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June 3, 2008 at 10:09:28
Can World War III Happen In Our Lifetime? by Ernest Steadman Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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So much of the news and commentaries on our airwaves, Internet and in print is so discouraging these days. I follow the Middle East developments from both sides of those engaged in the conflict and see absolutely no progress being made. The United States is unyielding in its desire to control some of the oil in that part of the world and to protect Israel, regardless of the horrendous things its government is doing like undertaking to build another nearly 900 Israeli settlement homes on Palestinian lands which Israel originally seceded to them, countered against a Shi'a population in Iraq representing more than half of its citizens who, from a religious point, say NO to any foreign occupation of Muslim lands, on the one hand sounding conciliatory in Lebanon and on the other including Israel in their view of who is a foreign occupier of Muslim lands. Today it is almost impossible to open and read any trade journal without reading that $200 a barrel oil may very well be in the not too distant future, 16 months or less. Are they worried? No. But, what does concern them is the real possibility of all that windfall oil revenues winding up in the hands of “militant” Middle Eastern hands. Iran and Syria specifically. Why? Because of our experience with OPEC in the 70's and the effects the oil embargo had not only on America's productivity but the effects it had on our citizen's ability to make a living without sacrificing their consumer purchasing power and its economic stimulus to the nation. What they see are huge numbers of businesses faltering under the heavy burden of oil prices, both domestic and international. They also see all this windfall oil revenues being used to buy these faltering businesses at what they term “fire sales”, far below their actual worth. Globalization and free trade between nations would no longer a part of the equation but a restricting of trade down to a regional or community level. The only catch is that in the aftermath, how many of us will be working and owing our livelihoods to Middle Eastern investors? What effect would this have on our society? Our home life? Or, the very fabric of our nation? I, in my ignorance, have always said our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has always been about the oil. Perhaps, it reaches much further than that, it reaches into places just now being discussed and explored in the public eye for the first time. Polls don't often frighten me. When I see a poll conducted by the Democrats I expect a certain amount of liberalism to be reflected. The same can be said of polls conducted by Republicans, exerting a conservative view of the world instead. But, I just read a poll by Men's Health that has shaken me to my foundations. Why? Because Men's Health is the most unpolitical magazine you could find, catering to mostly “upwardly mobile, young American men” and a few old codgers like myself trying to reverse not only the aging process but all the horrid things they did to their bodies out of ignorance. 
In the June, 2008 issue of Men's Health (available at your local News Stand), on page 42 is a poll entitled, “Looking For A Few Good Men”, in which 4,165 respondents answered the following questions (this is only part of the survey):
77% said our military was “completely unrivaled” and 21% said it was “one of the top few”. In asking how to improve its effectiveness, answers ranged from “extending the age of enlistment to 50” to removing the “suffocating rules of engagement that handcuff our troops”. With a full one fourth of our nation's budget spent on the military, 80% said to leave it the same or dramatically increase it. 61% said women should be able to “perform combat duties”. Although 62% were against the draft, a huge 89% said they would serve if drafted. In the question of one's child joining the military, 90% said they would either agree or would not fight it, and 64% said veterans do not receive enough respect from citizens. 76% said that the military was spread too thin and 84% agreed with the US invasion of Afghanistan. 52% favored our engagement with Iraq.
On the question of strategy currently being conducted in Iraq, 68% of respondents said stay as long as Iraqis met goals or “whatever it takes to win”. A full 80% agreed with a “first-strike” on countries deemed a threat to the U.S. with 19% of those respondents not even considering diplomacy as a factor. When the severity of interrogation techniques was questioned, 64% flatly said that “it saves lives”. And finally, 40% of respondents said that Islamic Terrorists were the greatest threat to the U.S. China was second at 17%, Iran third at 15% and Russia came in last at 2%.
It would appear to me that the “movers and shakers” of the near future are right in line with the current White House administration and its desire to intercede militarily in Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Perhaps this is why John McCain and Hillary Clinton, in several instances during their campaigns, began to sound like an echo from the current administration as it pertained to world affairs. I don't know if it was driven by polls like the one I have just shared with you or if it reflects their knowledge of what kind of “dark future” America could face in the coming years without the presence and engagement of multi-national oil corporations in the Middle East, corporations in which the majority stock holders are the American people as a hedge against $200 a barrel oil.
Are we willing to risk World War III to accomplish this? Maybe the new dynamic that is being bantered about is the alternative would be just as devastating to the American people and their way of life.
http://ErnestASteadman.info
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World War III is way overdue and inevitable.
The balance of economic forces at the end of World War II has changed. China and India are rising. We are falling. by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1760 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 at 1:53:26 PM  (0+)
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Reply: Reply
Nonetheless, it is still freightening and worrisome. Unlike the other World Wars, I believe much damage will be done right here in the U.S. to our citizens and infrastructure while the conflict carries on in the Middle East. by Ernest Steadman (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 21 comments) on Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 at 2:22:31 PM (0+)
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Reply: "Can World War III Happen In Our Lifetime?"
