"little wars" in the Third World, the U.S. government must muzzle
the press, subvert Congress, and turn over management of its foreign
wars to those like Colonel North who believe that any means are
justified in the pursuit of victory. Low-intensity conflict and American
democracy are incompatible. To preserve our democratic system and
protect our basic values the low-intensity conflict doctrine must be
repudiated. Our integrity, our humanity, and our morality are at risk
in the Pentagon's campaign to carry out the strategy of low-intensity
conflict. We can be intimidated by this, and become numbed to the
violence we see in Central America (just as we can be numbed by the
risk of nuclear war). But if we resist the numbing, and act to protect
our rights and values, we can be liberated from despair and find a new
sense of purpose in the common struggle we share with the many
millions of advocates for peace and justice in the world today.

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