I have said this before - the farce that precision weapons can win a war without incurring civilian casualties has mesmerized the Pentagon and White House into believing war can be something other than absolutely horrifying. To win a war you have to force a people to submit to your will. That does not happen without the horror of WWII. So the lesson is, don't get into a war unless you are willing to inflict a greater horror on those you are fighting than they are willing to inflict on you. It is the only way to win.

Once you acknowledge this the threshold for entering a conflict with the intent to use military force should be elevated to the point where wars don't happen as often. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)