a war without consequences

"In war ... the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds are added to those of subduing the force of the people.”- James Maddison

America is involved in a war without observable and understandable ramifications. More than that they have perfected the art of frictionless war. The average American's life rests isolated in cost free complacency.

UAVs piloted by the CIA and the USAF are currently operating in at least three countries. The two agencies operate on two different loose guidelines for how targets are chosen and approved. With each guideline making various adjustments on targets based on 'collateral damage'. So if a school, or hospital, or mosque is within the likely blast radius of the missile, that is weighted by a computer algorithm before a lethal strike is authorized. The algorithm apparently provides the acceptable number of innocent civilian for any given high-value target. Looking at the numbers of civilian deaths - it is obvious that the algorithm values the target much above any innocent bystanders caught in the blast radius.

With no soldiers returning maimed, no soldiers broken, no marines in wooden boxes covered in flags, America will find it difficult to understand the consequences of these actions.  The measure of war will always be bodies in the ground and America is able to avoid this with drones piloted from the states and bombs dropped from hidden rooms on hidden bases. 

Since war is, in part, measured in lives - America's drone war has resulted in twice as many civilian deaths than Sadam Hussein's Kuwait invasion. 

The Obama administration continues the executive branches sidestepping of congress and of the Abrams doctrine, which dictates that the disruption of civilian life is the price for war. This is not unique to his administration (this really began with Reagan, see Rachel Maddow's book 'Drift' for more) but that does not mean it should be ignored and therefore tacitly condoned.

This is a war that has not been declared, has not been justified to congress and has not been adequately explained to the American public. Yet, the American execuive leadership finds it sufficient to dodge these issues by explaining that they can be arbiters of who is bad enough to have 'justice' (read hellfire missile) rained on them instead of a trial.

The issue is not that drones are carrying out attacks into foreign countries, it is that they are doing this without adequate justification. I am not against the use of drones to fight war. And I understand that sometimes tough decisions are made; Yamamoto's plane had to be shot down. If these individuals are so bad and the threat they pose so imminent, then it should be easy to explain that to the public in clear and understandable language.

Yet, I worry about the future of conflict wherein, there is no negative repercussions to dissuade the use of violence.

Where will the memorial be to those who fought for what was important? Where will future generations look to be reminded of the folly of armed conflict? Where on the national mall will America have a permanent reminder of the consequences of these types of decisions?

Korean War Memorial Washington DC

note: I worry that if this is what America is willing to abide by under a Democratic president (always considered weak on defense) then what will be excused under a Republican president?