Comments on: The Beauty of the Future http://thestormypresent.com/ocean/2008/01/23/the-beauty-of-the-future/ Bursts of Clarity, Illuminated. Thu, 07 May 2009 15:48:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: OceansOfThought http://thestormypresent.com/ocean/2008/01/23/the-beauty-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-2 OceansOfThought Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:29:11 +0000 http://thestormypresent.com/ocean/?p=12#comment-2 I would assume all militarys run war-games, and of course, China is not going to sit back forever and let Taiwan become their Albatross, continue to shame them, and let them lose face. That doesn't actually interest me, it is what it will be. What I do find interesting is a common miss -conception that americans are not willing to accept causalities. I believe WWI and WWII turn this on it's head; even the early part of the war on terror, and the steady and increasing deathtoll. Americans are always willing to accept causalities if they believe in the actions they are taking, if the anger or the pain is directed at them or they have been wronged. They are unwilling to continue these actions if however its deemed "someone's else" problem". Somalia is "Why are we over there?" Taiwan will be "Why are we doing this?" Inflicting maximum causalities is a good strategy as long as its "conventional weapons." Nuking the American military in a preemptive strike would lead a feeling of being wronged and the building of resolve in its people. Pearl Harbor; 911; These are military acts of surprise and if your goal, as a country is not to follow through, then there is only one expected response. If in any way, any nuclear action leads to death of military personnel, then the "minimally acceptable level of firepower." goes right out the window and the demand will be to retaliate. And then, won't times be interesting. I would assume all militarys run war-games, and of course, China is not going to sit back forever and let Taiwan become their Albatross, continue to shame them, and let them lose face. That doesn’t actually interest me, it is what it will be.

What I do find interesting is a common miss -conception that americans are not willing to accept causalities. I believe WWI and WWII turn this on it’s head; even the early part of the war on terror, and the steady and increasing deathtoll.

Americans are always willing to accept causalities if they believe in the actions they are taking, if the anger or the pain is directed at them or they have been wronged. They are unwilling to continue these actions if however its deemed “someone’s else” problem”.

Somalia is “Why are we over there?”
Taiwan will be “Why are we doing this?”

Inflicting maximum causalities is a good strategy as long as its “conventional weapons.” Nuking the American military in a preemptive strike would lead a feeling of being wronged and the building of resolve in its people. Pearl Harbor; 911; These are military acts of surprise and if your goal, as a country is not to follow through, then there is only one expected response. If in any way, any nuclear action leads to death of military personnel, then the “minimally acceptable level of firepower.” goes right out the window and the demand will be to retaliate.

And then, won’t times be interesting.

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