war is peace
For general context, the opinion piece was published April 2014. Bezos owned The WaPo at the time and had since 2013. Author is Stanford historian and archaeologist Ian Morris.
this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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Thanks for sharing the link in the interest of fact and transparency.
I looked at the premise of his book that this article seems to connect with, and it basically boils down to "History shows that societies becomes a lot more peaceful and productive after periods of war."
Wow, who'd've thought that things get better for the people who survive a war? It's a good thing we can apply survivorship bias to the whole of human history with such confidence like that.
So it's not that war makes things better, but that we become better off after we stop fighting? We become better off after we decide fixing our problems peacefully is a good idea? Brilliant.
It's also not true when you consider all the times war follows war and societies see decades if not centuries of decline involving numerous civil wars. On top of that, when war is not devastating for those that start it, it does not inspire them to change; rather it becomes part of their norm.
"There's less death from warfare and economic production diverted to support said warfare when people aren't fighting wars" is a helluva argument in favor of fighting wars to improve lives and benefit the economy.
It's like a financial advisor telling you that you should blow all your money in the casino, then quit gambling and start saving.
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He seems like not a great guy.
WTF this is a real article
Of course it was WAPO
It says it right at the top ...
Artist putting the dove of peace in there should be shamed, too. Mf’er thinks they have some design porn going on there when all it is is selling out to oppressors
I will do one better and provide a link to an archived copy of the article so you all can read it for yourselves!
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Define "us".
Us, the wealthiest owners of Raytheon and Lockheed shares. Who did you think?
US...A
Probably the author of the article and the people who paid him to write it.
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“When we talk about U.S.A., we ain’t talkin bout you, ése.”
"Democracy dies in darkness, and we're on the side of darkness"
Democracy dies in darkness
This stopped being a warning and started being a mission statement.
Right up there with Google's "Don't be Evil"
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Democracy died in daylight
So, not agreeing with the premise but: this article is from 2014, written by a legit historian, and is specifically not discussing the short term.
Their premise is effectively that war consolidates power and minimizes violence at scale inside the unified territory afterwards. Further, the things nations do to be ready for conflict, like build roads, administrative statates and all the social structures that accompany a standing army facilitate trade and prosperity.
It's less that he's arguing for war, and more just ... Describing the historical consequences of war in aggregate.
It was certainly only titled the way it was because he was publishing a book and this is more eye catching.
Ironic that this post is trying critize propaganda while being a bit propagandish itself
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Did a war write this article?
Just a neoliberal entering his pupae to begin turning into a fascist.
Yeah, I mean, what it said. Genocide! Love that. I respect The Washington Post and its commitment to corruption, abuse of power, and harm to kids.
And this is the newspaper that played a major role in bringing Nixon down at the time... what an utter disgrace.
Probably not for ethical reasons but more uhh aristocratic in-group disputes/conflicts of interest.
This right here, and he was never taken down. He voluntarily resigned and faced zero consequences.
I didn't even see the WaPo part of the post at first... and I didn't need to.
What the fuck.
if by "us" they mean the billionaries behind this company then sure it does
Did someone say Blowback?
Am I the only one that sees a Wehrmact soldier with an MP-40 in hand? Like... Come on.
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Go walk in the rain some more, you’ll dry quicker.
"Yeah because after WWII there was peace!!!1"
Technically, after the war is before the war.
At the cost of murdering others and taking what is theirs.
Of courses it does, especially when you are the world's biggest arms dealer! By far, not even China, Russia, and Germany combined, throw in UK and France, too
That's the problem.
Pictured dove ofc carrying cluster bombs.
Well, shit...
Somebody turned off the lights at Washington Post then lol
Even if true, there has to be a better way to achieve safety and economic security for all. War causes losses for far too many.
ETA: grammar & clarity
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