RICHARD FERNANDEZ: Western Pacifism Has Driven Warfare Underground, At Some Cost. “The infrastructure to support the secret wars has been growing over the years. The rise of foreign and domestic surveillance deserves an essay all to itself. But today, a network of secret bases, landing strips, agents in place, spotters and communications networks has been laid over the length and breadth of the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Fleets of unmarked planes, swarms low visibility drones and and secret warriors make up a ghostly army that is endlessly engaged.”

It might have been easier, safer, and cheaper, to deliver a sound, brutal defeat at the front end. And by “might have been,” I mean “would have been.”