Is there a difference between war and murder?

In this exclusive interview, you may enjoy a firsthand account about war through the eyes of George Phelps, decorated Korean War Veteran, having served with the 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team from 1951 to 1953.

Mr. Phelps, our country remains at war in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past 15 years. We’ve killed hundreds of thousands and we suffered thousands of combat deaths, amputations and PTSD cases for our own soldiers. Could you give us an idea of what war means?

“This is a hard question to answer,” said Phelps. “Both involve killing and yet one of them [war] is government sanctioned. I think I like Voltaire’s description of war.

“Voltaire, the French writer and philosopher (1694-1778 A.D.), described war this way, “War is the greatest of all crimes; and yet there is no aggressor who does not color his crime with the pretext of justice. It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers, and to the sound of trumpets.” That was his concept of what is moral, or immoral, at least regarding war. Not all would agree with him, so here is a moral dilemma.

“Sometimes war may be necessary such as in the case of defeating Adolph Hitler and the Fascists, or the American Revolution or the Civil War to free the slaves and prevent the breakup of the American Republic. But all too often war is the result of power hungry tyrants. Here’s what Plato had to say about war and tyrants.”

“When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.” Plato

Ernie Hemingway had a thought about war:

“Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.” Ernest Hemingway

“The dilemma is that sometimes war is necessary and sometimes it’s just the hunger for power, control and dominance by a tyrant,” said Phelps. “Wars created by governments are ‘authorized’ murder.

“Most wars are created by governments, religion or just plain conflicts caused by disagreements between nations. Power, control and dominance over others are probably at the head of the list of reasons and purposes. I should say that they ARE at the head of the list of reasons and purposes.

“All nations should be prepared to defend themselves since the Human Species is constantly trying to gain something from other Human Beings or territories, including religious fervor and ideologies; in the case of the Muslims.

“Then there is this thing called ‘my beliefs are right and must replace your beliefs.’ Or, I know what’s best for you and your country. And I will have my way even if I have to subvert your rights to liberty, freedom and justice. You will do what I say for your own good. Or metaphorically; ‘When I want your opinion, I’ll tell you what it is!’

“Today there are power mongers attempting to impose their will on us and creating a one world government in which they will be in charge, taking away our sovereignty and making us wards of the corrupt ‘leaders’ in the United Nations. It may be a hard roe to hoe for them since they are dealing with the many nations of the world that will not bend, that will not give up their sovereignty as independent nations. Nor will their ‘leaders’ be willing to give up their exalted positions as heads of state.”

Here’s what one of the richest men in the world has to say:

“We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order.”

David Rockefeller

“However, if a powerful nation such as the United States should fall first, it would not be long before other nations would follow, ‘the domino effect.’ The current ‘regime’ in the White House is intent on making that happen, and it is supported by enormously rich individuals and organizations that will supply whatever money necessary to make that happen. Conquering nations to achieve a one world government is certainly not out of the question, and that means war.

“War is certainly part of their agenda since it gives them the power and riches that they seek. Those kinds of wars are murder in the highest degree. The youth of nations are just cannon fodder for the achievement of their goals. They care not how many soldiers or civilians are killed regardless of their constant rhetoric of wanting and needing peace. But first they must have war to achieve their ultimate goals/agendas.

“Very often wars are started to save the children from the terrible tyrants in another country. Well, it’s hard to argue that is a noble cause, but the hypocrites in power could care less about the ‘children’ in other parts of the world. War gives them power and riches even if our country is in an insurmountable debt [which is part of their grand plan.] I say ‘their’ without mentioning any names because we know who they are: how about the Congress and the White House and the industrial military complex? How about the Socialists who occupy these powerful positions?”

Some observations from two generals:

“The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.” ~Omar Bradley

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech, American Society of Newspaper Editors, 16 April 1953

“War is legalized murder without a doubt,” said Phelps. “It is difficult to say that war is necessary. Some wars are necessary to bring down cruel and demented tyrants. The trick is to determine which wars are ‘necessary’ and which wars are not. We as a nation are constantly imposing ourselves on other nations for various reasons. But I don’t believe we should be imposing ourselves on other nations unless our nation is at risk or being flat out attacked. As President Reagan said: “Trust but verify.” We must remain strong and prepared to defend, but not be perpetrators.

“When a nation ‘goes to war’ it is the government/leaders that are the perpetrators not the soldiers in the field. The soldiers in the field believe they are protecting their country when in many cases [too many cases] they are pawns in the hands of their leaders. The ‘dirty work’ is done by the soldiers while the ‘leaders’ are comfortably ensconced in their protective ‘lairs’ far from the battlefields.

“An individual who murders someone is a perpetrator, but when a government murders by war it is not a perpetrator, as Voltaire put it, “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers, and to the sound of trumpets.”

“Will the Human Race ever stop warring against one another? Personally I doubt it as long as there are those who are intent on gaining power, control and dominance over others.

Once again quoting Plato: “When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.”

Plato

“We humans have ‘creative intelligence’ but not ‘moral and ethical intelligence.’ Our ‘evolutionary’ process needs, desperately, to develop that moral and ethical intelligence.

“War does not determine who is right, only who is left.”