If A new play opens that criticizes the politics of war describe how attitudes about war might be satirized in the drama?

Answer 1

1. Know your audience. 2. Know that the definition of war is the obtaining of a political goal by other than political means. 3. The majority of people most likely are ignorant of #2. 4. "Politics of War", most...if not all...wars are fought because of politics. When "talk" (polictics) fails, "war" takes over. 5. Quite possibly, most people (the audience) will most likely assume that "politics of war" means:...fighting a limited war...fighting an un-winnable war...not fighting to win...fighting with one hand tied behind their back...ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS have been made in the past, and have been referred to as "polictics of war." 6. There is a practicle reason (explanation) for those 4 above listed statements: A. Limited wars are the result of atomic weapons. Total war would be using all weapons; including nuclear ones. So we have to fight limited wars, otherwise mankind risks "mutually assured destruction." B. Un-winnable wars are new, because man is not used to fighting in the atomic age. Only two limited wars have been fought in the atomic age; Korea and Vietnam...this took alittle bit of time to get used to. Geography dictated those two wars: Korea was a peninsula and was easily controlled by the US Navy; Vietnam was not a peninsula...and got out of control; couldn't be isolated...and proved un-winnable. C. Not fighting to win-we invaded North Korea and Red China entered the war. We didn't want to repeat that mistake in Vietnam...so North Vietnam was NOT invaded during that war. So a NEW different strategy was invented (search and destroy-the body count). That didn't work either. Couldn't invade, couldn't use the "A-Bomb", body count didn't work...can't say we didn't "try" to win. Therefore, "not fighting to win" doesn't apply. D. Fighting with one's hand tied behind his back-men who make that statement are wanting to either invade North Vietnam or use the "A-bomb"; in those cases, refer to the above.