I find this vaguely analogous to the proliferation of cheap handguns in America. If drones are a response to asymmetrical power, the solution would be diplomacy. It undermines existing power paradigm, the solution isnn't complicated. Don't pick needless fights with your neighbors and allies. Maybe drones ultimately make better neighbors.
This is the "people are more respectful when everyone is armed" theory.
Nowhere is safe
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Re: Nowhere is safe
#22I often see these angles, how we should have prepared better or attacked this instead of that, or the unexpected strategy from the adversary. What about not bombing? The best safety trick the US can use is not bombing others.
Re: Nowhere is safe
#23What you need is small automated point-defense turrets, mounted on whatever you want to protect.
Re: Nowhere is safe
#24Hmm... Interestingly one does not look at the solutions to de-escalate conflict. Despite the proxy wars we've had a relatively peaceful world since WW1/WW2. Please humor me here, I'm not saying the world is horror free. The emphasis I would hope would also be for improved negotiation tactics, better resource sharing and goal alignment between groups of people. Why is it that we can dream up more conflict but not peac…
When all you have is a hammer…
Re: Nowhere is safe
#25Everything is forgotten or accepted with the right media campaign, there are no war crimes, no punishment, as much you can get a commercial embargo or taxes if you are going against the interest of the biggest economic players.
Re: Nowhere is safe
#26Re: Nowhere is safe
#27I often see these angles, how we should have prepared better or attacked this instead of that, or the unexpected strategy from the adversary. What about not bombing? The best safety trick the US can use is not bombing others.
Military spending costs a trillion a year (Trump wants 1.5 trillion). It’s big business and makes some people very rich.
Re: Nowhere is safe
#28The first part of the parabellum quote matters - we have to let the people who want peace prepare for war. The Smedly Butler book was eye opening to read for me. Diplomacy and trade works wonders when the enemy still wants you to buy things. Sanctions work when they've got things to sell (and raw materials to buy), not bombed out craters where their factories were. Si vis pacem ...
[edit, found the real version https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_vis_pacem%2C_para_bellum ]
adapted from a statement found in Roman author Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's tract De Re Militari (fourth or fifth century AD), in which the actual phrasing is Igitur qui desiderat pacem, præparet bellum ("Therefore let him who desires peace prepare for war").
Re: Nowhere is safe
#29Re: Nowhere is safe
#30Hmm... Interestingly one does not look at the solutions to de-escalate conflict. Despite the proxy wars we've had a relatively peaceful world since WW1/WW2. Please humor me here, I'm not saying the world is horror free. The emphasis I would hope would also be for improved negotiation tactics, better resource sharing and goal alignment between groups of people. Why is it that we can dream up more conflict but not peac…
The US spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined. When all you have is a hammer…