Comments on: When a War is Not a War

By: Elisabetta

Elisabetta — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:21:47 +0000

“They are waging war on us in Iraq….”

The ongoing unrest in Iraq is due to the terrorists’ homicidal acts. Civilians, along with our troops are still being killed – but not by us – though the numbers and the incidents have decreased since the surge.

Would you suggest we leave and pretend the terrorists forget their cause and go back home?

By: Alan Stewart Carl

Alan Stewart Carl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:55:47 +0000

Jimmy–
You could argue that war is when soldiers are being killed, the crime of terrorism is when civilians are being killed. That really gets you nowhere in the longterm (they are waging war on us in Iraq but we’re mainly waging a police action on them?). But I suspect that’s the distinction many people make — without even realizing the complexities of that viewpoint.

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:11:29 +0000

Was there ever, then, a “war” in Iraq? After the first year or so, the baathists had been defeated, and much of the insurgency became religious in nature and focussed its attention on softer targets. Even though the total number of casualties increased, the aimless murderers were not wearing uniforms and were targetting mainly civilians. Just a series of thousands of criminal acts with no political motive or long-term strategic goals?

Well, at least we don’t have to worry about “root causes” anymore, since acts of terrorism are no longer to be considered part of an ideological mass-movement. Who ever talks about addressing “root causes” of bank-robbery or insurance fraud?

By: probligo

probligo — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:27:18 +0000

I have always felt that the Brits, with their past experience of dealing with terrorism in India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Northern Ireland, had a far better handle on the relevant language than has the likes of GWB.

As a matter of history, the Brits have never dealt with terrorism as a “political” or “military” threat although the military has always had a major part in the response and control of terrorism.

Terrorism, in the British lexicon and in mine, has always been a crime; to be dealt with ultimately through the justice system.

It pleases me to see a return to that previously successful approach.