Peace by Force

"By condemning an old friend without hesitation, I shall be feared."
--Messala (Ben-Hur)

Garet Garrett describes the ultimate barbarian fantasy--that world peace must be imposed by force.

The folly does not just have an external component, i.e., a country must make its military the Policeman of the World in order to keep the peace. It also applies internally, i.e., the State must police its citizens and limit freedom in the name of social harmony.

The notion that peace requires force constitutes one of the foremost oxymorons of mankind.