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Re:With Rifle and Bibliography: General Mattis on Profession... by PakG1 on Thursday May 09, 2013 @10:01PM (#5684124)
If war is a necessary course of action, then it is possibly the most important lesson. War is of course the least desirable course of action. But his job isn't to find peace without war. His job is to do his job (win wars) if called upon. The people responsible for peace are the political leaders. If they fail, they turn to the military.

Yes, sometimes they turn to the military without exploring all avenues to peace. Whether or not those are good decisions can be long debated. But do not put the onus for peace on him. Rather, be thankful that he is capable to do his job. The responsibility for peace lays on the shoulders of political leaders and diplomats.

Quoting the only line that ever stuck with me from Alien vs. Predator:

"Why do you have a gun?"

"It's like a condom. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it but not have it."

Re:With Rifle and Bibliography: General Mattis on Profession... by derefr on Thursday May 09, 2013 @11:06PM (#5684340)
> Yes, sometimes they turn to the military without exploring all avenues to peace. Whether or not those are good decisions can be long debated. But do not put the onus for peace on him.

What about all the military coups throughout history, where a general decided the politico commanding him wasn't a very good leader, and took his place?

Re:With Rifle and Bibliography: General Mattis on Profession... by PakG1 on Thursday May 09, 2013 @11:24PM (#5684403)
Sure, in that case, yeah. But we're talking about a US general in the US military where that hasn't happened. Your comment expands the scope and context of the conversation, and obviously conclusions wouldn't necessarily be the same in that case.
Re:With Rifle and Bibliography: General Mattis on Profession... by cerebrum on Thursday May 09, 2013 @10:20PM (#5684169)
> If war is a necessary course of action, then it is possibly the most important lesson.

I think all wars since WWI were probably unnecessary but they were fought for economic reasons. It was all about money.

Re:With Rifle and Bibliography: General Mattis on Profession... by PakG1 on Thursday May 09, 2013 @11:22PM (#5684400)
Look at my second paragraph. :)