This is a study in principles of military history.  It’s here because it’s relevant to modern-day American life.  Follow along even if at first you can’t see why it’s relevant; I’ll explain.

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Pacification:  the process of inducing peace on a population, often by forcibly suppressing or eliminating hostile elements

The United States has an excellent track record fighting wars, but historically we’ve had decidedly mixed results ending them, from Vietnam to the Wars On Drugs and Terror.  We’re not unique; enforcing peace on a hostile populace is not a task for which modern armies, particularly those of nations with modern sensibilites, are well suited.  In ancient times, it was the custom to brutally suppress the conquered with mass slaughter and slavery, but such methods (more…)