The Dangers of Spectator Warfare

Looking at the topic of Jus ad Bellum, I'm struck by the significance of the fact that most of us are so far removed from modern warfare. Those who make the decision to go to war rarely share in the burden of doing so, beyond a slightly higher tax burden. Their family and friends are rarely directly involved in the fighting, yet they are likely the largest beneficiaries of doing so. In the age of mercenary contractors, those who fight our battles are often not even fellow citizens.

In a manner akin to the Roger Waters' song "Perfect Sense", much of the rest of the country follows the wars BBC or CNN, watching bombing campaigns, the coverage of which rarely focuses on the human cost involved. The war in Iraq has claimed over 100,000 lives, including 66,000 civilians. The war in Afghanistan, meanwhile, has claimed a further 25,000 lives, including 4,000 civilians. It is questionable, at best, whether the sacrifices made in going to war have made civilians members of the coalition nations any safer.

When drilling reaches its plateau, US and UK oil companies alone will be earning in excess of $2bn in revenue per annum in Iraq. One wonders if the war would have taken place if a little more of the burden were shared by the people benefitting from Saddam's fall.

ADJB