[wretchard]

The entire war on terror is really a platform on which miniatures fight on behalf of larger forces pulling the strings from the shadows offstage. Just as the Spanish Civil War was not really so much between the Falange and the Reds as it was the opening act of World War 2, so too is the War on Terror is the prelude in the the wider War for Civilization.

Tony Benn represents the undefeated cultural force of Left, now in coalition with medieval Islam, ranged against the Western civilization. They do not believe in it: they have spent their entire lives destroying it. Now the War on Terror is crystallizing the battlelines as never before. Almost in despite of every institutional arrangment, it is splitting the EU, NATO and even the polity of the United States (red and blue zones) along these fault lines in a manner reminescent of the days before the American Civil War.

And the issues are just as profound. They revolve around the nature of man; the existence of truth and the value of freedom. The battle lines are still fuzzy, but they are rapidly taking shape as each finds the banner he trusts.

I guess our generation had thought the Great Questions had been settled: that we could just go to the mall or watch a ballgame; that the fire and smoke were behind us. We were wrong. Our generation will be tested as no other. May it come through the crucible with its soul and on to victory.

[happygrl]

A beautiful essay. Best I've read to this point on FR.

[dennisw]

Well said...and that's excluding the forces of heaven and hell from the equation. What "miniatures" are they controlling and influencing?

[albee]

Re: Your Post #2

Excellent post!

[skinkinthegrass]

I Agree w/ Happygal

[metesky]

Excellent post.