this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2024
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I mean, without watching the video, and preemptively saying fuck Putin, he's not wrong.
Maybe in 1637. These days, the Wealth of Nations is no longer primarily derived from things which can be looted.
What wealth isn't fundamentally tied to a physical resource?
Plenty of knowledge/skill derived wealth - Eg TSMC, aerospace, software.
OK. Let's make a rocket ship out of cardboard
A good or service can be tied to a physical resource, but still cannot be easily transferred by simple conquest.
A good is fundamentally a physical resource. Every service requires goods.
Was going to say online data but than realized that ls just soylent green with extra steps
Looting can't coexist with discipline, it makes soldiers ignore objectives and being more interested in how to transfer questionable goods back home. It's suitable for barbaric raids of a hit-and-run nature of the past, but in a long multi-layered offensive it means soldiers on the ground has low morale and act on their own, that renders their part of the front vulnerable. Modern armies make sure their troops have food, fuel and other resources for them not to ask around and be easy targets for a sabotage or just hunger, and looting is even worse than that.
Today, no looted goods can cover the price of the offensive. The land taken is useless if it's underdeveloped or\and littered with mines and metal. Human resources aren't effective as uneducated slaves you can't trust as it was long ago.
Modern warfare is political and economical. Looting is done by making other party depend on you, work for you, without hurting their own productivity. Let them be happy to take loans for your people to build them infrastructure, mines, oil rigs, provide security, pocket their politicians and get on boards of all important corporations. Choke them with a belt to make a road. That's when you order to shoot any individual anachronic looters on sight for they mess with your bigger picture.
Doesn't make it any more ethical, but shows how outdated some doctrines may be.
Well I mean it is a war crime but also yeah itβs also kind of the point