War, Terrorism and Military Response

  “Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes…known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few… No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.” — James Madison, Political Observations, 1795 WAR According to a dictionary definition, war is a state of armed conflict between societies. It is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military forces. As of 2017, war in the 21st century has a different meaning then war in previous eras. Now, war on fought on different fronts, and conducted with weapons inconceivable in the past. Wars between different nation-states is rare but the threats posed by conflict as more deadly than ever. First, let us define the different types of modern warfare. 1) Biological warfare, or germ warfare, is the use of weaponized biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 2) Chemical warfare involves the use of weaponized chemicals in combat. Poison gas as a chemical weapon was principally used during World War I, and resulted in over a million estimated causalities, including more than 100,000 civilians. 3) Civil War is a war between forces belonging to the same nation or political entity.