Skimpole makes some good points re:
"Modern societies," I wrote, "demand that wars be fought to a brilliantly successful conclusion, and wartime governments have become hostages to realities far beyond their control. ... War has been harder to begin, but also much harder to end, in the era of democracy." DK.
Re modern societies' requirements, it might be fairer, and more accurate, to say that modern political propaganda requirements, necessary for cohesion, require the assertion by by democratic leadership of the goal and necessity of brilliant victories.
"Modern societies," I wrote, "demand that wars be fought to a brilliantly successful conclusion, and wartime governments have become hostages to realities far beyond their control. ... War has been harder to begin, but also much harder to end, in the era of democracy." DK.
Re modern societies' requirements, it might be fairer, and more accurate, to say that modern political propaganda requirements, necessary for cohesion, require the assertion by by democratic leadership of the goal and necessity of brilliant victories.
Of course, neither WWI nor WWII actually resulted in brilliant victories at all, in fact the contrary, but that is how they were portrayed here at home, and have been until today frankly.
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