The inimitable Howard Zinn

[marmar]

[font size="4"]With the indiscriminate nature of modern military technology (no such thing as a "smart bomb," it turns out) all wars are wars against civilians, and are therefore inherently immoral. This is true even when a war is considered "just," because it is fought against a tyrant, against an aggressor, to correct a stolen boundary.


When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.


I enlisted in the Air Force. I volunteered. I was an enthusiastic bombardier. To me it was very simple: it was a war against fascism. They were the bad guys; we were the good guys. One of the things I learned from that experience was that when you start off with them being the bad guys and you being the good guys, once you've made that one decision, you don't have to think anymore, if you're in the military. From that point on, anything goes. From that point on, you're capable of anything, even atrocities. Because you've made a decision a long time ago that you're on the right side. You don't keep questioning, questioning, questioning. You're not Yossarian, who questions.[/font]


http://www.notable-quotes.com/z/zinn_howard.html

[WillyT]

1. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[progressoid]

2. There isn't much room for the Howard Zinns in our party.

[marmar]

3. Tragically true.