Comments on: Notes towards a theory of asymmetric conflict, part 1 http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/ Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:48:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Asymmetric Warfare – size doesn’t matter « A Change of State http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13244 Asymmetric Warfare – size doesn’t matter « A Change of State Thu, 14 May 2009 16:16:01 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-13244 [...] From: http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/ [...] [...] From: http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/ [...]

]]> By: admin http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13218 admin Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:24:38 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-13218 Some good points, JJ. Let me make a couple of notes, however. First, the "rules" will always shift as long as there are advantages to be gained by doing so. Even in the Western theatre during WW II, when all combatants supposedly recognized the Geneva Conventions, there was a lot of "improvisation" (as in breaking the rules whenever they thought they wouldn't get caught). I actually agree with you about the Bush Doctrine - "defensive first strikes" are a dangerous policy to embrace - as the US has found out. On the sanctioning of torture, let me just note that a) yes, the Bush administration did so, and b) I consider it to be illegal, unethical, and not worth it in either the short or long runs. As far as the use of predator drones is concerned, I think we will have to agree to disagree. Have they hit civilian targets? Yup, no question about it. But it is not possible, except in an inane fantasy land, to think that civilians will not be killed during any operation. Is that morally right? No, but it is reality. Some good points, JJ. Let me make a couple of notes, however. First, the “rules” will always shift as long as there are advantages to be gained by doing so. Even in the Western theatre during WW II, when all combatants supposedly recognized the Geneva Conventions, there was a lot of “improvisation” (as in breaking the rules whenever they thought they wouldn’t get caught). I actually agree with you about the Bush Doctrine – “defensive first strikes” are a dangerous policy to embrace – as the US has found out. On the sanctioning of torture, let me just note that a) yes, the Bush administration did so, and b) I consider it to be illegal, unethical, and not worth it in either the short or long runs.

As far as the use of predator drones is concerned, I think we will have to agree to disagree. Have they hit civilian targets? Yup, no question about it. But it is not possible, except in an inane fantasy land, to think that civilians will not be killed during any operation. Is that morally right? No, but it is reality.

]]> By: jjray http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13217 jjray Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:30:57 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-13217 " the general 'rules if the game' have been established by general “agreement”, and these rules include both when the 'game' may be 'played' ..." Is this really the case anymore? The rules for when the game may be played have been thrown out the window with the Bush Administration accepting and implementing the concept of an offensive war of aggression cloaked in the guise of "defensive first strike". Geneva Convention? Was it not Alberto Gonzalez who called it a quaint old relic? The Bush Administration sanctioned torture the rest of the western then considered to be illegal. Use of predator drones to bomb civilian populations as is being done in Pakistan even today by the Obama administration is asymetrical. CIA extraordinary renditions is asymetrical. The old distinctions are falling by the wayside. ” the general ‘rules if the game’ have been established by general “agreement”, and these rules include both when the ‘game’ may be ‘played’ …”
Is this really the case anymore? The rules for when the game may be played have been thrown out the window with the Bush Administration accepting and implementing the concept of an offensive war of aggression cloaked in the guise of “defensive first strike”. Geneva Convention? Was it not Alberto Gonzalez who called it a quaint old relic? The Bush Administration sanctioned torture the rest of the western then considered to be illegal. Use of predator drones to bomb civilian populations as is being done in Pakistan even today by the Obama administration is asymetrical. CIA extraordinary renditions is asymetrical. The old distinctions are falling by the wayside.

]]> By: Recommended Reading: In Harmonium « Red Herrings http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5100 Recommended Reading: In Harmonium « Red Herrings Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:53:10 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-5100 [...] Part 1 [...] [...] Part 1 [...]

]]> By: » Winning the battles and losing our selves (and the war)? In Harmonium: Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-3053 » Winning the battles and losing our selves (and the war)? In Harmonium: Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:36:02 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-3053 [...] not going to go into much detail on this since I’ve written about it elsewhere (e.g. here and here) and there are some excellent sources on it (see here for example).  Let me just say that [...] [...] not going to go into much detail on this since I’ve written about it elsewhere (e.g. here and here) and there are some excellent sources on it (see here for example).  Let me just say that [...]

]]> By: » Competition in workspaces - a non-kinetic example In Harmonium: Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-648 » Competition in workspaces - a non-kinetic example In Harmonium: Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:05:28 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-648 [...] admin in Anthropology, Social Theatre, Uncategorized One of the things I was trying to do with my Notes towards a Theory of Asymmetric Warfare posts was to broaden the notion of “conflict” to that of “competition”.  I [...] [...] admin in Anthropology, Social Theatre, Uncategorized One of the things I was trying to do with my Notes towards a Theory of Asymmetric Warfare posts was to broaden the notion of “conflict” to that of “competition”.  I [...]

]]> By: Michael A. Innes http://marctyrrell.com/2008/08/13/notes-towards-a-theory-of-ac-1/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Michael A. Innes Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:55:50 +0000 http://marctyrrell.com/?p=61#comment-345 Following this closely - and looking forward to the paper draft in toto. Following this closely – and looking forward to the paper draft in toto.

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