On The Cusp of World War III  

For those who worry about a world that seems to be racing at warp speed to World War III, it would be worthwhile to take a look at the recently released report of the US Commission on National Defense Strategy.

The Commission is composed of eight experts appointed in a bi partisan manner (amazingly given the polarization of today’s America) by the House and Senate Armed Services committees, with the commission’s members having access to both public and classified information so they can give their opinion about the risks faced by the US in today’s geopolitical construct.

Not surprising to many of us, the report castigates the US for “political failure, strategic inadequacy and growing American weakness in a time of rapidly increasing danger.” It goes on to say that “The US faces the most serious and most challenging threats since 1945, including the real risk of near-term major war.”

We here, of course, see the manifestations of the risk of World War III every day.  The desire of Iran to exert its hegemony on the entire Middle East through its proxies in Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq has impacted us daily for almost a year now.

Russia’s illegal and unchallenged seizure of Crimea in 2014 and their follow up invasion of Ukraine in 2022 saw relatively timid reaction by the west. This morning’s headlines talk about over one million dead just from the Russia-Ukraine war and the world continues to withhold weaponry from Ukrainian for fear of getting Russia upset. Seriously?

Add to that all of the other mini wars going on in the Sudan, Somalia, the Congo, and Venezuela to cite just a few, along with oppressive regimes such as China and it is easy to see how another world war could be just around the corner. One small mistake by one of players in this drama could ignite the fire of war.

Sadly, it does not appear that clearly thinking military and diplomatic strategists are up to the job anywhere in the world.

Here in Israel, as we speak, it appears that Defense Minister Gallant, a seasoned military veteran (and former candidate to be the Chief of Staff, Israel’s highest military position) who has directed our war with Hamas since its inception, seems to be on his way out because of the personal animus between him and the prime minister. Again, not because of any question about his fitness for the job, just that the prime minister doesn’t like him.

And who might take his place? None other than Gideon Sa’ar, head of his own party after he bolted from the Likud some time ago when he didn’t like Netanyahu’s decisions. But war makes strange bedfellows so Sa’ar sees an opportunity to get back in the leadership and swallows his personal dislike of Bibi to advance his own career while the defense professional gets booted because Bibi doesn’t like him. As a result we get a lawyer for Minister of Defense.

Crazy no? No obvious thought here for what’s best for the country just what’s best for “me” in the eyes of the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile the Hezbollah rocket barrage from Lebanon continues every day (am writing this at 1640 and the last alert was just an hour ago), the war in Gaza continues even though we say we have achieved our military objectives, while 101 hostages, some dead, some alive, are still being held by Hamas with no end to any of it in sight.

But Israel’s voice on the issues that confront the world is not loud enough to move the nations of the west. Clearly the US and others have not internalized the fact that they may wake up one day and find that the train (i.e. World War III) has left the station and they are standing on the platform ill prepared to fight the war.

Should such a conflict break out, the west probably lacks both the capabilities and the capacity required to be confident it can deter and prevail in combat. Seemingly therefore, World War III is becoming more likely in the near term, and the west is too weak either to prevent it or, should war come, to be confident of victory.

A more devastating indictment of a failed generation of international leadership could scarcely be penned.

Are there no nations willing to take the lead on crafting a different alternative? Is the UN so bereft of conscience and leadership that it can do nothing? Is there even one “man on a white horse” who does not harbor dictatorial goals who can save the earth from self-immolation? Must we sit and simply wait for today’s assassination of Archduke Ferdinand to start WW III? Can there really be no other alternatives?

Edmund Burke famously said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We do not now have the privilege to do nothing.

I urge everyone to watch this 90 second powerful statement by Emmy Award winner Alex Borstein urging all of us to “step out of line” and do something….you can view it here….

https://tinyurl.com/465kdye7