Legitimate targets of resistance?

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Discussion Overview

This thread investigates the question of what constitutes a legitimate target for resistance forces, primarily focusing on the context of Iraq, with some references to the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The discussion encompasses various perspectives on the legitimacy of targeting military personnel, police forces, and civilians during conflict.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question what defines a legitimate target for resistance forces, citing examples of insurgent actions in Iraq.
  • One participant argues that a legitimate target includes anyone bearing arms, including police and military personnel, while emphasizing the need to avoid civilian casualties whenever possible.
  • Another participant reflects on historical strategies regarding civilian populations, suggesting that targeting civilians has evolved over time and raises ethical concerns.
  • There is a discussion about the distinction between insurgents and terrorists, referencing comments made by a U.S. official regarding the nature of insurgent actions in Iraq.
  • Some participants challenge the idea that all government officials are legitimate targets, questioning the implications of such a stance.
  • There are references to historical figures, such as Genghis Khan, to illustrate points about targeting populations and the evolution of warfare tactics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on what constitutes a legitimate target, with no consensus reached. Some agree on the inclusion of armed personnel as legitimate targets, while others raise concerns about the implications of targeting government officials and the ethical considerations surrounding civilian casualties.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about the nature of warfare, the role of civilian populations, and the definitions of insurgency and terrorism, which remain unresolved.

  • #91
Art said:
Russ I obliged you and answered your question in unequivocal terms. I also requested you to reciprocate and do the same for me and yet you are strangely silent despite a couple of reminders from me.
Quite frankly, I haven't looked at this thread in 2 days. I did not expect you to actually state your opinion. Here it is:
No I do not think the US gov't has a policy to kill civilians as a goal in itself. I do think however that they are not not in the least concerned if there are civilian deaths whilst they pursue even the flimsiest of military objectives as in the example above and those quoted earlier.
I thank you for clarifying and do not wish to discuss it further with you at this time.
 
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  • #92
russ_watters said:
Deleted: by ART :biggrin:
It seems this is how you win debates on this forum... :rolleyes:
 
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