A few quotes that may have some relevance to several current threads in these newsgroups.
[ re: "loathing the military" -- A great insight into what historically can be a most dangerous situation] To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman. George Santayana (1863-1952), U.S. philosopher, poet. The Life of Reason, "Reason in Society," ch. 3 (1905-6). [an observation proven by 2,000 years of experience which would appear to commend itself to the conservatives...] The sinews of war, a limitless supply of money. Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher. Philippics, Oration 5, sct. 5. [ Another oldie but a goldie -- how long does it take and how many battles must be lost for this to "sink in?"] If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. Sun Tzu (6th-5th century B.C.), Chinese general. The Art of War, ch. 3, Axiom 18 (c. 490 B.C., ed. by James Clavell, 1981). [ As Grand-dad expressed it -- don't start vast projects with half-vast resources] There is no human failure greater than to launch a profoundly important endeavour and then leave it half done. This is what the West has done with its colonial system. It shook all the societies in the world loose from their old moorings. But it seems indifferent whether or not they reach safe harbour in the end. Barbara Ward (1914-81), British author, educator. The Rich Nations and the Poor Nations, ch. 2 (1962). [ A observation by a master of "real-politk" ] Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war. Otto Von Bismarck (1815-98), Prussian statesman. Speech, Aug. 1867, Berlin.{ An observation by another master of "real-politk...."] The conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla wins if he does not lose. Henry Kissinger (b. 1923), U.S. Republican politician, secretary of state. Quoted in: Foreign Affairs (New York, Jan. 1969), on the war in Vietnam.
[ How soon we forget....] Vietnam presumably taught us that the United States could not serve as the world's policeman; it should also have taught us the dangers of trying to be the world's midwife to democracy when the birth is scheduled to take place under conditions of guerrilla war. Jeane Kirkpatrick (b. 1926), U.S. public official. "Dictatorship and Double Standards," in Commentary (New York, Nov. 1979). [ An acute and penetrating observation that is still correct.] There are two things which will always be very difficult for a democratic nation: to start a war and to end it. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59), French social philosopher. Democracy in America, vol. 2, pt. 3, ch. 22 (1840). [ He should have paid more attention to what he said, i.e. the Treaty of Versailles, whereby the Allies won the war and lost the peace ....] It is far easier to make war than to make peace. Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929), French statesman. Speech, 14 July 1919, Verdun, France. [ And when the politics is faulty?] War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of politics by other means. Karl Von Clausewitz (1780-1831), Prussian soldier, strategist. On War, Preface (1832). [The more things change, the more things are the same. One of the most dangerous and fatal conditions is when you start to believe your own press releases and propaganda....] How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print. Karl Kraus (1874-1936), Austrian satirist. Nachts, ch. 5 (1918; repr. in Half-Truths and One-And-A Half-Truths: Selected Aphorisms, "In this War we are Dealing . . .," ed. by Harry Zohn, 1976). [ The currency of which is the lives and blood of their subjects....] War is the trade of Kings. John Dryden (1631-1700), English poet, dramatist, critic. Arthur, in King Arthur, act 2, sc. 2.War-making is one of the few activities that people are not supposed to view "realistically"; that is, with an eye to expense and practical outcome. In all-out war, expenditure is all-out, unprudent-war being defined as an emergency in which no sacrifice is excessive. Susan Sontag (b. 1933), U.S. essayist.
If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied. Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), British author, poet. Common Form.
Unka George (George McDuffee)
There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the "money touch," but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), U.S. Republican (later Progressive) politician, president. Letter, 15 Nov. 1913.