Quote Originally Posted by VanChilds View Post
Maybe so but I just don't understand the attempt to put rules and regulations on armed conflict in some way to humanize it. Personally I think killing one another is a very HUMAN trait and has been throughout history. It seems people don't like seeing how depraved we can be and feel better about it with some semblance of honor in war. Like I said there is no substitute for victory. Why play by a set of rules when your enemy doesn't? Why cling to some moral high ground when it doesn't necessarily aid winning? I don't know why people are ever suprised to look at an armed conflict and find horrible acts. It in and of itself is a horrible act.
You're not fighting a war, you're fighting a bunch of insuregents and your own generals say that military force can't beat insurgencies. It's all about hearts and minds, isn't it, not killing hundreds of thousands of people to try and "win" something that's unwinnable with violence.