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World World III
Doc, I don't believe WWIII has started, because the world doesn't have its heart in it. There are, let's say, hundred of millions of people worldwide who hate the U.S. with a passion. Many of these people have just reason, because of our support for repressive dictatorships and free-market capitalism. Others have less just reason, such as our support for free elections and democracy (which we've done a much, much worse job on - see most of our middle east allies, for instance). To have a world war, you have to have giant powers aligned against each other. In this case, we have segments of ideologies, some supportive with incorrect knowledge (Palestinians fed propaganda, young people raised to hate, government-controlled media that paint outsiders to be evil esp. the U.S.). If a ground war starts, will it erupt around the globe? It seems highly unlikely. Europe stands behind. China, for all its repression, appears on our side - our side is, in fact, their side, as the Chinese aren't fans of rogue nations and terrorism for their own reasons. India? They support sovereign self-determination, but have been fighting decades-long battles against terrorist insurgents. And so on. I believe this war will be a war fought in dribs and drabs. I hope that we could see a minor miracle: the recognition by the leadership of countries the citizens of which fund terrorism and countries which harbor camps that they cannot continue in this fashion. That we'll see Talban soldiers walking alongside Russians and Americans and Indians to perform surgical extraction (not bombing) exercises. Maybe we won't see it. I don't want war. I don't believe in killing. But I also cannot believe at this moment that without a tactical military ground effort - as opposed to aerial bombardment which has failed consistently in the last 35 years from a military and ethical standpoints - that billions will be able to live safe lives. I see the soldiers who may commit themselves to these actions allied with the passengers of the plane that went down in Pennsyvlania. Heroes in that they don't want to sacrifice themselves, but they know that they have no real choice. The flip side, of course is that I'm a conscientious objector. If I were of draftable age and asked to serve, I could not serve, not for lack of love of country, but for love of humanity. And that's a problem: I believe in comitting forces who have volunteered because they knew what they were getting into even though I wouldn't perform the same service myself. Aren't I a hypocrite? Still trying to work that one out. There are responses to this message:
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