War drums beating louder

Now that Israel has opened a second front in this current war – fighting both in Gaza and now blasting Iran hard – there are more and more Americans who want the US to get busy in the next phase of this forever war.

Will The Donald reject this and live up to his 2024 campaign promises? We are seeing and hearing very mixed messages. Most recently, The Donald has said he still wants to negotiate with Iran, and so will not make a decision about joining Israeli forces in actual combat for two weeks or so.

Which is, of course, business as usual: The Donald keeps everyone guessing, starting with the Democrats and the GOP/RINO never-Trumpers and continuing to include enemies and allies. And the markets. Many people claim that (again, claiming “as usual”) that the Israelis are leading the FedGov around by the nose. And of course, billions of dollars of damage to property, tens if not hundreds of people are killed while thousands are injured and stunned, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. And a lot more sheckels and rial (apparently no one uses dinar any more in Iran).

In the meantime, the US is even more an actual wartime ally of the State of Israel as it is (was?) of the Ukraine. Even while claiming to be at peace with Iran and Russia. And at the same time, the cheerleaders for “wars to come” are sounding off about China and North Korea. And the really crazy folks are pointing at Venezuela and Yemen and no doubt, San Marino.

The NATO secretary-general has instructed NATO members to cut spending on social services and divert the money to military spending.  Security matters more than social welfare , said the secretary-general, and Europe must prepare to defend itself from aggressive Russia.  Of course, it is Russia that is failing to defend herself and her allies from the aggressive West. The case for 3+ decades is very strong: NATO has been baiting the Russian bear nearly constantly.

So what is a libertarian to do?

Be prepared. And be active in talking to people about war and its impact on them, their family and friends, and their communities. Sure, we can talk ourselves blue explaining what is happening to Ukranians (and Russians) and refugees in Gaza and normal people in Iran (and Israelis). But that just does not really sink in. And too many people are willing to overlook the home front hazards and costs in order to “give a lesson they deserve” to Putin and crew, or the theocrats in Iran, or the Communist overlords in China or North Korea or Venezuela.

Just as many people seem to be content to punish not just the government leaders in Sacramento and the various counties and cities of California, but anyone who lives in that State. Whatever political color they may wear (or claim).

But when we seek to punish (abuse, harm, kill, impoverish, etc.) everyone in (trapped or not) a State (domestic or foreign) to get at their scumbag tyrannical leaders and the associated parasites? Are we not behaving exactly like them? The rulers, I mean? If we act just like the murdering, thuggish, powers-that-be, are we not playing into their hands? Are we not betraying the very principles we claim to support and protect?

We can and should take whatever actions to oppose those tyrants, those warmongers, that we can in good conscience do. And at levels at which we can tolerate the inevitable, usually vicious, response. We clearly must choose carefully. And be willing to take risks, just as the Founding Fathers did. Just as the Scots on the Middle Ages did. Just as the Hebrews of the Maccabean Era and the Roman era did. And just as the Jews of Warsaw, the Danes, and the AmerInd of the 19th Century did.

There is no promise of success. There is no real backup and these days, really no refuge. But we must teach, we must be prepared, we must decide, and we must act.

Listen! The drums are growing louder. The (figurative) marching forces of war and tyranny are getting closer. Listen! And act.

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