War: Has it changed?

[Dark Jaguar]

I present two opposing views.

Fallout Narrator: War. War never changes.

Solid Snake: War has changed.

That's a lot to take in. Discuss.

*Explosion*

Otacon: SNAAAAAKE!
Slippy: FOOOOOX!

[A Black Falcon]

America killed millions of people in our decades of involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia through sanctions, carpet bombing, and massive invasion.

In contrast, in the 5-10 years of involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan we have killed a tiny fraction that number (tens of thousands, directly, probably, maybe into the six figures?). We are not carpet bombing, we are not murdering people in huge numbers, only in small numbers -- yes, awful things still happen, but the number and volume are dramatically lower. One reason for this is better technology -- we can aim bombs much better now -- but also it seems to partially be changed culture... can you imagine us carpet-bombing Iraq or Afghanistan and then talking about reconstruction?

So yes, I think things have changed, and for the better, and that's just in recent decades...


On the metaphorical sense of "war is awful", though, no, it has not changed.

[alien space marine]

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Mark Twain = Greatest American Ever!

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[Dark Jaguar]

I love Mark Twain. Yes I'll call him by that fake name, because he actually picked it himself. He is the grand master, the font of all sarcasm in the world.

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, he certainly is one of America's greatest writers ever, no question.