Honestly the whole “assassinating a leader is against the rules” has always felt ass backwards when the alternative is a shit ton of people with essentially no say in the conflict dying.
Let me take it back to Hammarubi.
All these shitty world leaders can just take turns killing themselves like the bloody Sneeches, until we eventually end up with leaders who think peace is worth a shot.
To me, that sounds like a self correcting and sustainable system. If a country’s government starts a war, the most likely result would be that political leader getting merc’d by the government of the country they attacked.
The only reasons I can see that monster is still breathing is the power vacuum left behind would make the situation worse, and the US would royally fuck anyone who tried it.
“Leaders can have a little assassination, as a treat”
Not too often, just enough to remind them of their humanity.
If a country’s government starts a war, the most likely result would be that political leader getting merc’d by the government of the country they attacked.
Depends on who’s stronger. I don’t think it’s gonna lead to stability every time, unless the leaders realize it’s better (read: profitable) to be at peace.
What happens if one country invades the other which doesn’t posses the tech necessary to kill the leader? eg cruise missiles, bunker busters, or modern aviation in general
You will end up with leaders that will not meet each other or leave their countries. You will end up with leaders eternally paranoid that at any moment they could be assassinated by a foreign power.
This will be a guarantee for much more wars, killing many more people than we already have.
I mean…
Honestly the whole “assassinating a leader is against the rules” has always felt ass backwards when the alternative is a shit ton of people with essentially no say in the conflict dying.
Let me take it back to Hammarubi.
All these shitty world leaders can just take turns killing themselves like the bloody Sneeches, until we eventually end up with leaders who think peace is worth a shot.
To me, that sounds like a self correcting and sustainable system. If a country’s government starts a war, the most likely result would be that political leader getting merc’d by the government of the country they attacked.
So you’re saying that Netanyahu is a legit target for the Iranians?
The only reasons I can see that monster is still breathing is the power vacuum left behind would make the situation worse, and the US would royally fuck anyone who tried it.
“Leaders can have a little assassination, as a treat”
Not too often, just enough to remind them of their humanity.
Depends on who’s stronger. I don’t think it’s gonna lead to stability every time, unless the leaders realize it’s better (read: profitable) to be at peace.
Now it depends on who is willing to throw enough bodies thru a meat grinder, bomb civilians, or nuke everything…
If assassinations on the table, none of that shit matters if you personally get killed before you order it used
Every aggressive country would prioritize personal defense and strategic assassination squads.
Which again, I’d see as an absolute win over thousands or even millions of people dying.
There’s no down sound.
What happens if one country invades the other which doesn’t posses the tech necessary to kill the leader? eg cruise missiles, bunker busters, or modern aviation in general
Then that country would lose in a conventional war also?
Not really, there are some good examples of underdogs winning (without cruise missiles for example).
edit: and we’re not talking strictly conventional. also that’s not what “no downsides” means
You will end up with leaders that will not meet each other or leave their countries. You will end up with leaders eternally paranoid that at any moment they could be assassinated by a foreign power.
This will be a guarantee for much more wars, killing many more people than we already have.
Solve it the Klingon way: trial by personal combat.
The problem with assassinating leaders is that it turns the population into a headless mob, and plenty of innocents suffer tremendously anyways.
Modern military technology has made such concerns much less important, as any conflict is increasingly devastating.
Yerp. Killing the leader leaves a power vacuum depending on the structure of the government. Power vacuums are the quickest way to a civil war.