h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

After Von Clausewitz stated(about two centuries ago) that there was no distinction to be made between civilians and military personell in war, and after several very bloody wars had been fought, the world in general realized that giving up this distinction would lead to total chaos. People and nations were deterred by the fact that such a doctrine would lead to total anarchy.

The concensus therefor was that "Only nations declare war on other nations"(free translation). This of course was not the case(Sarajevo 1914, etcetera), but is was a leading principle that could at least be used as a basic premise for defining war. This premisse has now been obliterated. If an act of war can be defined without the involvement of another state(as the U.S.A. has now done - with Europe following their lead), then anyone can start a war from now on. Of course this goes for Osama Bin Laden, but it also applies to the kid next door bearing a grudge...

Of course Von Clausewitz' Principles of War were adopted by every terrorist group in the world years ago. You cannot fight a terrorist war otherwise. The prime goal of terror is to sow fear in the hearts of the civilian population.

Now the U.S.A. has implicitly decided to embrace Von Clausewitz' doctrine. This means the control over global affairs is no longer solely in the hands of a nation(s) but also in the hands of private persons like for instance Bin Laden, those idiots in Waco and Tokyo, etcetera.

Where we used to "need" a nation to go completely ballistic before war became likely or inevitable, this can now be any person with a grudge and the financial and/or military means to take action. And that is even more dangerous than the situation we have faced for so many years so far.

You can influence a nation up to a certain level, but you cannot influence a single private person.

The times they are a changing, as mister B. Dylan sang years ago. This however is a return to the Dark Ages. And everybody who paid attention in history-class, or reads a book sometimes, knows that those times were "somewhat less civilized". Do people really want to go back to the days of the Crusades ?

TM.


"Blood on the windows
Millions of ordinary people are there
They gaze at the scenery
They act as if it is perfectly clear
Take a look at that mountain
Take a look at the beautiful river of blood

Now see what you've gone and done..."