Comments on: Probably a naive but… https://habitablezone.com/2022/03/09/probably-a-naive-but/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2022/03/09/probably-a-naive-but/#comment-48950 ER Fri, 18 Mar 2022 02:43:37 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=92259#comment-48950 Sometimes it is by accident. Other times by carelessness, other times it can't be helped--"collateral damage" or "friendly fire". Sometimes it is rogue troops, or individual sadism. And even the best men can be brutalized by combat. This happens with all soldiers and in all wars and all nations can be guilty of it. But sometimes it is an act of policy, a calculated decision, a deliberate cruelty carried out for a specific purpose; to terrorize. It is done in the hope that terror will accomplish what cannot be achieved by fighting. General Sherman did it to the Confederates in Georgia, and he did it again in the West fighting the Indians. Putin's generals have decided they can't win against a skilled and determined foe without taking exceptional losses, so they have decided to inflict mass civilian casualties and general destruction of civic property in order to demoralize their opponents and force their capitulation. They seek to burden their opponent's forces with the protection of non-combatants and refugees. They seek to sow despair. They can't beat them in the field, so they lay waste their cities, destroy infrastructure and slaughter civilians. This is not just the cruel result of war, it is a deliberate military tactic. They know this, and they do it with Putin's support and under his direction. This is war crimes. Sometimes it is by accident. Other times by carelessness, other times it can’t be helped–”collateral damage” or “friendly fire”. Sometimes it is rogue troops, or individual sadism. And even the best men can be brutalized by combat. This happens with all soldiers and in all wars and all nations can be guilty of it. But sometimes it is an act of policy, a calculated decision, a deliberate cruelty carried out for a specific purpose; to terrorize. It is done in the hope that terror will accomplish what cannot be achieved by fighting. General Sherman did it to the Confederates in Georgia, and he did it again in the West fighting the Indians.

Putin’s generals have decided they can’t win against a skilled and determined foe without taking exceptional losses, so they have decided to inflict mass civilian casualties and general destruction of civic property in order to demoralize their opponents and force their capitulation. They seek to burden their opponent’s forces with the protection of non-combatants and refugees. They seek to sow despair. They can’t beat them in the field, so they lay waste their cities, destroy infrastructure and slaughter civilians. This is not just the cruel result of war, it is a deliberate military tactic.

They know this, and they do it with Putin’s support and under his direction. This is war crimes.

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