|
|
Victory in War
listen:
  "Until now, people have used the term 'victory' in a grand and ambiguous sense to express their belief that an event has produced a positive outcome, but victory is much more complex." So says the author of a new book that looks at how victory in war has been defined throughout history, from the American Revolution to the Cold War, and other case studies, including modern day Afghanistan and Iraq. We'll see what victory meant to different people, the three basic types of victory and why author Bill Martel sees a coherent concept of victory as perhaps the most important issue today. Laura's guest is Bill Martel, Associate Professor of International Security Studies in the Fletcher School at Tufts and author of “Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policyâ€.
|
Support FromHighlightsNavigationUser login | ||||
Your guest today described as "unthinkable" and "we can't even think about it" the possiblity that the Middle East becomes so "unstable" that our supply of oil is cut off.
I believe that we NEED to think about this possibility SERIOUSLY. Perhaps you could host a show about this topic.
Get some folks to discuss "What might happen if we lost the oil" Our economy would collapse. What would that mean "on the ground"
The Middle East has a very valuable commodity in their oil. The US needs to come up with some RADICAL plans on how we can survive with less and less of that oil. We also should have a contingency plan for loosing that supply.
Saying something is "unthinkable" and basing all of our decisions on the concept that "we can't even think about it" seems foolish.
P.S. Love your show!
Our commander-in-chief seems to believe in the kind of "Victory" that applies to football games, fist fights and shoot-outs in Dodge City at high noon. But that kind of back lot belligerence doesn't scale well to Iraq: with so many thousands of innocents killed or maimed, to consider any outcome as victorious is obscene.
When we talk so casually about war and victory it makes me think we have now accepted war is acceptable. We are fighting our way into bankruptcy. I suggest you read "Overthrow" by Stephen Kinzer or listen to the interview with Terri Gross to get a historical perspective. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5325069
Please consider interviewing New Hampshire Peace Action to balance the insanity of our war-like government.
Thanks