves abandon the study of war. So all that is necessary to have a peaceful world is for us to stop studying war. Unilaterally disarm, and all will follow our example.
Does not work because, like crime, the greatest invitation to a visit by rude neighbors is to be seen has having something desirable and no means to retain possession.
Much like the local police forces (city police, county sheriff, etc.), the military stands watch. You do not want to try to create a police force to come deal with a street gang rampaging through your neighborhood, you want the police to be able to deploy the riot squad NOW. And to be effective, they have to have the equipment and training in advance.
If you do not protect your wealth, sooner or later someone will decide that you do not really need it, or that he has the level of force needed to take it from you. That applies whether you are walking down your own home street and are confronted by a mugger, or if you are a country and with insufficient military force to dissuade your neighbors.
Yes, we have good relations with our neighbors . . . TODAY. Tomorrow is, however, an unknown land. Tomorrow may bring a more radical leadership to either of our neighbors and they may decide to "correct the errors of history".
posted by Federation Commander at 9:42 PM
<< Home