I keep seeing the war in Gaza as being classified a genocide.

genocide: the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.

Now, when I look at the Iraq war, the goal was to destroy Ba’athist Iraq. By the same definition, wouldn’t that war have been a genocide as well? As an outsider, I observed awful humanitarian suffering during the Iraq war and don’t necessarily see the difference with the new situation in Gaza or see it as uniquely evil.

  • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Ba’athist isn’t an inherent part of someone’s identity, it’s just a political party that someone can choose to be affiliated with. If we followed your logic then the allies in WW2 would be considered genocidal for their war against the Nazi party, no?

    • yarr@feddit.nlOPEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      WW2 would be considered genocidal for their war against the Nazi party, no?

      Yes.

      • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        Ok, but the existence of both German people and the state of Germany today is good evidence that your criteria is wrong.

        • yarr@feddit.nlOPEnglish
          0·
          7 months ago

          Or it was a failed genocide? Are all genocidal attempts successful?

          • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            7 months ago

            The allies never had a stated goal to erase Germany or the German people. They had the means to once Germany surrendered and yet only a handful of (very guilty) members of the Nazi leadership were executed. The Soviets were heavy handed and even they did not have a desire to erase German identity. If you want to argue they failed at a goal which was never a stated aim I don’t know what to tell you.