Samantha Atkins wrote:
>
> Mike Lorrey wrote:
> >
> >
> > Well, we could start by renaming the DoD as the Department of
> > Retaliation.
> >
> > Next, adjust our military Code of Conduct to allow flexibility in action
> > that is determined by the action of those who attack us. If you obey the
> > Classical Laws of War, we operate in similar fashion. If you obey
> > ComIntern tactics of Insurgency, Infiltration, Subversion, AgitProp, and
> > Terrorism, we use the same tactics against your own home front. Under no
> > conditions do we initiate force using the lowest common denominator, we
> > always initiate at the highest standard of behavior until the enemy
> > proves otherwise inclined.
> >
> > On that line, we get rid of pollyannish restrictions on doing dirty
> > deeds in the dark in all circumstances. We let the circumstances
> > determine the tactics. By operating externally in such a fashion, we
> > create an incentive for others to operate at the highest standard of
> > conduct.
>
> Excuse me but part of what got us into this mess is considering
> such restrictions "pollyannish" in practice and doing more than
> a few dirty deeds around the world. We have not been above
> initiating the dirty deed either.
When I hear such whines, I am reminded of the situation in Lebanon in
the early 1980's. Several dozen Americans were held hostage by Hezbollah
and Islamic Jihad. They tried to do the same to some Soviet citizens.
The KGB in return kidnapped relatives of the terrorists and mailed them
their relatives testicles. The Soviets were released several hours
later. Our citizens remained in captivity because our agents were
restricted from such measures.
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