It is a week featuring the exercise of power in this Vale of Tears. There is the anniversary of the land war in Europe, of course. That brings back recollections of two global conflicts, augmented by our own wars in MittleEurope. This week, China’s President Xi visited Moscow to assure Mr. Putin of his support in the war against Ukraine. Iranian drone technicians are already reported on the ground in the eastern provinces- “Oblasts,” they call them. And recent reporting indicates the uranium enrichment program back in their homeland has achieved 84% success. It is said that the “magic number” for atomic detonation is 90%.

There have already been modestly concealed military actions regarding that program. Considering the rhetoric already exchanged with Jerusalem, there will likely be more. But the landscape featuring two Really Big Nuclear Powers exchanging baleful gazes is now a more complex topography. China, allied with Russia and Iran, could pose a multi-front alliance in the east, west and middle of the wide world.

We took a poll out on the balcony. Those who had participated in the chilly times of the Cold War raised their hands. There were several. A follow-up question was whether we were proud of our participation. Support to that position was universal.

Support for war with Russia now? Support for disruption supply chains to China, which operate the manufacturing capability we used to have right here in America? That is a bit of a different perspective. Add Iran, NATO and a rising Japan confronted with North Korea throwing rockets into the East Sea and the calculations change.

Perhaps it is better expressed that the means of calculation change, and with them the likely answers. The Writer’s Section wishes to express our solution, based on our admittedly imprecise mathematical process. Having supported the armed conflict business for a half century, we think we ought to try “peace” for a while.

Copyright 2023 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com