ABSTRACT
Aeschylus is supposed to have said, “In war, the first casualty is truth,” but it might be more accurate to say that the first casualty in intense conflicts is moral ambiguity. Especially when one’s own group or nation is involved in violence, there is a strong tendency to silence moral doubts by raging at the enemy. The more we wonder secretly whether our own side’s actions are necessary and just, the more we feel compelled to emphasize our adversaries’ willfulness and malice, their unprincipled, atrocious behavior, and their irrational refusal to make peace. The relevant mantras are these:
• They choose war; we have no choice but to fight. • We are reasonable; they are fanatics. • We limit collateral damage; they deliberately put civilians in harm’s
way. • We are trustworthy and well meaning; they are malicious and deceitful.
