Pentagon OSI.

[Jim Choate]

On Fri, 22 Feb 2002, Aimee Farr wrote:

> Great bloodshedding that "never happened" -- due to diplomacy and deception.
> War is the means, not the ends.

No, it's diplomacy by other means. War is only one means, not 'the' means
as this would indicate.

> Americans seem to confuse the two -- a Code Duello Culture.

Well their political leaders do anyway. Not sure if it's consistent to
equate the American people with their leaders.

> The objective is to get the enemy to do our will.

There is usually no single objective. Further, if your goal is anything
other than peaceful co-existance any distinction between you and the enemy
is specious.

> "The enemy" is just an antagonistic interest, not "a country," as we have
>  been conditioned to think.

Specious distinction. The agent pursuing the 'antagonistic interest' is a
country in most cases (at least at the scale you are speaking of).

> That embodies a range of choices, but perception
> management, even if it involves deception, should be preferred to battle.

Yeah, it's called politics.

Stating the obvious again.


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