If war lends no advantage to those who show compassion, sympathy therefore becomes a disadvantage, for one must go out of their way and make concessions to show sympathy towards their enemy. While compassion could exist in wars if opposing forces used compassion equally and fairly, this concept never occurs. This is because one side, whether out of belief, lack of values, or pure desperation, will always exploit the compassion and generosity of another.

However, compassion does not become a disadvantage to one side as it becomes an advantage to the other. Compassion in itself is a disadvantage, regardless to the actions of the enemy. In such situations as war, a nation must go to battle with the utmost contempt for an enemy. Soldiers, leaders, and civilians must all unite against the enemy. When sympathy and compassion is shown towards the enemy, it leaves confusion and doubt upon the mindsets of soldiers and civilians.

If nations enter war as a last resort, it is in every respect to believe that those nations will do whatever it takes to win. Therefore, with compassion being both a weakness to themselves, and an advantage to their enemies, it is in their best interest to avoid it. This lesson becomes increasingly important in the modern day, as we live in a world where people, who we often find ourselves in conflict with, do not follow our set of “civilized rules” (see blog post 11/07). We also live in a “dog eat dog” world (see blog post 11/12). In such a dangerous world, we expose ourselves to danger if we grant our enemies compassion, for they will surely exploit it, and grant us none.

In such a world, the question arises whether we see war for what it is, barbaric, and lower ourselves to the war which they will fight. Or whether we justify war by granting compassion so that we as a nation can sleep at night believing we are different from those “desert rats”, all while leaving ourselves weak because we refuse to fight a “barbaric” war. If we are to see these variables, and judge them by reason, we will find that war is an open game. All measures must be used to fight a war in order to obtain victory, in such a case the use of torture and nuclear warfare is permitted, because it is not the right who prevail, it is the strong.