Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihnet.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!petrus!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!ihnet!eklhad From: eklhad@ihnet.UUCP (K. A. Dahlke) Newsgroups: net.politics.theory Subject: Re: Military Preparedness Message-ID: <301@ihnet.UUCP> Date: Mon, 23-Sep-85 13:54:53 EDT Article-I.D.: ihnet.301 Posted: Mon Sep 23 13:54:53 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 27-Sep-85 07:09:14 EDT References: <3690@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 37 > ... "Great military victories happen when a force that's > 3% efficient beats one which is 2% efficient." > --JoSH Many have discussed factors leading to an effective defense, in order to evaluate the viability of a libertarian military. Among these factors, certainly wealth and military efficiency (two that were mentioned) are important, as history shows. If these were the only factors, a libertarian military might be invincible. However (there is always a however), there is a fundamental aspect of military success, that almost everyone understands at some level, but libertarians continually ignore it. Indeed, it is one of the *most* important factors. This concept, in a word, is "secrecy"; the element of surprise. Read up on military strategies, and see how "surprise" correlates with victory (at the battle level). Although specific details are classified, I'm sure some statistics are public knowledge; part of any good military text book. The results are startling. Yet secrecy is antithetic to one of the basic axioms of Libertaria, namely free information. If military companies compete effectively by selling their services to an informed citizenry, enemy forces could easily acquire the brochures, and establish countermeasures making each company's strategy impotent. When i first subscribed to this news group, I didn't really expect to find myself arguing *against* libertarians, but we must remember the axioms upon which Libertaria rests. When an axiom (e.g. free information) *cannot* possibly apply, it is time to bring in the government. Effective defense cannot spring from the free market. -- This .signature file intentionally left blank. Karl Dahlke ihnp4!ihnet!eklhad