Again? 091314

The first global war was Napoleonic at the turn of 18th century.  While centered on Europe that war ranged the seven seas touching the Americas, Africa, Asia and even Antarctica.  The rest of the 19th century was anything but peaceful but warfare was mostly limited to colonial battles and regional wars. The twentieth century is notable for three global wars, the Great War, renamed 20 years later as the world did a retake titled the Second World War, quickly followed by very hot Cold War battles. 

Even the 14th century's Black Death toll is eclipsed by twentieth century's, still tabulating "Butcher's Bill." The 21st century promises to be even bloodier. War began quickly against terrorism, added political objectives only served to destabilize and spread terror.

Western strategic moves encouraged Russian attempts to recover its colonial territories.  The West has just declare a new war on the Islam (ISIS, IS, ISIL) each interpretation an expansion of the arena.  The Catholic Pope, calling for peace, foresees an incremental approach to World War Three.  What the Pope may see but is afraid to acknowledge are the opening shots of a religious war of zealots feeding on unfounded xenophobic fears rather than limited traditional political or territorial objectives.   WW III may become one of annihilation as every new extremist draws in followers in competition for supremacy.

Having failed in Afghanistan and Iraq the Americans are attempting to organized proxy-armies to support their latest declaration.  The plans are to drop massive amounts of weapons and training on any insurgents proclaiming support of American ideals. 

Proxy armies are not a new, the Persians, Romans and Colonial Imperialist armed and trained proxies.  During the Cold War era both protagonist dumped sophisticated weaponry on remote natives hoping for ideological advantages.  Over time the outcomes have been the same, native resistance, insurgencies, internal competitions and warlordism. Rome's proxies splintered Roman rule and drove Europe into a dark age.
America has no need to look further than Afghanistan where former cold war proxies propelled it into its bloodiest period, from which it has yet to recover.  The west took sides in Africa, Iraq and Syria leading to Islamic spillover and competing insurgents.

Nor are religious wars unique, over the centuries more than 30 million people may have died for religion. While extremely brutal, theocentric warfare has been limited, but technology now expands Theo-war's reach.  Once remote voices of fundamentalist and idealist are now able to reach around the world to recruit and demonize by use of Internet and social media.  Generations of mutual demonization will prevent any equitable resolution resulting only in mutual annihilation.

By the turn of the 21st century the few survivors of Theo-war may be able to prevent a new dark age by learning to live together in a shattered ecosystem.  It may be to late to prevent WW III but an attempt must be made to stop pouring gas on a growing fire.

Continued demonization can only result in the creation of ever more demons.