Section 4, An Anatomy of Killing: All Factors Considered: Chapter 3, Emotional Distance: Summary and Analysis

The Lt. Colonel discusses some of the psychological processes that are used to enable soldiers to be able to kill and to empower the decision makers to select battle. Every one of the methods used involves creating some greater sense of distance from the opponent. The author "as an Officer" describes how necessary for officers to love those under them but to remain sufficiently detached to enable the officers to make decisions that may endanger their own men. Cultural distinctions and ethnic and racial differences, are cited. Also, moral distancing, "punishment justification" and more significantly mechanical distancing are applicable. The Gulf War saw the rise of the type of distancing that led to the phrase "Nintendo war." Fighting was converted from...