[Gaffer]

I’m not the one that mentioned WWI in whatever context you want to contort and now call ‘foul’ cuz I replied against your ‘smug’ comment.... “Mature” means arguing a point, fella... SMUG? Really?

[Reily]

I was the first to mention WWI because pre-war attitude was what I was talking about. There was “certainty” by the “opinion makers” that the interlocking European continental trade would prevent a continental war. You then go off on this “post WWI” tangent which had nothing to do with what I said. In fact I might have actually agreed with you regarding the 1920s-1940s but it was irrelevant to my original point. If you thought it was relevant then say so !

There was a “smug” certainty by those pre-WWI opinion makers ! However my “smug” statement wasn't aimed at you in particular. I also tried to make the point that holding a certainty (perhaps “smug”!) regarding world events usually brings disappointment. If you want to claim I called you”smug”. You need to think again ! Not every countering statement is a personal insult ! In fact I try not to insult people here. If I did and I get a mature objection to what I said. I will apologize for not being clear.

Again you're welcome to disagree about my comparison between the US-China & the run-up to WWI. I don't care ! It's my opinion and you can have yours.