From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!convex!darwin.sura.net!spool.mu.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!chemabs!sdr57 Wed Sep 23 16:54:22 EDT 1992
Article 6972 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Xref: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca comp.ai.philosophy:6972 rec.arts.sf.misc:3225 alt.cyberpunk:1740
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy,rec.arts.sf.misc,alt.cyberpunk
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!convex!darwin.sura.net!spool.mu.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!chemabs!sdr57
>From: sdr57@cas.org ()
Subject: Re: 21st Century Soldier
Message-ID: <1992Sep18.142014.963@cas.org>
Followup-To: alt.war
Sender: usenet@cas.org
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio
References: <1992Sep12.191204.1026@ariel.ec.usf.edu> <1992Sep17.135131.21405@cas.org> <18SEP199208550629@dstl86.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1992 14:20:14 GMT
Lines: 42

In article <18SEP199208550629@dstl86.gsfc.nasa.gov> olson@dstl86.gsfc.nasa.gov (Paul Olson) writes:
>In article <1992Sep17.135131.21405@cas.org>, sdr57@cas.org () writes...
>>In article <1992Sep12.191204.1026@ariel.ec.usf.edu> mccolm@darwin.math.usf.edu. (Gregory McColm) writes:
>>>
>>>There is this fantasy that wars are different from politics,
>>>and if only we could keep those damn politicians out, we
>>>could win wars.
>>
>>Wars are, in their execution, very different from politics.
>>The conduct of a war bears little resemblence in its
>>practical aspects to anything a politician, concerned with
>>the nuances of law and the details of relationships between
>>governments, would reasonably encounter.
>
>You missed the point.  The fact is that waging war is an extension of the
>policies of the state.  That is why our armies, navies, etc. "project power" to
>other portions of the world.  It isn't for defense of our borders.  Politics
>will _always_ be the major factor in war.
>
>Dr. Forbin

I think it is you who have missed the point.
I agree that politics are why war is fought. I had (if you read my
complete post) no argument with the idea that politicians should
be allowed to tell us when to fight. I disagree strongly with the
idea that politicians should be involved with *how* the war is
fought - that is not an area in which they are (with rare exceptions)
competent. Let the politicians declare the war, and let the military
then fight it.

Shouldn't this discussion be moved to alt.war? It isn't sf, as far as
I can see. I've reset the followup-to line so that will happen.
******************************************************************************
Renegade academician. They're a dangerous breed when they go feral,
academics are...a chemist, too.
		    -(James P. Blaylock in "Lord Kelvin's Machine")

My organization hasn't agreed with any of my opinions so far, and
I doubt they'll start now.

Stanley "Ya nee speon" Roberts



