Precision-warfare rhetoric masks the long-term toxic deaths it causes

Evidence

Military euphemisms like “precision” warfare, “surgical” strikes, “smart” wars, “depleted” uranium, and “miracle drones” have helped legitimize recent high-tech conflicts while concealing their long-term toxic and radiological impact. The rhetoric of precision lulls us into regarding the fatalities of war as swift, immediate killings. But ironically, the increasing reliance of American and British forces on the discourse of “precision” coincides with the integration of “depleted” uranium into their missiles, bullets, and tank armor. — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 587

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Precision warfare’s invisible toxic legacies make ‘humanitarian war’ rhetoric self-contradictory — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 612; War inflicts cold casualties whose deferred toxic effects rival hot-battle deaths — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 645; The Gulf War’s virtual immediacy masked its slow environmental and epidemiological aftermath — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 593 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Precision warfare’s invisible toxic legacies make ‘humanitarian war’ rhetoric self-contradictory #corroborates (0.92) — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 612
• War inflicts cold casualties whose deferred toxic effects rival hot-battle deaths #expands (0.90) — Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and the Environmentalism…, 645