War: Do you think there is an alternative? Or is there sometimes no other way?

Question

I would like someother peoples views on the subject. Ploiticians always have so much to say, but never seem to listen to the "democratic" voice of the people who put them there.
There is much to be expored on this topic, I just want more insight and maybe some clearer answers from other people.

Answer 1

Usually it is best to exaust all other options FIRST. But there are some ppl who will only listen to force. My mother for example, is one of these ppl. She will not listen to reason, only force. Too bad I can't use it. If she were anyone OTHER than my mother I would have by now. *shakes his head*
-Duo

Answer 2

The way to avoid war is similar to the way we reduce or prevent crime. We give the enforcers the weapons to win and the freedom to decide how. The important thing is to present a unified front that makes it clear that tyranny won't be tolerated. Then, and only then, will it be clear to the bad guys that there are consequences to conquest and penalties for persecution.

People seem to conveniently forget that..., had the free peoples
of free nations backed President Bush and made the one and only
impression that dictators, terrorists and other criminals
understand..., there wouldn't have been a need for a single troop to die or be wounded. The bad guys would have done what the U.N. mandated and Saddam would have adhered to the agreements he made in order to spare his hide and harem in the first gulf war. As always..., the half of the world who SAY they want "peace" are the CAUSE of "war". It's the appeasers and other COWARDS of the world who bring war down on us and cost us so dearly in monetary measurement as well as mortality.

Fortunately for the ENTIRE population of the planet..., the remaining half of us will make the money, rebuild the ruins, liberate the long-oppressed and immortalize the immaculate memory of our military miracles.

As Patton once stated..., we should not mourn their deaths but thank God that they lived. I concur.

Answer 3

The question is nice to ask, but the problem is that there are 7 billion people in the world, and they all want to do what THEY want to do, not what YOU want to do.

As long as anyone figures that war will solve their problems, there will be war. We don't get to control what other people want to do, we can only decide how to react.

Given that, when someone who starts a war gets smacked down hard, there is at least a chance the next guy will try diplomacy first. Then again, a lot of dictators are crazy, and crazy people are notorious for not listening to reason.

Whatever anyone thinks of the Iraq war, Saddam's arrest and the death of his sons does have an impact on what other dictators think - it really isn't that often that one gets taken down.

Answer 4

Well, in the abstract, there are always alternatives - crudely, one can give up and be subjugated by one's invaders.

So, I think it would be more precise to ask whether there are circumstances in which military action is the least bad option. In that case, the answer in my mind is clearly yes, in some cases - for example, when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, I can think of no alternatives for the Soviets than to try to militarily repulse him.

Of course, whether better alternatives to war exist or not can only ever be determined on an ad hoc basis.

Ultimately, for any given situation, it just comes down to an analysis of costs vs. benefits. Sadly, I find that the debate is often hijacked by those who focus only on the benefits of war, and those who see solely the costs.

Answer 5

This is a touchey subject, but I think in all fairness sometimes war is the only way to resolve things. Sometimes wars are for the wrong reason. Example oil or resources.

But overall there is a great need for wars when someone is not listening to reason or will not compromise, or if the people you are warring poses a threat to your own people.

Answer 6

SOMETIMES there is no other way. I mean, Afghanistan was a war we couldn't afford not to go into. Now, Iraq was a great example of a war that was avoidable and better off not happening. Some wars are good wars, some are not. Just depends on your perspective.

Answer 7

Every so often events occur which make it impossible to avoid war. However, in my opinion, the number of times that has happened is far less than the number of wars which have taken place.

The classic example is WWII. The only way to stop the Japanese from taking over Asia and the Pacific, and the only way to stop the Nazis from taking over Europe was to go to war.

Answer 8

Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if women were in charge instead of men...I don't think we would choose war to settle things.

Answer 9

If there was another alternative.. we would be doing it.

Unfortunately... as the lesson taught by "the yearling"... you have to kill an animal that is hell bent on doing something that threatens your very existance.

Answer 10

History. Teaching people violence is a never-ending death. Learn to make peace.