Comments on: Clausewitz, “On War”, Book 3: the Prussian as prophet

By: zenpundit

zenpundit — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:33:27 +0000

Not every nation can trade “space for time”, even when they are in command of vast occupied territories, as were Nazi Germany and Japan. However, occupied territory is not the same thing as your own territory, qualitatively speaking. The population is sullen at best and is likely to view your enemy as “iberators” at least in the short term.

All space is not created equal.

By: YT

YT — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:08:21 +0000

Re : “If every single member of society is a potential member of the opposing military, then systematic murder of the whole society becomes a necessity.”

Chechnya? What else could they have done?

By: Don Meaker

Don Meaker — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:17:06 +0000

“The Nation in Arms” is a counterpart to “Genocide as Policy”. If every single member of society is a potential member of the opposing military, then systematic murder of the whole society becomes a necessity.

Putting the industry of a nation at the service of the government at war makes that industry a legitimate target. Industrialization leads to Strategic Bombing as policy.

I don’t like that. I just don’t see how the genie gets put back into the bottle.