PapaDragon wrote:
Decent article, good for reposting...
''Can the United States Stop a War With Russia?
Both sides need to try to see the other's point of view''
http://observer.com/2015/08/can-the-united-states-stop-a-war-with-russia/
I must agree with the premise of coming war. I can hear it, I can see it, I can smell it.
The reality is this war started in August 1914 and has not stopped since, not for one minute. At times the fighting has been muted or has occurred in some far off and little known locale, but it has not stopped. Ever.
It is not for me to intellectually delve in to the reasons and driving forces as to what has caused this century of war, this ongoing war is a fact and has driven world politics and economics for a century. I could care less if the next, and possibly final, act of this century long war is because of some Russian 'Soviet Mentality' aberration, a deeply mysterious 'zionist' plot, or an American 'rule the world' hegemonic desire. What does any of that matter to me or mine? I'll answer that question with an adamant 'ZERO'.
For a century we, the 'ordinary workers and peasants', the 'great unwashed masses', the 'driving force of the American Dream', call us what you will, any one of scores of descriptions, have fought and died in our tens of millions. Vast areas of Europe, Middle East and Asia have been laid waste, untold treasure has been spent and lost on the machines of war, and peace, and for what? I'll answer that question, too. 'NOTHING'. We are exactly where we were in July and August of 1914 with the exception of we have honed our abilities to kill and destroy to a fine art with an impressive technology. The old empires have fallen and new empires have risen to replace them, the problem being nothing has changed but the names leading the empires.
In the ten years I have been gone from the country that raised, nurtured and educated me I have seen the ideologies of both sides in this war harden. For some reason I attract children, puppies, kittens....and soldiers from both sides depending on where I am. I have no doubts that the soldiers of both sides very strongly believe in both their tasks and their ability to prevail, therefor this war will be to the death. Neither culture will survive the coming opening of actual hostilities, both cultures will have unimaginable destruction and death visited upon them and 'the world' as they know it will end. There is absolutely nothing we ordinary people can do to stop this coming active war, it is a given that it will happen and the endless pontifications of the 'politicians' and 'intellectuals' of both sides do not and will not mean squat in the end.
Do not pine for us, do not worry of us. We, my family and I, well know what is coming and we well know that will happen to the city and region we live in. We go about our daily lives with no fear or trepidation, we don't jump at every sound, we don't worry or wonder why that clutch of Sukoi's took off at 04:00 on full afterburner and headed west, out over the Sea. It matters but it doesn't matter at all. We are at peace with our world, what will be will be. Our fates were never in our hands and never will be, just as you reading this never had your fates in your hands. Such is the pity, and the glory, of life.
Auslander