The slogan, “war is not the answer,” typifies a kind of naivety that I find so very irritating. This slogan is proudly placed on bumper stickers, cute little signs on one’s lawn and upon various banners hanging from the overpasses. What exactly does this little pearl of wisdom mean? What was the question or does it matter? Is war never the answer to any question?

Does this mean that the threat of war could be the answer? Since the slogan does not read, “disband the U.S. Military.” I would assume that if the threat of war wasn’t the answer, the slogan would have to redirect it’s efforts towards that end.

Does this mean clandestine operations, assassinations, counter-insurgencies, limited air power or proxy fighting are alright? Is it that we can not engage sea, land or air forces in direct confrontation with an enemy? Since I hadn’t seen those signs during various operations which didn’t involve open and direct conflict, can I safely assume that those options might be the answer?

I didn’t see those signs when President Clinton and NATO defied the UN and bombed the crap out of Yugoslavia. I saw no signs at that time… was the cause righteous? was the President at the time more trustworthy in their eyes? It couldn’t be that we didn’t have the blessing of the UN because… we didn’t.

So what is the the real meaning of this slogan? If it were simply a reflection of the holders vision of a conflict free world, it would have to be applied to all conflict, regardless of circumstance. It should not matter which Commander in chief ordered the operation, nor should it matter which international organization approves or disprove. Certainly it should not matter if just pilots & sailors are involved rather than actual combat troops… war is war regardless of the vehicle by which it is waged.

So before you hoist your peace-sign laden, “war is not the answer,” banner up the flag pole… please examine your message and see if that is what you really espouse. What about this conflict really gets you? I’ll bet, for most, the message is merely a euphemism for some deeper, less acceptable feeling or thought.

Don’t get me wrong… war is a hideous thing. The price is paid in the blood of our most precious young lives. The wounded who are maimed… who have to somehow make a life for themselves with a disability? Do you think that little stipend that they get from Uncle Sam is enough to live on? Do you think that today’s employers are going to hire someone with a disability when all they care about it their, bottom line? What about the memories that each Marine or each soldier has to carry back to their lives. There are consequences to killing… you take each of those people to bed, and their families, each night. All the anti-depressants in the world can’t un-etch that memory from someone’s brain. If you are one of these sign-people… do you have the slightest concept of what war is and the costs are? If so… then hoist your sign proudly. If your reasons are less than pure than take your little sign and stick it… you know where.