IN THE NEWS: Today North Korea is threatening to counter the S. Korea/USA military “exercise” scheduled for Sunday, July 25, with an “exercise” of its own. My immediate reaction to this news is that, once again, the drums of war are rumbling. This time, though, the stakes are much higher than before, for N. Korea has nuclear weapons of its own to brandish. Perhaps even more importantly, the North is not given to being bullied, and likely will match bullet with bullet and nuclear device with nuclear device in protection of its homeland against a perceived threat.
To be blunt; what we may be watching is the beginning of World War III, the dreaded nuclear conflict that no reasonable person wishes to see; the war that will have no winners, only losers. If these events play out that way, Sunday might be remembered as “the day of infamy”, and not the day now rued as such in American history. Permit me, if you will, to begin writing a fantastic play of what I feel may happen, and who I feel the major players might be.
The stage: the world as we know it.
The major players: USA/South Korea
North Korea
Waiting off-stage: Iran
Pakistan
China
Looking for a part: Russia
United Kingdom
Canada
France
“Bit” players: millions of young women and men the world over, both
military and civilian. Look at them quickly; they will be
gone in a “bit.”
Act I: Military exercises by both sides begin in international waters off the Korean peninsula. With their hands so busy beating themselves on the chest, mistakes are made by both sides; a ship or two is “accidentally” sunk; lives are lost. The hot potato of blame (notice how that rhymes with shame) is rapidly passed from side to side; no one wants to keep it for long. Leaders of the countries involved call for quick and sincere apologies from the others. Respective ambassadors press the UN for condemnations and sanctions to be forwarded with haste. Political pundits the world over praise their pets and figuratively behead the objects of their scorn. The war of words rages long after the guns and ship engines are silent.
Act II: Iran greets the sunrise on Monday with a blistering denunciation of the USA and all it stands for, making no mention of South Korea except to call it a “puppet kingdom” controlled by the US. Iran goes on to say that, though it shares no birthright with the N. Koreans, they share common grounds on their views of US “imperialists”; stating that N. Korea has their full support, whatever that might entail. Pakistan issues a hot declaration as well, except that on one can tell if it is pro-US or anti-US. Most casual readers just assume that, because it came from Pakistan, it is probably anti-US. China issues a terse statement that deplores US involvement in the area, describing the US as “imperialist” and “warmongering.” China stops short of making any physical threats, but calls for international sanctions against the US and S. Korea; saying it will keep a “close eye” on developments in the area and that it’s position may change from day-to-day. Russia buttons its lip and says nothing for now, but if one sniffs closely, one can smell bear in the area. The United Kingdom and Canada immediately pledge allegiance to their old buddy the US, while stopping short of promising anything else for now. France calls for restraint by all involved in the area, and pleads for “cooler heads” to prevail. Luckily, only a few of the bit players have been lost so far, although most would agree that even one is too many.
Act III? An event that is waiting to happen; one that will most likely be determined by the major role players in the play. I, for one, fervently hope that “cooler heads” will prevail, and that today’s news will become tomorrow’s afterthought. The world, we “bit players” in particular, simply cannot afford a World War III. That purported event would be worse than anything that has happened in civilized history before, nay, worse than any three or four events combined. Like someone once said (whose name I forget), “Brother, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Here’s hoping that my little fantastic play ends here, and there are no further Acts to come. Stay tuned, kiddies…
Brazos Mason
To be blunt; what we may be watching is the beginning of World War III, the dreaded nuclear conflict that no reasonable person wishes to see; the war that will have no winners, only losers. If these events play out that way, Sunday might be remembered as “the day of infamy”, and not the day now rued as such in American history. Permit me, if you will, to begin writing a fantastic play of what I feel may happen, and who I feel the major players might be.
The stage: the world as we know it.
The major players: USA/South Korea
North Korea
Waiting off-stage: Iran
Pakistan
China
Looking for a part: Russia
United Kingdom
Canada
France
“Bit” players: millions of young women and men the world over, both
military and civilian. Look at them quickly; they will be
gone in a “bit.”
Act I: Military exercises by both sides begin in international waters off the Korean peninsula. With their hands so busy beating themselves on the chest, mistakes are made by both sides; a ship or two is “accidentally” sunk; lives are lost. The hot potato of blame (notice how that rhymes with shame) is rapidly passed from side to side; no one wants to keep it for long. Leaders of the countries involved call for quick and sincere apologies from the others. Respective ambassadors press the UN for condemnations and sanctions to be forwarded with haste. Political pundits the world over praise their pets and figuratively behead the objects of their scorn. The war of words rages long after the guns and ship engines are silent.
Act II: Iran greets the sunrise on Monday with a blistering denunciation of the USA and all it stands for, making no mention of South Korea except to call it a “puppet kingdom” controlled by the US. Iran goes on to say that, though it shares no birthright with the N. Koreans, they share common grounds on their views of US “imperialists”; stating that N. Korea has their full support, whatever that might entail. Pakistan issues a hot declaration as well, except that on one can tell if it is pro-US or anti-US. Most casual readers just assume that, because it came from Pakistan, it is probably anti-US. China issues a terse statement that deplores US involvement in the area, describing the US as “imperialist” and “warmongering.” China stops short of making any physical threats, but calls for international sanctions against the US and S. Korea; saying it will keep a “close eye” on developments in the area and that it’s position may change from day-to-day. Russia buttons its lip and says nothing for now, but if one sniffs closely, one can smell bear in the area. The United Kingdom and Canada immediately pledge allegiance to their old buddy the US, while stopping short of promising anything else for now. France calls for restraint by all involved in the area, and pleads for “cooler heads” to prevail. Luckily, only a few of the bit players have been lost so far, although most would agree that even one is too many.
Act III? An event that is waiting to happen; one that will most likely be determined by the major role players in the play. I, for one, fervently hope that “cooler heads” will prevail, and that today’s news will become tomorrow’s afterthought. The world, we “bit players” in particular, simply cannot afford a World War III. That purported event would be worse than anything that has happened in civilized history before, nay, worse than any three or four events combined. Like someone once said (whose name I forget), “Brother, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Here’s hoping that my little fantastic play ends here, and there are no further Acts to come. Stay tuned, kiddies…
Brazos Mason
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