Trouble is we have either completely forgotten the concept of total war, or we have chosen weak, incompetent leaders entirely devoid of decisive leadership.
Before anyone accuses me of being a bloodthirsty hawk (which could not be further from the truth), I despise war.
I despise war because (while mercifully never a soldier), I have seen what it has done to people on a personal level (my uncle was a charter member of the U.S.'s first paratrooper unit ever to see combat), as well as to strangers, to nations and the world. War is a horror which, in a perfect world, would never be waged.
However, living in a fallen, vastly imperfect world as we do, there will always be bullying, antagonistic aggressors who hate others and want to destroy them. Whatever their supposed reasons, unequivocally, they would annihilate every single one of those who do not conform to the standards of the sick and twisted dogma* they espouse.
*
Newsflash, people of the world: Obligatory compliance compelled by the barrel of a gun (or edge of a sword) is not
faith, and belief which relies upon intimidation, oppression and fear is not
belief.
Given that such hateful, odious people exist in this world, who stop at nothing to destroy those with whom they
disagree, the rest of the world is compelled to maintain armed forces for the protection of those targeted by these animals.
Never meant to be pretty, clean or cheap, war is something which should only be used as a last resort to defend oneself (or another) from oppression, infiltration and/or destruction. However, once implemented, it must be resolutely and comprehensively executed until fully concluded and the enemy no longer poses a threat -- apparently, a concept well beyond the astuteness of many of the world's current leaders.
As borne out by the entire history of mankind, an enemy is never defeated through appeasement. Likewise, ignoring one's enemy will only assure the greater the injury when the attack finally strikes home.
We ignore this threat to our own peril.
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