I have no idea. However, if history is any indication, WWIII is beginning to take shape as we speak. The creation of an Islamic enemy focused upon fixed and determined destruction of western christian culture has been put in place. The marketing of the reverse is flaming about the globe also. It is not by chance. The banks and the corporate cartels in tandem funding both sides as did the Bank of England in it's funding of both the English Army and Napoleon. No matter who wins (truly, neither side wins anything) the bankers are hedged to gain in monetary and 'power'ful ways by a victory not of a balancing of collective human ideals, but a futher imbalance of wealth, executive order and privilege. Your Mens Health results show the effective nature of this marketing, always based on the problem, response, solution metaphor that has been used for 1,000's of years. Combinations of fear, apathy, lazy reasoning and conditioned masses play into these numbers. History usually proceeds well into the inferno until it is finally not to the advantage to continue it. If the U.S were to lower its oil consumption tomorrow by 30%, the response would be immediate. I am an optimist. Though I beleive there are some bad ass folks out there, I am more swayed by the rubber soul. That we are unique and individual matters little until the collective is understood. My weakness perhaps, as my goal is not to stand, it is to step. We are more similar than different. This simple idea is ignored by those who speak in tongues of seperation. Cycles are everywhere. Life and death is the most obvious one. The fact that in our lifetime we are coming to another crossroads of human self contempt based on greed, fed by fear is nothing new. Safe and secure has always been the mantra of the 'gang' mentality, the 'gang' who will inevitably kill their own the minute they are uncomfortable, to again prove their only point, that empathy and compassion are but foriegners, merely enemys worthy of nothing but their value as compost. Deeper, there are our souls, individual and joyful, painful and ultimately human in their imperfection who have understood acceptance and the connection to what I cannot express in words. A joined life. We all must taste the bile of hatred before we can tongue the flavor and the the exhilaration of kindness to oneself and others. Our souls are so varied, as are the vehicles we inhabit, it amazes me how many times we need to have it repeated until we learn the lessons. It is what it is. The water and the rock. peace by mikel paul (14 articles, 1 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 570 comments [13 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 at 3:37:36 PM (0+)
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Reply: Reply
You are so "right-on", Paul. I could not disagree with a single point you have made. Adding the pressures of unaffordable oil to the mix can only mean that even the poorest of souls in America will readily accept the propaganda you referred to. It is hard to think straight on an empty stomach that sees no immediate relief. Enemies are needed to provide a quick and simple explanation of why we are suffering. by Ernest Steadman (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 21 comments) on Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 at 5:41:36 PM (0+)
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The poll numbers you mention
are frightening. It shows that these overpaid, under performing macho men are delusional when it comes to international foreign policy. This warped sense of US superiority of advocating torture, pre-emptive 1st strikes, illegal occupations, intimidation, and a multitude of unpatriotic American actions, shows the disconnect between the "average" American male, towards international affairs. These chicken-hawk co*k strutter's are going to facilitate the continued decline of what's left of American prestige and re-inforce the international community's of the USA a a pariah state. How I fear for the future generations of Americans when it is no longer the economic bastion and experiences what it has wrought around the world with the misguided foreign policy blunders US administrations have unleashed for a long time. by Stanimal (2 articles, 226 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 1254 comments [234 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 at 3:21:15 PM (0+)
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Reply: Reply to Staminal
You are most probably correct in your view of the new YUPPIE in our midst, Staminal. This oil thing has really gotten to me. We're going to "starve" ourselves by diverting all our grain to ethanol when there already has been a breakthrough in pneumatic engine technology. Sometime this year there are going to be more than 800 small SUV's tooling around India whose only source of power will be compressed air. Several countries in Europe as well as China have already signed on board with the inventor (a Mercedes engineer who perfected the motor) to build factories to churn the things out. BUT, they will be illegal for import into the U.S. because the body is fiberglas and is glued together. I got news for the "powers that be" that there are glues that have been in use right here in the U.S. for the past 30 years whose bond cannot be broken by heat, cold or force. It's a construction adhesive that was originally produced by Gulf at about $3.79 a tube (early 80's) with which you could glue anything to anything and not worry about the joints ever coming apart. I've seen the ends of brick, glass blocks and 2x4's glued to a 4x4" post that you could literally hand an engine from and the joint would not fail. OH WELL! by Ernest Steadman (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 21 comments) on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 at 3:49:19 PM (0+)
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IT ALREADY HAPPENED
We only continue to exist because "Somebody up there loves us." by Patrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 519 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 at 12:04:33 PM (0+)
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Reply: Reply to Patrick
It would seem to be, Patrick. Left up to only man's devices, without the Holy Spirit guiding and moving "good men" in the right direction, we would certainly be lost. by Ernest Steadman (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 21 comments) on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 at 3:51:19 PM (0+)
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