At its most basic the rules of warfare
are fairly simple and require no clarity
for the reaction is visceral: kill the other
before you are killed. Civilizational mores
over history have graduated the process
to the present where response is linked with
proportionality, a degree dependent on
who it is delivering responding blows to
whom. During the days of the Roman Empire
of benevolent dictatorship proportionality
was a deserved response; challenge Rome
and the penalty was crucifixion. Such niceties
of humanity weighing the measures of just
acceptability thumbs the scale in subtle social
prejudice whereby a reviled state of impeccable
honour yet viewed with a jaundiced eye of
malice must wear the mantle of disapproval
from the international community merely
for defending itself from viciously hostile attacks
meant to slaughter its citizens but in striking back
should citizens of the attacker meet death
through a corresponding return fire it becomes
crucified in the realm of global opprobrium.
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