The Myth of Innocence

The vast majority of human beings would argue strongly that there is no one, or no thing, so innocent as a newborn baby.

Yet to me this is the wrong question. The question is not just just about what a person's physical or mental abilities, and actual activities are or have been, but rather this: what threat does a person pose in the future.

Obviously we can't go around punishing people for things that they might theoretically do in some imaginary future. But it is reasonal to make plans based on easily predicatable outcomes -- such as this:

But does this somehow mean that a newborn is worth of punishment? No, of course not.

But, every productive citizen of an enemy country is a threat because said citizens are either in the armed forces or are occupying roles in society that would otherwise have to be performed by someone who is in the armed forces -- thus freeing up the soldier from duties that might otherwise prevent the solider from being in the army.

Many technologies commonly used in non-combat occupations also are employed by the military. If a person works for a company making televisions, that person is working ultimately for the military because the military uses a lot of TVs for training, information sharing, coordination etc. If a person makes computers, the price of computers is reduced and the military can afford more. If the person is a farmer, the country is strengthened by its ability to feed itself without help from the outside world -- thus making the country better able to act with impunity.

Despite the fact many war-hating individuals would be apalled to admit it, almost everyone in a well functioning, technologically sophisticated society is contributing directly or indirectly to their country's military prowess. Compare China's military threat of the 1960's to that which they pose today (not that I am suggesting China is acting in a threatening way to us or any other country).

Further, even before our imaginary newborn baby grows up, the child's very existence motivates its parents to protect it. What percentage of the population would do anything to protect their child? What kind of parent would not? What parent would not go the extra mile to make sure his/her offspring had the best opportunities -- even at the expense of other people's children? If someone threatened your child, would you not feel authorized, even blessed by God, in the taking whatever acts that you felt necessary to protect your offspring?

Children can thus be motivators for actions by their parents -- and, perhaps unwittingly, they pose a threat to anyone that their parents perceive to be a threat to them -- rationally, and honorably or otherwise.

Implications

What all this means is this: every productive citizen of a modern country is a fair target with regards to war. Despite outcries to the contrary, everyone is in the army -- uniform or not.

Obviously, the elderly, the infirm, and the sick do not make reasonable targets because their very existence means that resources otherwise destined for war would be consumed by the their maintenance.

But what of women and children? A lot of women are working these day, and thus contribute to the war effort. Children grow up to be soldiers. Even spouses who merely stay at home and support their fellows in the military or industry are in fact contributing the strength of their country.

The idea that it is somehow immoral to attack non-combatants is basically irrational. On the other hand, whether or not attacking non-combatants makes good sense is an entirely different thing. Just look at the difference in Osama Bin Laden's two big attacks on the US: The USS Cole was attacked and the country went through a brief period of outrage, the fell back asleep. When 3000 civilians were attacked, we mobilized for all major war.

Clearly there is a difference between killing professional soliders and killing non-combatants. But when you undertake all out warfare, no one should have a right to think that they "should not" be attacked. Due to the economic might of most modern industrial countries, total war, the war against everyone from babies to grandmothers, is the only kind likely to be successfull.

And that's what makes war all the more unthinkable in the modern age -- unless you just don't think like a modern person. As Bin Laden most likely does not.