“If you’re going to fight, hit hard enough to win quickly. If you don’t intend to win, don’t fight.”
That’s easy to say; it’s sorta the definition of smart warfare to apply as much force as possible to win and win with the least effort necessary. But then again winning isn’t everything. I’m one of those old fuddyduddies who believes on international law. Nit binding law, mind you, nor a body to e.force it. But various gentlemen’s agreements as to what constitutes civilized warfare.
Not that Israel is violating them, or any more than we and every other modern army habitually does. It’s hard to know how to go back to how it was before the past century-plus of wholesale civilian slaughter. It’s just that I can’t stomach supposed conservatives piling on anyone who proposes a standard other than mere victory. Total war is not dignified, nor so effective as contended.
Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they wish.
But in the real world, "international law" which is not observed by all participants is a suicidal sham and a charade.
Please feel free to engage it on a personal level.
Senility?