Sometimes it's better to step down, rather than cling to power with the backing of people who are hugely unpopular with the general public. It just sets you up for a bigger defeat, down the line. (View Post)

To continue, rules of war are very ancient, because most wars are not fought with the intention of completely exterminating the enemy. Not even the Mongols did so. So, you have to find ways of achiev… (View Post)

Well, the argument is that we should behave morally, regardless of what others do. But, that is very much a counsel of perfection. I agree with you that, in practice, the rules of war developed upon … (View Post)

The problem comes with total war. Where civilian populations on both sides have been heavily mobilised for war work. Then, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and/or starving civilians does se… (View Post)

I've always preferred Churchill's proposal of summary execution. That said, I was never happy with the idea of inventing, post-facto, an offence like "crimes against peace." The N… (View Post)