The World in Conflict

Is the modern world facing another global war? If we look at a world map there are indeed conflicts in many geographical areas, whether fueled by territory expansion or so-called religious confrontations. The Middle East is the first obvious theater but Africa has its ominous share of pitiless rebels.

I don't have to travel to Rome or Moscow or even the embattled Syria to see whatever is happening. I know for example that Afghanistan, among others, is truly a very primitive nation; all I have to do is watch the news about the Taliban shooting female school children to know the area is still living in the Dark Ages.

Children from the Zarghona Ana High School watch members of Afghan National Security Force and Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team prepare for the Kandahar Nursing and Midwifery Institute grand opening ceremony in 2012. (Wikipedia)

In the good old world during the Cold War, we knew clearly who the enemy was and what consequences a new conflict would bring to everybody, that is, death by radiation poisoning. Cooler heads fortunately prevailed but the seeds of religious wars - if we believe some pundits - were sown on fertile grounds. 

The invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet troops between 1979 and 1989 resulted not only in their ignominious  defeat and retreat, it also armed the future Al Qaeda and Talibans while providing them with a good supply of young volunteers. Few people want to remember civilian casualties in that forsaken country which some analysts tag at 1.5 million and that was before the American intervention in 2001. The continuous presence of western military has inflamed jihadists in Muslim countries and fostered the appearance of the cruel and pitiless ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Their flag: Top phrase means 'there is no god but Allah' and bottom 'Muhammad is his messenger'.

What if a time machine had allowed fanatical Muslims from the 11th century to travel to modern Iraq? They would behave much the same way these ISIL fighters carry on beheadings and massacres against the non-believers. The main difference is of course modern weapons, including, strangely enough, social media and the Internet.

Are these modern Arab fighters really fighting for their religion? Do we witness a resurgence of religious wars so common throughout history? In my modest opinion. no. 

Power has always been the pretext to start a conflict, whether disguised as religion or economics. The same holds true for these Muslim warriors, at least for their leaders. Educated tyrants and demagogues know fully well that the masses need a believable cause to risk their lives. Ignorance is the fertile ground upon which extremist preachers cultivate the homicidal passion against Western culture and religions. Most of the ISIL soldiers have never read the Koran, if they can read at all. Skillful brain washing will convince them to give their lives to the 'holy' cause with eternal rewards in the afterlife.

The solution for the West? A long protracted conflict that will end in inevitable defeat for ISIL (Sunni) who face not only European soldiers but also Arab Shiite fighters from Iran and other Muslim countries. It makes for some strange bedfellows: Iran and Russia allied with Europe and America for example. The common phrase 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' never rang so true.