Israel Assassinating More Nuclear Scientists?

[CathyInBlue]

As Clausewitz noted, if you dull your swords in the name of humanity someone will come along with a sharp sword and cut your arms off (paraphrase).

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those that don't."

 

[HeadlessRoland]

So since the consensus seems to be for von Clausewitz's 'total war' theorem, and any tactic including assassination of civilians and leaders alike is legitimate, why should we not immediately begin an aerial nuclear campaign against Iran, DPRK, and any other nation-state that we can collectively claim to be an enemy? Why not immediately assassinate their political leaders, if ethics have a place in political decision-making/war and assassination is ethical (or if ethics has no place in war)? Why not just mass-slaughter their civilian population as well, if discernment of targeting is too unrealistic or unobservable or undesirable? Why not? We possess the capability of so doing. Why not start the total war now?

 

[T.Lex]

.. why should we not immediately begin an aerial nuclear campaign against Iran, DPRK, and any other nation-state that we can collectively claim to be an enemy? Why not immediately assassinate their political leaders, if ethics have a place in political decision-making/war and assassination is ethical (or if ethics has no place in war)? Why not just mass-slaughter their civilian population as well, if discernment of targeting is too unrealistic or unobservable or undesirable? Why not? We possess the capability of so doing. Why not start the total war now?

Hey, this is INGO. Those suggestions are the norm. Sometimes even tame.

 

[Rhoadmar]

So since the consensus seems to be for von Clausewitz's 'total war' theorem, and any tactic including assassination of civilians and leaders alike is legitimate, why should we not immediately begin an aerial nuclear campaign against Iran, DPRK, and any other nation-state that we can collectively claim to be an enemy? Why not immediately assassinate their political leaders, if ethics have a place in political decision-making/war and assassination is ethical (or if ethics has no place in war)? Why not just mass-slaughter their civilian population as well, if discernment of targeting is too unrealistic or unobservable or undesirable? Why not? We possess the capability of so doing. Why not start the total war now?

So the quiet removal/assassination of key targets is the same as mass slaughter of civilians?

 

[T.Lex]

So the quiet removal/assassination of key targets is the same as mass slaughter of civilians?

Is it not a matter of scale? The scientists were civilians. Is the magic number 5? 10? 100?

Perhaps we should gauge by how many ISIS slaughters at a go?

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Hey, this is INGO. Those suggestions are the norm. Sometimes even tame.

I'm still waiting for someone to suggest nuking the entire world, in full earnest. That would really make my day.

So the quiet removal/assassination of key targets is the same as mass slaughter of civilians?

There is obviously a distinction, but if all tactics are equitable and of use in terms of achieving victory, then why not choose any and all tactics that promote the likelihood of victory? Why then fight half-wars as we have done? Why fight with any sort of restraint at all?

 

[Rhoadmar]

I'm still waiting for someone to suggest nuking the entire world, in full earnest. That would really make my day.



There is obviously a distinction, but if all tactics are equitable and of use in terms of achieving victory, then why not choose any and all tactics that promote the likelihood of victory? Why then fight half-wars as we have done? Why fight with any sort of restraint at all?

If I was solely responsible for fighting a war it would be conducted to end as quickly as possible. The end would come when my enemy unconditionally surrendered. War is not something that should be sought but when it is brought to you everything that needs to be be done to end it quickly should be done. If you can spare your enemy's civilians, great. Your priority should be the lives of your countrymen civilian or military.

 

[rambone]

So since the consensus seems to be for von Clausewitz's 'total war' theorem, and any tactic including assassination of civilians and leaders alike is legitimate, why should we not immediately begin an aerial nuclear campaign against Iran, DPRK, and any other nation-state that we can collectively claim to be an enemy? Why not immediately assassinate their political leaders, if ethics have a place in political decision-making/war and assassination is ethical (or if ethics has no place in war)? Why not just mass-slaughter their civilian population as well, if discernment of targeting is too unrealistic or unobservable or undesirable? Why not? We possess the capability of so doing. Why not start the total war now?

Its been advocated more times than I can count.

 

[Rhoadmar]

If the world and humanity was digital, either 1 or 0 I could agree with the analysis that assassinations in the OP are bad. The world and humanity is more akin to analog and judgment has to weigh in every decision at any point on the scale.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

OK - let's put this into a slightly different context. Who would have blamed the Germans or Japanese for attacking the Manhattan project if they had known about it and been able?

Who blames us for attacking the heavy water manufacturing in occupied Norway during WW2?

And how is Israel taking out these scientists any different?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

OK - let's put this into a slightly different context. Who would have blamed the Germans or Japanese for attacking the Manhattan project if they had known about it and been able?

Who blames us for attacking the heavy water manufacturing in occupied Norway during WW2?

And how is Israel taking out these scientists any different?

There is a growing anti-Israel sentiment in this country and in Europe...that is a big "how".

 

[Blackhawk2001]

There is a growing anti-Israel sentiment in this country and in Europe...that is a big "how".

I suspect the anti-Israel sentiment is concentrated mainly in the MSM and Hollywood culture and the upper ranks of the Democrat Party - but of course, they hold the big microphone for public discourse and policy-making right now.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I suspect the anti-Israel sentiment is concentrated mainly in the MSM and Hollywood culture and the upper ranks of the Democrat Party - but of course, they hold the big microphone for public discourse and policy-making right now.

There's a fair number here.