We used to sacrifice during war, falling heavily into debt that was sometimes recovered through growth or, not so long ago, pillaging the resources of conquered lands. Now we manufacture money so citizens can continue their glut, devaluing the currency, ballooning debt and sparking inflation.
Along with those internal struggles, a global economy means any country’s money is every other countries’ money. The interplay of loans, trade and–rarely–aid make any conflict difficult to resolve. War in the middle east cannot be won. Our nation is the largest consumer of their most lucrative export.
Each country, with no more land to forcefully take and increasingly limited resources is dependent on dozens of others. A conflict between nations is a conflict of interests. Increasingly, allies are more dependent on commodities than ideologies.
Many countries are caught in no-win relationships with their rivals. In fact, most are finding that cooperation benefits both parties more than antagonism. Those that don’t accept this are caught in endless turmoil, lofting explosives at each other between gunfire and gaining nothing.
In the past, victory was expensive but attainable. Weapons, men, supplies and mobility were found at high cost, financed or repaid with spoils and taxes. Technology now makes it possible to confront and debilitate an entire company for under a thousand US dollars.
Every “smart” missile that detonates one “terrorist cell” recruits any number of terrorists by fostering discontent and a thirst for retribution when their relatives are wounded or worse. Distinct cultures and terrain make overtaking an enemy difficult. Advances that give them the ability to kill with a cellular phone and readily available explosives make it more so.
Oil and other energy sources are costly and finite. The US Department of Defense’s per capita energy consumption is about ten times that of China, consuming as much energy as Nigeria. Three quarters is used by vehicles.
We have reached a point, through social and technological advances, where victory through war is impossible. This is a simple statement. This is a simple statement no one in power admits.
Even in Iraq I a multinational force only managed to defend a small country from invasion by another. In fifty years, no country has been taken by force. Iraq II has yet to be declared a war.
Misguided nationalism, strong support from powerful military suppliers and delusional misconceptions of power guide foreign policy. Until we accept that military victory is no longer an option, we will pathetically attempt to force countries into submission.
Our media can no longer vilify a miniscule, fringe element in order to create the illusion of an enemy population. Our politicians can no longer lead with guns. We must learn about and from other cultures.