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gopalvyesterday at 7:46 PM1 replyview on HN

The first part of the parabellum quote matters - we have to let the people who want peace prepare for war.

The Smedly Butler book was eye opening to read for me.

Diplomacy and trade works wonders when the enemy still wants you to buy things.

Sanctions work when they've got things to sell (and raw materials to buy), not bombed out craters where their factories were.

Si vis pacem ...


Replies

jjthebluntyesterday at 8:19 PM

aposiopesis is followed presumably by some latin phrasing of prepare for war?

[edit, found the real version https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_vis_pacem%2C_para_bellum ]

adapted from a statement found in Roman author Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's tract De Re Militari (fourth or fifth century AD), in which the actual phrasing is Igitur qui desiderat pacem, præparet bellum ("Therefore let him who desires peace prepare for war").