@debcha@cstross based on what I've seen, I'd pick almost anything over insurgency. You generally end up the same place you started, but all the good and brave people are dead or in prison.
@cstross@quinn Yes, that’s part of what makes ‘forced to choose’ such a dumb question — however jokey the tone, both scenarios posit the forcible annexation of a sovereign state. *That’s* the part to be avoided, thanks.
@cstross@quinn Also; exactly this happened in the War of 1812 — the US tried to forcibly annex Canada, a lot of people died, and the end result was status quo ante bellum
@debcha@cstross i really really hope we don't decide to try that again. I *think* he is full of shit on that one. It's also still not a war the US could win, for so many reasons. oh hell, we couldn't win iraq or afghanstan, even. and they were just poor people trying to live.
Charlie Stross
Quinn Norton
Deb Chachra