War is not an economic decision: America did not invade Iraq & Afghanistan to save money; Russia did not support its citizens in East Ukraine to increase its wealth; China is not taking the South China Sea because of monetary concerns, and money is certainly not radical Islam's motivation. No, War is caused by escalating tensions that are more emotional than rational, more ideological than pragmatic, and more varied than just national interest.

We always focus on the implements of violence, namely men, but how many wars have been won by clever manipulation? By assassination, by alliances, by genocide, by paying of tribute, by sheer oratory. One man has often defeated armies, and just as often, so has the mob. The sword is the last device available to the less intellectually capable. Even the definition of “war” is undergoing a re-imagining: Cyber War, Economic War & Culture Wars are real things; more impactful than any shooting war since WW2. In that since, we’re all soldiers in an all-consuming, never-ending war.

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