More War Inevitable?

[crazy_scar_man]

My previous post has some great responses, but it's moved more towards a discussion about Hillary Clinton.

One of my main concerns lately is the prospect of escalating conflict across the world. There are a few things that make me concerned about this:

1. Hamas Election in Palestine.
2. Iran's nuclear ambitions.
3. North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
4. Western paranoia of "unknown, unseen" terrorists.
5. China's emergence as a super power (sleeping dragon).
6. The imminent death of Sharon - Isreal's last moderate leader.
7. Rising anti-American sentiment throughout international communities
8. Depletion of natural resources outpacing ingenuity (lack of energy = war)

Do you think we are entering an era that will fall into history as a time when the human race was able to confront all of the demons above and emerge better off than before? Or do you think our time on this world will be marked by blood and deterioration?


As for my opinion, I've never been a doomsday person. I'm a writer at heart and a romantic by nature. I believe in true love, magic, God and human decency. But I've also had an uncanny ability throughout my life to be able to sense, or perhaps bode, future happenings. Sometimes I can feel the winds a changin. It has benefited me in my personal and professional life... but I am now rife with fear.

What scares me most would be for our children and children's children to look back at our time in this world and wish we had never existed.... to look back at our legacy in shame. That is my worst fear.

I do hope though. I hope our generation can meet all the trials above and more and shape history in a positive way that will be revered instead of condemned.

What are your thoughts?

[run_to_win]

6. The imminent death of Sharon - Isreal's last moderate leader.

Peace comes from strength, not moderation or diplomacy.  A heavy handed Israeli leader may be the best thing for Israel right now with the terrorist leadership of Palestine.

Palestine only needs to look to their mega-wealthy former leader to understand where all their poverty and suffering comes from. 

(lack of energy = war)

Not yet.  Can you think of any wars started over energy? 

What scares me most would be for our children and children's children to look back at our time in this world and wish we had never existed.... to look back at our legacy in shame. That is my worst fear.

Our legacy?  How are you contributing to poverty and oppression in the Middle East?  How are you causing the many current slaughters of innocents around the globe?  No sir, when we look back we can be proud that we were the shining beacon of freedom on the hill.  Our house was free and rather than close our doors to the suffering of the world we went out of our way to help others around the world.

Much like our parents and grandparents, "The Greatest Generation", sacrificed to keep Europe free 60 years ago.

[Dave Gray]

How are you contributing to poverty and oppression in the Middle East?

I hope you didn't type that with a straight face.  Right or wrong, America (maybe not any one of us personally) are a totally opressive nation.  We strongarm our way into situations that favor us, and the citizens of these third world nations pay the price.  We consume far more than we create.

[crazy_scar_man]

Not yet.  Can you think of any wars started over energy? 

Uhhhh... Just about every war I can think of. Energy specifically; The first and second Gulf War.

Only in the industrial age has energy been the primary driving force. The biggest resource before that was land,  trade routes, mining etc... Oil is just the most recent resource.

[Spider-Dan]

You don't think that the first Gulf War had anything to do with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait?

We aren't talking about phantom WMDs and imagined threats.  The first Gulf War was a real, actual military invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.  I don't think you can classify that war as just an oil grab (at least, from our standpoint).

[run_to_win]

I hope you didn't type that with a straight face.  Right or wrong, America (maybe not any one of us personally) are a totally opressive nation.  We strongarm our way into situations that favor us, and the citizens of these third world nations pay the price.  We consume far more than we create.

Yeah - we created poverty in the Middle East by developing their natural resources - something they didn't have the technology to do on their own.  We keep them poor by buying these natural resources.  We keep people in countries such as Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq oppressed - and that's just in the last decade or so.

We're pure evil.  We should do the world a favor and commit suicide.

[run_to_win]

You don't think that the first Gulf War had anything to do with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait?

We aren't talking about phantom WMDs and imagined threats.  The first Gulf War was a real, actual military invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.  I don't think you can classify that war as just an oil grab (at least, from our standpoint).

