The Case for Firebombing

In the desperate days leading up to the end of the second world war, it had become the policy of the Allies to bomb their target with incendiary devices, bombs that caused and spread fire when they detonated. Constructed of phosphorous, magnesium or napalm, their effect was devastating and complete. Far from surgical strikes where bombs are guided by lasers into windows, they were dropped in such numbers and in patterns they caused "firestorms" hellish cyclones of fire that literally sucked people, animals and inanimate objects into them. These bombs and the policy was implemented in order to destroy the infrastructure and war-making abilities of Nazi Germany and Japan and to break the will of the population that supported them.

The aftermath of these raids are well documented, detailing the destruction and human suffering they caused among the civilian population. The toll they took on the morality and consciences of the bomber crews that conducted the raids while incalculable has been documented as well. Human kindness and mercy are common attributes of American servicemen and women.

Dresden, Hamburg and Tokyo are the notable targets that have been written about at length especially by those that would look to blame the Allies and attempt to say the raids were unjustified and merciless killing of innocents.

In war, people die. Simplistic, I know, yet a point that bears repeating. The ones that die are not just the combatants bearing arms but innocent men, women, children, old people, kitty cats, doggies, frogs, etc. That is why the decision to go to war is the last resort and not lightly entered into in a policy meeting.

The firebombings of Dresden, Hamburg and Tokyo, while offensive to our humanity, served a greater purpose. They caused a feeling of helplessness among the the population, rocked the support of the regimes and instilled fear of annihilation among the not-yet-bombed cities. There were no whiny Greg Palkots running around displaying charred bodies for all the world to see in a 60 second byte and wondering why it happened, as if it weren't obvious. Thankfully, the press was on our side back then.

Shift to present day. America and American interests abroad have been attacked for decades by Islamic terrorists. Whether they are funded by nation-states, rich oil Arabs, fundamentalist sheiks or if they're operating on their own, they will not stop. The American people saw a glimpse of what they can do on 9-11. They can and really, really want to do so much worse. They will not stop. If we kill 300 of them in a tactical strike they'll be replaced by the next set of droids manufactured in the madrassas spread across the globe. The American people need to come to grips with this knowledge. Had the same mentality and press coverage been present during WWII we would have lost.

No voice needs to be given to our enemies, no understanding of what makes them tick or why they feel the way they do. They have spent that capital by attacking us over and over again. These people are products of their culture, criminally insane, dogs of Islam. There is nothing admirable or "holy" in murdering civilians to get media attention. In comparison to the guilt and remorse felt by the firebombers of WWII and the revulsion we experience when we read the accounts of the aftermath, the actions of the terrorists are applauded, celebrated or met with deafening silence from the countries, people and culture from which they originated.

For a while after 9-11, the world was silent. Except for celebrating in Palestine, Baghdad and Afghanistan, the rest of the world, that understands our capabilities stood quiet, waiting as if their existence was in question. Had the Bush doctrine been implemented, terrorists in every country would be far fewer in number and afraid to speak for fear of being found or sold out. Because there is no greater threat to the population surrounding the terrorists than selling out the terrorists, evil remains safely tucked away and able to appear sympathetic providers among the downtrodden.

When we are attacked again, and we will without doubt be attacked again, all mercy has to be shelved. The media must be barred from the military and the necessary things need to be done. All terrorists need to feel our wrath in real terms everywhere. Hezbollah, Hamas, FARC, Tamil Tigers whoever they are, whereever they are should start dying. If they are shielded by their populations or hidden by a goverment playing a PR game, a heavy price has to be paid. And that means a full-on, unmerciful and unapologetic annihilation of wherever we think they are. The answer to our problems with Islamic terrorism is to give them a taste of their own medicine, make them feel unsafe, reachable and hunted.

History shows us the results of having to do unpleasant things. Unfortunately, because of our unwillingness and yes flinching in the face of our enemies the war has dragged out.