The esoteric map of evolution posits that humanity still needs wars to develop itself — for humans to be in full flower as a loving and compassionate species, we need great shocks to wrench us from lesser positions. But, is some worst-case scenario what will have to happen to get humanity over a blindness where war is an ordinary resort?

I think what makes me most incredulous about our warpath is the inattention to the fact that an Iraqi life is as valuable as an American o­ne. It is contemptible not to think this way. How can Bush-the-Christian consider Iraqi lives collateral damage, to be calculated as some objective unit of information, and not as people who are as precious as Americans? Would o­ne side here in America ever open fire o­n another side — like the Democrats against the Republicans, even for the humanitarian reason of stopping aggression? As contemporary philosopher, David Spangler, says, “All war is civil war, and we all suffer and lose.”

I've been concentrating in my posts more o­n what to do to get us out of our situation than o­n passing along pieces about the nightmare we are in, but I want to keep some track going where I'm mirroring what is. And, given I'm putting up few posts in this category, I want each one to be particularly telling. So it is with this transcript of Morning Edition, March 12 o­n NPR, Possible Worst-Case Scenarios if War with Iraq Occurs,  sent to me by Maireid Sullivan. The speaker is Retired Colonel Mike Turner, General Schwarzkopf's personal briefing officer during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

Here's an excerpt:

Perhaps we can pull this off, but here's a far worse scenario that's at least as likely. Within hours of our attack, Saddam launches Scuds o­n Israel. Israel's right-wing government launches a full-scale attack o­n Iraq, creating a holy war nightmare. Saddam, threatened with his own survival, uses chemical and biological weapons and human shields just as he has in the past. He torches his own oil fields, thousands of his own people are killed. Photos of American soldiers amid landscapes of Iraqi civilian bodies blanket the world press which aligns unanimously against the US. The US is condemned by NATO and the UN.

The war ends within a few weeks, but the crisis deepens. The US is left to administer a political vacuum in Iraq. Iran is emboldened to help the Shiites in the south. Disease breaks out, food and water are contaminated and the cost of the war skyrockets. The US economy is dealt a body blow, but the administration can find no credible way out. Britain's Prime Minister Blair is voted out of office.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda, seeing an opportunity due to a shift in US focus, attacks a major US target. North Korea, emboldened by the distraction, ignores diplomatic efforts to restrain its development of nuclear weapons and begins to export weapons-grade plutonium to terrorists.

These are not remote possibilities, but in my view reasonable, possibly even likely outcomes.

COMMENTS

From: Bill Fairchild  [William.Fairchild@ca.com]

Here are some more additions.  China, emboldened by the distraction, moves o­n Taiwan.  Russia, emboldened by the distraction, moves o­n Chechnya.  Kosovo, emboldened by the distraction, moves o­n Serbia.  North Korea moves o­n South Korea.  Philippines guerrillas, emboldened by the distraction, make great strides against their government.  Same for Indonesia.  Indonesia, emboldened…, moves o­n East Timor.  Colombian guerrillas move o­n their government, and destroy their oil pipeline.  Lots of hot spots will heat up.

From: Wade Frazier [res0y6cg@verizon.net] 

I think that is fine that you are highlighting the “worst case” scenario that Turner outlined. As he mentioned, everybody is ready to fight the last war, and they never turn out as anticipated. What Turner is not saying is that the U.S. and others have developed horrific weapons that make nukes look like child's play, such as scalar weapons (a la Tesla), mega lasers and the like. That is the stuff I really hope is not unleashed. The true worst case scenario makes nukes almost the least of our problems. Of course, all that stuff is in the Black Ops world, so people like Turner may not know much about them, or will not admit it is he does, and it is also probably not appropriate for your audience.

In the latest Sedona Journal, there was a compelling piece from some time travelers, and they saw an earth about 100 years into our future that no surface life o­n it, and earth was not letting anybody get close to it, like a wounded bear that lost her cubs, licking her wounds. The time travelers said that we can change that outcome, but it was o­ne that we may experience if we “hold the course” we are o­n. Our future is what we make of it, and peering into the abyss is appropriate, although you will surely hear from people that you are being “too negative.” I do not agree with them, and think they are playing the denial game. It is quite possible that most people need to experience the worst before they choose something better. That is not what I want to see happen. I am ready for heaven o­n earth, if enough of us can be found who care enough. Feb. 15 was auspicious. I whipsaw between optimisms and despair almost o­n a day-to-day basis anymore. These are net easy times to call earth our home.

Glad you are out there, my dear.

From: Boudewijn Wegerif [wegerif@connectit.co.za]

Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2003 1:25 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@dns2.zylink.com;
Subject: “POSSIBLE WORST-CASE SCENARIOS IF WAR WITH IRAQ OCCURS”

Dear What Matters list members [This is a very large international list…ST],

This is a call from the heart of the matter, re Iraq, that needs to be
heard as widely as possible. 

In friendship,
Boudewijn (Wegerif)
What Matters Programme
Folkhogskola Vardingeby
http://www.whatmatters.nu

Follow