It used to be said that the first victim of war was the truth, but now it seems that an earlier victim may be logic. How do you tell a Vietnamese family that their daughter's awful death by napalm or an Afghanistan family that their son's death by a smart bomb was all part of a scheme to win their hearts and minds?
"The US army has drafted a new manual which for the first time puts an equal emphasis on winning hearts and minds as it does on defeating enemies by force. The manual is expected to be published later this month. The new guide is seen as a major development that draws on lessons of the wars being fought by US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. (BBC News, 8 February) RD
The Glasgow & Edinburgh Branches Blog. Towards a better understanding of the world, in order to change it.
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