War is Hell

Cadets of the graduating class' - the students arose and saluted - and then changed it to `Boys,' making this statement: `I've been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It's entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here.

`Suppress it! You don't know the horrible aspects of war. I've been through two wars and I know. I've seen cities and homes in ashes. I've seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!'

This is the famous quote by General Sherman describing war.  The lessons he tried to teach are still ignored today as the war in Iraq and Lebanon prove.

More after the fold

You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling. This feeling assumes various shapes, but always comes back to that of Union. Once admit the Union, once more acknowledge the authority of the national Government, and, instead of devoting your houses and streets and roads to the dread uses of war, I and this army become at once your protectors and supporters, shielding you from danger, let it come from what quarter it may. I know that a few individuals cannot resist a torrent of error and passion, such as swept the South into rebellion, but you can point out, so that we may know those who desire a government, and those who insist on war and its desolation.

      You might as well appeal against the thunder-storm as against these terrible hardships of war. They are inevitable, and the only way the people of Atlanta can hope once more to live in peace and quiet at home, is to stop the war, which can only be done by admitting that it began in error and is perpetuated in pride.

This quote is his response to those citizens of Atlanta who asked that he revoke his order to burn Atlanta to the ground.  Under today's viewpoint, Sherman would be deemed a war criminal for deliberately targeting the infrastructure and civilian population.  Instead, he is considered a great hero of this country.

I never served in the military.  However, I have studied military history in college.  Sadly, it appears that Sherman was right about another aspect of war:

"War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over."

Sherman's actions were a huge reason why the North defeated the South.  The firebombing of Drseden and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were largely responsible for the end of World War II.  The hardships placed on the Russian people was largely responsible for the Bolshevik Revolution and led to the end of the war for Russia.   The Syrian massacre of the people of Hama ended any hint of revolt.

I firmly believe that the Geneva Conventions following World War II are largely responsible for the success of terrorism today.  I believe that war is inherently evil and should be avoided at all costs.  The cold war proved that a battle to the death is not necessary.  However, if war begins, there should be no rules.  

If the civilian population knows that it will be targeted in a war, then that population is unlikely to enter into war. Mutually Assured Destruction works.  We never engaged in a hot war with Russia because they could bomb the crap out of us.  Hezbollah knows that it can get away with starting a war against Israel because Israel will try to avoid civilian deaths generally.  So, the population supports Hezbllah because they lack sufficient fear of death. If the Lebanese people knew that attacking Israel meant another Hama, they would never do it.

War is hell and the more we try to civilize it the worse it gets.

Sadly, this is where I reveal my inner geek, for those who recall the original Star Trek, think of the episode call A Taste of Armageddon.  When people don't suffer the cruelty of war, it becomes too easy to engage in war.

I apologize if I seem to advocate wanton death and destruction.  I want the opposite.  I feel that the only way to achieve peace is to make sure that everyone is truly afraid of war.