| WWII's start was
announced by headlines of marching invading armies, massive air power, refugees and
destruction. Its middle was colored with patriotic efforts on home fronts and battle
fronts. Its end was clear: Hitler committed suicide and the Japanese
surrendered instantly under two atomic bombs. People celebrated. Peace followed with
reconstruction and cooperation between old enemies and allies. The victors prospered by
aiding the losers. Europe and Asia were built into something more fantastic than was ever
envisioned by their demagogues and dictators. |
| As in all
human endeavors including war, there
were some mistakes and injustices, but people understood that wars cannot be fought to
perfected precision. Mistakes get made in war just as people make mistakes everyday in
their personal lives. However, well-adjusted people learn and get over their mistakes. |
| Today's global War
Against Terrorism is different. Rather than being a snap, it is primitive. The primitive
lacks rational clarity. Today's War Against Terrorism had a fuzzy beginning somewhere in
the 20th century when frustrated, narcissistic, fanatics with no formal military or
political plan determined they should end mankind's progress and change the lifestyles of
billions of people with whom they disagreed. |
| After decades of
perfecting the art of suicide and mass murder of civilians, terrorism implemented its plan
and it was suddenly September 11, 2001. |
| Today civilization is
confronted by a deadly, specious, insidious enemy. Due to its shortcomings it is more
difficult to root out and destroy. This enemy consists of individuals congealed into
ethereal cells that sit dormant until they decide to strike. They use tactics and strategy
that is antithetical to our planning and therefore they are difficult to uncover before
they strike. |
| When this enemy goes
dormant, civilized people naturally try believing that the terrorists have vanished and,
if we leave them alone, they will leave us alone. That comforts civilized people who
prefer to be productive doing real jobs rather than living in fear and expending resources
defending themselves from an unseen enemy. |
| That civilized
approach to life is exactly what makes us the perfect object of terrorist strategy and
tactics. We want to quit fighting and the terrorists are happy to pause for extended
periods while they regroup, gain strength, and lure us into a passive mode. |
| Civilized people must
realize that the world is the worst kind of school yard. The bullies have real weapons,
want to kill everyone else, and will not go away after recess. They will kill and destroy
when they choose to unless the civilized gang up against the terrorist bullies and destroy
them on their side of the schoolyard. |