War: No Mercy!

I am a former active duty US Marine. It's fitting that I should voice an opinion about war. I suppose, the times I served and the nature of my training & activities has helped to shape my views. Nevertheless, I do believe that basic truths are really what are at the core of my stance. Then, don't we all.

As I recall, we never trained to build houses, restore power, give aid and comfort (except to our own) or even liberate. We were taught one thing. Ooh-Rah, a.k.a. KILL! The premise was simple. We show up. People die. Everyone received that same training. Used or unused, that same skill set and only that skill set was interwoven throughout all skill sets in the Corps. You may not be aware that the Marines retain corpsman & chaplains from the Navy. Why? Because from dudes that are cooks to dudes that hit the books, Marines are killers. Think of Marines as white blood cells. When called, they efficiently and effectively do what they do best.

Now, hold that thought for a minute. Remember back to the first Gulf War. The Iraqi war fighters surrendered in droves. It turns out that they believed things like, to become a Marine you had to kill a member of your own family and the Americans, particularly the Marines, would eat them. The bottom line is, they had fear. The funny thing about fear is that it is a galvanizer. For the most part, you will either be drawn in closer or you will flee. To be sure, there will be a measure that freeze and there will be those that stubbornly hold their ground. All this is very good. The ability to cause fear is right up there with the ability to think for the good warrior. Fear limits activities.

Today, however, a curious thing is occurring. Marines are being charged with murder & unlawfully killings. People of all ages approach and demand services from our warriors. Enemies are allowed free access to their backs. All this is due to one thing... the loss of the ability to cause fear. I'll tell you how I was trained: If we took an area, we cleared that area of all living. We made a perimeter. Enemies were never allowed to get at our backs. Anyone that approached, was subject to death! Meet the challenge properly or die. We had no special caring for the rights of those that may have formerly resided in said area. It was too bad so sad for them. War was there.

It amazes me that people seem to have lost all fear of things like war & hurricanes. It amazes me more that we train our warriors to foster this idea by teaching them that there are limited times in which it is right to kill. Remember the white blood cell concept. War brings Hate and Discontent! Marines show up. People die! That's all there needs to be. If you want a different outcome, choose a different option. The ironic thing is that, by making war more palatable to the masses by imposing rules of supposed decency, you actually make war more available as an option and, thereby, only increase the outbreak of war, death and carnage because your constant false expectation is that death will be limited.

Here's a simple idea. Keep war repugnant. You should hate war! You should find it disgusting! You should fear it... loathe it... never want to see it or use it! Let warriors do what they do. 8 to 80 blind, crippled, or crazy, if fear has not driven the poor souls out of the theater of operations, let them be counted as willing combatants that are happy to face the storm. Kill them! War = No Mercy! If you want mercy, do that. Have mercy! I applaud it! Even if it means you take some horrible smacks you never deserve. Have Mercy! But... but... if you must have war, keep it deplorable! Rather that, than war becoming palatable and within the grasp of those who would view war as just another tool.

It may be too late already. Out leaders, every variety of them, rush to use war as a tool to bring about a myriad of selective outcomes. War is good at removing the living. War is good at breaking stuff. War and Mercy do not mix well for man. I am for Peace. This means that I have to be for War when there can be No More Mercy. But this blended thing... limited warfare... when it's illegal to kill. This is more deplorable than the true grittiness of war. This thing tricks people into believing that a war can be exercised with a reasonable measure of safety. On the contrary, danger is the name of the game. Death is the end. You can't reason with that. To use the gambler's wisdom. The house always wins. Friends, Death is right at home in War. The house will Trump you. Choose Mercy when you can get it.