cthia wrote:I agree on separating the civies from the military. But I can see the benefit having them together. If it is a civilian firm that supplies parts or consulting expertise it is a no brainer as far as efficiency if they are together. It is probably good for morale as well having some "babes" around. Even if it is your own wife.
ThinksMarkedly wrote:I agree too. Customarily, someone who did manage to threaten the station would have given sufficient time for evacuations, so customarily civilians were not in big danger.
But yes, the stations were legitimate military targets. It was Manticore's own failure protect its civilians.
I disagree with that part. Customary as of fairly recently, perhaps. But historically, no. Remember, EE violations is what gave the mighty gorilla it's wisdom teeth to bite. I suspect that in the pre-Edict era, warnings were a pipe dream. Heck, I doubt Masada cared about warning Grayson.
ThinksMarkedly wrote:As for what else constitutes military target or not, you have to draw the line somewhere. And this is subjective. A subcontractor making parts for a missile? Probably. A subcontractor that makes molycirc components that go everywhere including missiles? It's arguable. The engineering schools that teach programming and nanofarm assembly? Doubtful. The architect firm that designed the living space aboard the military stations? Probably not.
No, your enemy does not
have to draw the line anywhere. It'd be "nice" of them. But war isn't nice, has never been nice, and never will be nice. Honor, Theisman and a few other Peeps showed that it is only civil when it is fought by "human beings." A government simply cannot base the safety of its citizens on the disposition of its enemy's humanity.
Any industry making molycircs is a target. They can be refurbished to make molys for the war effort if need be. Recall the many reallocations of US industry during the war. You were making toasters one minute and guns the next. Also, Manticoran schools that teach programming and nanofarm assembly? Hell yes! That leads to job lots of highly qualified people. Heck, I'd imagine Saint-Just would not have blinked at all before shutting down Manticore's "education factories and assembly lines" that were churning out significantly more qualified people at alarming rates.
ThinksMarkedly wrote:In the end, history is written by the victors and they set precedent. They'll convene a tribunal and pass judgement on the defeated. Vae victis
I agree. But that's still no reason not to expect lots of charges being levied because of the many horrendous transgressions. Retribution has never been a deterrence to war.
War is only waged nicely by entities with bigger guns.