Демонизация противника
"Боа-констриктор, перед тем как заглотить жертву, имеет обыкновение обмазывать ее тело гадкой слизью; аналогично, множество людей в Англии (а возможно, и не только) неспособны даже помыслить о том, чтобы добиться четкой политической цели военными средствами, если только не смогут убедить себя том, что противник является безнадежным и законченным мерзавцем. Поэтому дервишей, от Махди и до Халифа, поносили самыми последними словами и приписывали им все мыслимые преступления. Возможно, филантропически настроенную публику на родине это весьма утешает; но когда армия на войне преисполняется идеей, что враги суть мерзкие гады, пресмыкающиеся по земле, в результате следует ожидать варварства. Кроме того, такая безудержная демонизация столь же несправедлива, сколь опасна и бесполезна." (Уинстон Черчилль, 1899)
(It is the habit of the boa constrictor to besmear the body of his victim with a foul slime before he devours it; and there are many people in England, and perhaps elsewhere, who seem to be unable to contemplate military operations for clear political objects, unless they can cajole themselves into the belief that their enemy are utterly and hopelessly vile. To this end the Dervishes, from the Mahdi and the Khalifa downwards, have been loaded with every variety of abuse and charged with all conceivable crimes. This may be very comforting to philanthropic persons at home; but when an army in the field becomes imbued with the idea that the enemy are vermin who cumber the earth, instances of barbarity may easily be the outcome. This unmeasured condemnation is moreover as unjust as it is dangerous and unnecessary.)
(It is the habit of the boa constrictor to besmear the body of his victim with a foul slime before he devours it; and there are many people in England, and perhaps elsewhere, who seem to be unable to contemplate military operations for clear political objects, unless they can cajole themselves into the belief that their enemy are utterly and hopelessly vile. To this end the Dervishes, from the Mahdi and the Khalifa downwards, have been loaded with every variety of abuse and charged with all conceivable crimes. This may be very comforting to philanthropic persons at home; but when an army in the field becomes imbued with the idea that the enemy are vermin who cumber the earth, instances of barbarity may easily be the outcome. This unmeasured condemnation is moreover as unjust as it is dangerous and unnecessary.)