" ... In any army of mankind, from Sumer to Rome, Hitler's SS and US marines, the very first professional action of any drill sergeant is to break a man and make him lose his dignity, to then build him up from the rubble, as an all-obeying killing machine, without the luxury of thinking himself.
The "better" a soldier is, militarily, the less hindrance is left to act like a human being. Because no one would kill someone else without feeling hate, having an at least temporarily fade-out for humanity, or sheer greed. Sometimes this can be also achieved byshizophrenia, by using drugs, or by this warm fuzzy feeling that the of killing of others is good or necessary for your country (implanted patriotism and chauvinism).
Franky, if all people would just say no to killing and would not have been "prepared" in this special way, wars would become impossible. ..."
Regarding killing to be effective, this is not regarded as true today. A lot of wounded men, certainly having lost the ability to fight, are much more a hindrance for the rest of the fighting soldiers, than a dead man. As well the impact at home (hospital, stories, criticism) has also become a major factor. Not pretty, just modern warfare.
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