Convincing Virtue

"When one nation is bombing another, it is difficult to convince the bombed of the virtue of the bombers." (In the War on Terrorism, a Battle to Shape Public Opinion p. 7)

The first of several meanings that go along with the word virtue is the quality of being morally good. Virtue also has to do with an angel of the fifth highest order (theirs 9 orders of angels altogether if you're curious).

So if virtue is always associated with the best and purist elements of life how can bombing or war or destruction be virtuous. Also how does bombing become alright, because we got bombed first?

I don't know if we should be allowed to say its okay to bomb a group of people for whatever the reason. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done and I'm not saying war isn't at times necessary.

What I'm trying to say is lets not sugarcoat it by saying "We had innocent people die first" or "This group of people is being led by an evil dictator so we're liberating them."

Let's not tell the innocent people that it's okay to bomb them. Let's not apologize before we do it. Let's not justify it by any means. Let's just do it and then after we made our point, whatever it is, say "We're sorry for fucking up your day" and go home.

No leaflets dropped from planes. Don't give them any canned food or blankets because they lost their homes. If we're going to be cold let's follow through with it. You don't see anybody else helping out, or stopping us for that matter, so what difference does it make if we leave the country in ruins.

They're going to be pissed off at us either way.