Com'on Spider -  be quiet and have more koolaid.  Keep drinking until you see things his way. 

It's not like we could have bought Kuwait's, Saudi Arabia's and Iraq's oil from Saddam for a fraction of the cost of either war.  Blowing all that money and just going in and taking it was so much better.  Just appreciate that you're paying $.05/gallon for gas like the Iraqis.

[Buddhagirl]

  No sir, when we look back we can be proud that we were the shining beacon of freedom on the hill.  Our house was free and rather than close our doors to the suffering of the world we went out of our way to help others around the world.

How can you say this when there is genocide going on in the Sudan???  There is flat out ethnic cleansing going on, and no one cares.  Why because there is no oil there.

I hang my head as an American everytime I think about masses of people being slaughtered like that as should you.

Instead, we are fighting for oil.  Period.  Flat out oil so all of the yuppie scum can drive around in their huge SUV's.

[pintofguinness14]

But I like my huge SUV...

[Househead]

How can you say this when there is genocide going on in the Sudan???  There is flat out ethnic cleansing going on, and no one cares.  Why because there is no oil there.

Someone just hit the nail on the head!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

The thing is, I am sick and tired of seeing the U.S. attempt to settle conflicts in areas of the world they have no business in.  Let's look back at all the recent wars:

World War II-  The last "real war" we were involved in as the Japs had the guts to bomb Pearl Harbor

Korea-  We had no business there.  The conflict was between North and South Korea

Vietnam-  Again, the conflict was between North and South Vietnam.  We should not have stuck our noses there.  Look what happened as a result.

Iraq-  Again, we had no business going to Iraq in the '90s.  Let them settle the conflict with Kuwait.  Also invading Iraq in 2003 proved futile as no "weapons of mass destruction" were found.


Why is the U.S. constantly trying to police the world??  Let's take care of our own!!!  If they really want to free a country, make it Cuba. 

[ADeadSmitty]

How can people say we're fighting to get cheap oil when in fact oil prices have been going through the roof? That doesn't fit the idea of an oil-thirsty aggressive country.

[CF DolFan]

How can people say we're fighting to get cheap oil when in fact oil prices have been going through the roof? That doesn't fit the idea of an oil-thirsty aggressive country.

If Gore (who I voted for) would have been president I believe we would have made an offensive as well. The only difference is Republicans would be blaming the Democrats.   I swear that all each side does is look for blame.  We as Democrats thought the WMD existed well before Busch was elected and were concerned.  We were even ready to go to war under George when this started. Know we think he is a screw up and did this so the "Man" could get is oil. 

I say "we" as whole. The majority of the country backed the war from the beginning.  I know fifty people in here will reply "not me... I'm one of the few who knew this war was about oil ... it was wrong and we shouldn't go to Iraq."

[run_to_win]

How can you say this when there is genocide going on in the Sudan???  There is flat out ethnic cleansing going on, and no one cares.  Why because there is no oil there.

Iraq was a threat to the US.  Sudan is not. 

You do realize that with Sudan being immediately south of Egypt,  any US intervention would cause the America hating crowd would make the exact same, as well as other, bogus claims.

Had the verbal masturbation club known as the UN raised one finger towards Sudan then you know the US would have done what it can.

Try to think about all the people not being slaughtered because of the US. 

Sadly, there's not one single fact that supports your koolaid induced "fighting for oil" claim.

[Buddhagirl]

But I like my huge SUV...

Great.  Then fight for the oil to put in it.  But, don't involve me.

I'm not saying rather we should be the world police or not.  I'm making the point that we can't call ourselves freedom fighters when there is flat out genocide going on. I'm tired of hearing about us freeing the Iraqi people, and about how good we are, blah blah blah.  

If we were helping ALL people that have strive going on in their countries, I'd shut my mouth.

And, CF I was never for the war. I'm a freaking hippie member of PETA.  You should know that by my name...Buddhagirl.  Buddhists don't fight.