There, a number of retired generals were speaking out. Gerd Schmueckle, who was wounded six times on the Russian front during the second world war, but then served in the highest positions inside Nato, warned of a new fascination with war. Perhaps, he said, it is a question of generations. When the war veterans are losing their hair and teeth, and disappearing into homes for the elderly, the new generation suddenly has a different attitude towards war. For Schmueckle, war was associated with horror beyond imagination, leaving deep psychological scars on individuals and nations.
Younger politicians believe that they can fight new types of wars.
And these new wars are becoming increasingly popular. Indeed, they are now conducted a couple of times a year. The third way in war. These smart wars can be used to beef up diplomacy when it runs into problems which seem too complicated. But they can also be used to replace diplomacy entirely and just express the outrage that we feel over evil regimes doing evil things.