The War You Don't See

[MarillionFan]

Still on, on ITV. If you have catch up watch it later.

In the 1st World War 10% of the casualties were civilians
In the 2nd World War 50% of the casualties were civilians
In the Vietnam war 70% of the casualties were civilians
In the Iraq war 90% of the casualties were civilians!

Big government. Big lies. Big con.

[TimberWolf]

Just caught the rather gory end of it. Why weren't programmes and views of this sort being aired before the wars? Will anything change for next time?

There was a programme on about Florence Nightingale the other night, and in that they said that the troops at that time were thought disposable, or even openly despised by the upper echelons of the army, especially if they got sick. These days troops are probably considered more valuable than civilians.

[AtW]

In the 1st World War 10% of the casualties were civilians

And who do you think was drafted into the army back then?

[NickFitz]

And who do you think was drafted into the army back then?

WAtWS. The vast majority of casualties in each of those wars were civilians. Conscripting civilians, calling them soldiers, and putting them in the front line isn't very different to shifting the front line to where they live and killing them there. It also saves the cost of issuing uniforms. No wonder politicians like it.

[MarillionFan]

WAtWS. The vast majority of casualties in each of those wars were civilians. Conscripting civilians, calling them soldiers, and putting them in the front line isn't very different to shifting the front line to where they live and killing them there. It also saves the cost of issuing uniforms. No wonder politicians like it.

Sorry. I must have missed the bit where
women and children stormed across the fields of the Somme and were shot down in cold blood.

An interesting. Thought provoking doc. I suggest you watch it.

[AtW]

women and children stormed across the fields of the Somme and were shot down in cold blood.

No, but they were bombed in Dresden, London, Moscow and many other cities.

As a %-tage there might be more civilians dieing now (as the military turning more and more to remote ways of killing people - bombs etc), and the war has generally moved into cities much closer to civilians than before however overall casualty numbers are much lower, thankfully.

[EternalOptimist]

Still on, on ITV. If you have catch up watch it later.

In the 1st World War 10% of the casualties were civilians
In the 2nd World War 50% of the casualties were civilians
In the Vietnam war 70% of the casualties were civilians
In the Iraq war 90% of the casualties were civilians!

Big government. Big lies. Big con.

Ancient warfare - women and non-coms antiwar 5%
1st WW - women and non-coms antiwar 10%
2nd WW - women and non-coms antiwar 50%
Vietnam - women and non-coms antiwar 70%
Iraq - women and non-coms antiwar 90%

ok, I made the figures up, but It was ok to send the men off to fight and get killed or mangled as long as it was out of sight, it was out of mind, but as soon as they are in the firing line, its a different story

[MarillionFan]

Poor example EO.

You are not forced as a man to
go and fight. You can object and take the full force of societies 'wrath'

Bit different when it comes to you as an unarmed civilian in your house.

It always amazed me on how a' clean war 'in Iraq lands up with 1 million dead. 900k unarmed. Little reported on in the main media.

You can see why British Muslims feel disenfranchised.

[AtW]

You are not forced as a man to go and fight. You can object and take the full force of societies 'wrath'

[EternalOptimist]

Poor example EO.

You are not forced as a man to
go and fight. You can object and take the full force of societies 'wrath'

Bit different when it comes to you as an unarmed civilian in your house.

It always amazed me on how a' clean war 'in Iraq lands up with 1 million dead. 900k unarmed. Little reported on in the main media.

You can see why British Muslims feel disenfranchised.

the point I was making (obviously not very well) is that the more civilians get caught up in warfare, the less appetite they have for it.
It was all very well waving the boys away , with a tear in yer eye, and hoping they came back in one piece, but its a bit different when things start dropping out of the sky on you.

which clean war in Iraq are you referring to ? the Iraq/Iran war or the recent invasion