After a few years of our war in Iraq, I recently began to think about our new "compassionate war" strategy. I'm not sure that such a strategy can work, especially with the type of enemies we are facing. They gain courage when we appear weak, and exude solidarity when we are divided. Compassion is perceived as a weakness and generally speaking, extreme force is the only action they respect. Our current policies and restrictive nature as the lone superpower does not command respect from our allies or strike fear into our enemies. I feel it may be the time to reconsider our tactics.

Throughout history, wars have been fought for a myriad of reasons by most of the world's nations, with many nations going to battle a multitude of times. For the most part, it is never preferred over times of peace. Most sane leaders of sovereign nations would rather enjoy times of peace and prosperity and see that their citizens alike are content and prosperous. Sometimes they are confronted with the threat of armed conflict and must act in order to ensure their country's lasting fortunes and livelihood. The threat can come in many different forms and each has a correlative response.

War is not the worst thing that can happen. Years of intimidation and coercion can wear down a nation's will and can eventually lead to the submission and demise of a once flourishing state. Several generations of tyranny, where populations endure psychological and physical suffering, miseducation (or no education at all), and a constant fear of execution and actual murder itself, is far worse and more threatening to the world and our way of life than one decade, or even generation of war. The destructive forces from years of despotism are far greater than any destruction from a bomb.

There is no such thing as a compassionate war and they should not, and cannot be fought in that manner. Individuals can feel compassion, but the strategies of armed conflict cannot be based on it unless your objective is to lose. War is not romantic, sexy, or glamorous, as it is often portrayed in theatrics. It's bleak, destructive, sordid, extremely perilous, and painful to many. Whichever party can stare death in the face, smile, and overcome it, will have the upperhand. You cannot show weakness or division among your ranks and you cannot cower when confronted.

Niccolo Machiavelli, through his writings in The Prince, suggested that treaties with your enemy do not prevent war, they simply delay it.

If you know your enemy's intentions, and if those intentions threaten the well being of you or your allies, you must act immediately to prevent fortifications and any build up of power or alliances. When the command to go to war is executed, you must strike hard and strike fast with overwhelming force until the opposing army and state no longer has the will to fight. Tit-for-tat battles will get you nowhere. Complete domination of the opposing force must be the primary objective. When fighting a war, there is no such thing as disproportionate force. The object is to win, and to win quickly and thoroughly.

Civilian casualties during war is no new phenomenon. No war has ever been fought where civilian deaths amounted to zero. Wars are fought between nations and societies, not just armies. Proxy armies may be used, but there is always a nation that funds or supports their actions. Changing strategies of suppressing your enemy, especially at a critical moment when they are vulnerable, simply to avoid civilian casualties is a grave mistake. Wars cannot be fought by civilian death count. It simply shows the enemy, especially the enemy we face today which hides behind them, that you are not willing to do whatever it takes to be victorious. If your primary goal is to avoid civilian deaths in order to win over the hearts of potential future allies, you will not win.

War is not always necessary, and sometimes it can be, and has been avoided. However, once the decision is made to fight, you must be resolute and willing to go full throttle at all times. If you have the means to be swift and annihilative, you should not limit your capabilities with benevolent objectives. Compassion can come after victory. Before that time, it will only be ruinous.