FR EXCLUSIVE: "Mission Accomplished" banner was ordered by the Navy, not by the White House

NAVY WEBSITE ^ | 5-1-07 | DFU

[jonrick46]

I think the dynamics of nations entering the modern age of the industrial revolution sent the world into a maelstrom beyond the ability of men to avoid. I found one source that says the WWI conflict can be summarized with these four causes: Militarism, Alliances,Imperialism & Nationalism.

There are parallels today with the demand for oil and natural resources. Fortunately, we have the technology necessary to take our nation off the oil economy (I predict that in five years, we will see a way out of the terrible energy costs that hits you and me every day). When the oil economy is replaced with alternative fuels, the terrorist will no longer be able to finance efforts to destroy us.

Returning back to my thoughts about WWI, I look at the early 1900s as nations began to crank up their factories. The demand for resource began to climb exponentially. There was not the technology available to jump through the hurdles that the industrial age presented the nations. The demands for manufactured goods created a raw materials crunch which vied nation against nation. Nations needed to establish new trade partners. This was all a new thing and many nations were walking in unfamiliar territory. This uncertainty caused nations to make alliances and become more nationalistic. The world nations were sitting on a political situation quickly going into critical mass. With industrialization, nations had the ability to build massive military machines and destructive power. Nations like Germany began building up their military to protect their vulnerable boarders. We had Germany making alliance with Mexico; promising them that they would help them reconquer New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. About that time, Germany was sinking ships with their U-boats. When the Lusitania was sunk while sending supplies to the french, the rest of Europe was three years into the conflict. The British wanted our help and we were being called cowards for not helping them. With the German-Mexican alliance, we were worried that the war would drag on and eventually come to our southern border.

Imagine today’s press with all of these insane dynamics going on all at the same time? You would have thought your were on spin cycle.

I think that the United States acted wisely to get into World War I because we emerged as the leading player on the world stage. It was fortunate that we got our military up to speed then, because when the challenges of World War II came about, we were ready. If we had been the cowards we were called in WWI,we would be speaking Japanese-German and, maybe Mexican.