Defense is, at heart, anti-war

[LiberaBlueDem]

When defense was misused as it was durring the Bush years it became pro-war.

In Israel, the border defense kept the peace until it failed, now there is war.

Being anti-war is the best defense against the pro-war people.

[Hamlette]

1. this is so true!

my father had a military connected civilian job (designing nuclear submarines) and was in the reserves. When Reagan started talking about the possibility of limited nuclear war, my dad lost his "faith" in the whole system. He believed his jobs were to help the country present a strong defense so war was unthinkable. When Reagan started thinking about trying the ultimate, it was a bridge too far for him.

One thing Trump has done for me, is by dissing service members (my mom and husband both served) is made me more defensive of our armed forces.

[LiberaBlueDem]

2. Pro-defense and anti-war is a new idea

A new idea rooted in traditional practice.

We are told that defense is about protecting free speech. And most of the anti-free speech folks are pro-war.

[Hamlette]

3. and as an old hippie, I never thought I'd say it!

I was in college during Vietnam and we hated the military. I my family, we used to joke that Mom and us to kids (starting at about age 12 for civil rights) would go out the front door to protest war and my Dad would go out the back in his uniform.

Reagan broke his heart. He became a radical liberal after that.

[Think. Again.]

4. I wonder...

...is there such a thing as "pre-fense"?

It seems to me we are never being proactive about avoiding the escalation of conflicts, and there's never any serious talk about international arms reduction anymore. It's almost as though we let whatever's happening anywhere get to a boiling point just so we can feel justified in joining the melee.

[Lancero]

6. Well, this is Israel. To some, everything they do is an offense.

In the instances where Israel is pre-emptive, they're decried as a aggressor. When they aren't pre-emptive, they're smeared for... Not 'defending' themselves properly?

[LiberaBlueDem]

7. Pro-war people want war

They often use defense forces to make war. The anti-war people are always on the defense against pro-war people. Years ago there was a cool idea that instead of calling it "Defense Department" we call it the "Peace Department"

[SleeplessinSoCal]

5. Have you checked out Huffpost lately?

They are very strongly condemning silence from State Department on Gaza.

"Josh Paul, who spent a decade in State's bureau overseeing arms sales, exclusively spoke with HuffPost after quitting over the U.S. approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict."

It is hard trying to avoid war with so much strife in our world.

[LiberaBlueDem]

8. Pro-war people are really hot these days

Anti-war people are targets, so we have to watch what we say and who we say it to.

[TexasDem69]

9. Who are the "pro-war" people?

I assume you aren’t talking about those who believe Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend against and hunt down Hamas child-murderers, so curious who you might be talking about. I’ve never seen a “pro-war” post on DU.

[LiberaBlueDem]

10. Do not assume

I am anti-war and pro-defense, because defense, used properly prevents war

[TexasDem69]

11. Hmm

That’s a non-response to my question.

[Think. Again.]

12. Ya got that right.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. How do you define "anti-war?"

I consider myself antiwar. But I think we disagree to some extent on recent events.

Curious what your perspective is.

[LiberaBlueDem]

14. What does that mean?

"I consider myself antiwar."

[Happy Hoosier]

15. Well, i asked first, but...

… to me, anti-war means opposing the use of armed force without adequate justification. For me, that means exhausting diplomatic solutions, where appropriate and focusing on defense. That is, avoid wars of aggression.

Okay, your turn.

[LiberaBlueDem]

16. Agree

I am anti-war because it is the innocents who suffer the most in war.

Women and children get it worse than the war-makers.