Perle and Goebbels on Total War...1943 and 2001

[madfloridian]

Total war theory from 1943 and 2001: same thoughts, different enemy.

Richard Perle, policy advisor to G.W. Bush, 2001, in an interview with author John Pilger.
He describes it as a variety of enemies, and he doesn't seem to think it really matters which ones.

"No stages. This is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There are lots of them out there. All this talk about first we are going to do Afghanistan, then we will do Iraq, then we take a look around and see how things stand. That is entirely the wrong way to go about it ... If we just let our vision of the world go forth, and we embrace it entirely, and we don't try to ... piece together clever diplomatic solutions ... but just wage a total war against these tyrants, I think we will do very well. Our children will sing great songs about us years from now." --- Richard Perle, policy advisor to G.W. Bush, 2001

Joseph Goebbels, 1943

"So total war is the demand of the hour. We must put an end to the bourgeois attitude which we have also seen in this war: Wash my back, but don't get me wet! The danger facing us is enormous. The efforts we take to meet it must be just as enormous. The time has come to remove the gloves! We must use our fists now! There is no excuse for only superficially and carelessly making use of the war potential at home and throughout Europe. We must use the full resources, as quickly and thoroughly as it is organizationally and practically possible. Unnecessary concern is wholly out of place. The future of Europe hangs on our success in the East! We are ready to defend it! The German people are shedding their most valuable blood in this battle. The rest of Europe should at least work to support us. Those who do not understand this fight today will thank us on bended knee tomorrow that we took it!" --- Joseph Goebbels, 1943 (Europe was the enemy)

Editing to put the link to Pilger's interview of Richard Perle.

http://pilger.carlton.com/print/124759