Retaliation Spiral

When country attacks another, it obvious that the aggressor is the bad guy (unless the aggressor is your own country). But in a civil war, assignment of virtue is not so clear. Did the government unduly oppress the people, or are rebels fueled by loyalty to only a small group? Oddly, the newspapers and TV are never in doubt. For them, it is always 100% clear. It seems to me, in most wars, civil or international, both side engage in a spiral of retaliation until both are behaving abominably.

~ Roedy (born:1948-02-04 age:68)