Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth
Germany was bombed to bits; and there was no outcry in Britain.
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Wrong. The tactics of Bomber Command were controversial even at the time. Churchill himself was far from convinced that the area bombing of civilian targets was justified, morally or strategically. If you’re in any doubt as to how widespread public unease became once the fate of Dresden and other cities became known, note that after the war, no monument was erected to Bomber Command. There was no monument until 2012. Arthur Harris got a statue 8 years after he died, and only because a RAF veterans trust set up specifically to defend Harris’ reputation organised it. Is there any other senior British military leader who warranted an organisation specifically geared towards defending him?
When shown the results of the Dresden firestorm raids Churchill is said to have asked, “Are we beasts? Are we taking this too far?”
If there was room in Churchill’s reflections for questions like that even at a time of national existential struggle, then we are entitled to ask Israel’s leaders to behave similarly. National defence is justified. Offensive operations in pursuit of national defence are justified. But it is quite possible to go too far even in an existential struggle. Is anyone at the top of the Israeli government asking those questions? Because it doesn’t look like it right now.