Recommended

Highly recommended for its first-person accounts of political action by free Irishmen against the occupying British and their lackeys during the Irish War of Independence, this book also features the final warning issued by Michael Collins to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the occupying British.

There'll be more reference to that declaration in a subsequent essay, but between it and the warning dropped by the USAAF over Japanese cities on 1 August 1945, readers of the recent 20 More Questions, Feedback on '20 More Questions', and Reactions posts will have additional food for thought.

For now, get and read "The Squad". In the meantime, read the text of the pre-Hiroshima warning below and consider a possible 21st-century usage of the concept:

“Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories which produce military goods. We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique which they are using to prolong this useless war. But, unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America’s humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives. America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique which has enslaved the Japanese people. The peace which America will bring will free the people from the oppression of the military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan. You can restore peace by demanding new and good leaders who will end the war. We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked but some or all of them will be, so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately.”

To be continued...