Dear Friends,
It seems to me, the problem with obliterating an enemy is, today’s enemy will be tomorrow’s ally. Take the example of the Japanese. On December 7, 1941… they became America’s number 1 enemy. So detested and vilified that nuclear weapons were used against them. Today however, Japan is one of America’s closest allies. Which goes to show, the blood spent, on all sides of every war, is blood spent for nothing. Today we’re at war with tomorrow’s friends. People we will rely on for our very lives, we’re slaughtering with gusto today. Insuring there will be few available to come to our aid. If China invades Taiwan, and the US, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines join to stop the aggression, everyone killed will be a future friend. Because those Chinese kids brain washed won’t be brainwashed forever.
Some will immediately argue, oh yea, you’re surprised a puppet government is an Ally? Which is a valid argument if the Japanese government today was a puppet. While the government may not be a puppet though, the elite are captured by Keynesianism. It fits their worldview. Which is why most people and cultures adopt any theory… it fits the narrative running in their heads. That worldview wasn’t installed by the allies after WWII. It led to the Japanese industrial revolution. Today, I believe, the Japanese people think of America as a big drunken friend. Someone who means well, but is drunk, so makes a lot of mistakes. Though, I don’t want to put words in the mouths of, or thoughts in the heads of Japanese people. So, no, enemies become friends regardless of installing a puppet government.
Notice how I included Vietnam as a potential ally of America? In the 1960’s, the US fought a decade long protracted war in Vietnam, to keep the present government from coming to power. By collapsing the house of cards, that was the result of the severing into north and south Vietnam, after WWII. Then the failure of French Indochina, due to the outrage at the presence of former Nazi SS soldiers, in the French Foreign Legion. Leading to the introduction of US advisors. Then the dance went on, and on, killing thousands. Enemies then are be friends today. Even as China was an ally during WWII but is an existential threat today. Why an existential threat? Nuclear obliteration is existential. Moreover, it doesn’t allow for enemies (who no longer exist) to turn into allies, in a decade or two.
The there’s the example of the Sabine women. The story is legendary and much modern fiction steals from it. The Sabin women were daughters of the Sabines men who had fought for a decade against Rome. The story started when Romulus, the founder of Rome, who had opened Rome to all people across the peninsula… found that only men came. A city of only men would be powerful and rich but short lived. So the Romans had a festival and invited all the surrounding people (the Sabines) to attend for free food and drink. At a prescribed time the Roman men ran into the crowds and abducted the young women. They married and became families. Then the Sabin men waged war year after year to get their girls back. Until a final war when no quarter would be shown.
This would be a fight to the death. For either the Romans or the Sabines. Probably both. The many years of hate and bloodshed had hardened their hearts. Just before the battle started… the women, now the matriarchs of healthy, happy and prosperous families, ran between the armies. Trailing their children and carrying their infants in their arms, they screamed, “If you are to kill each other, kill us first! What will become of us if our fathers, brothers, and husbands are all dead?” With that, the years of hate and animosity drained from both armies… and the husbands, brothers in law and step fathers came together, to adore their families. Thereafter the Romans and Sabines were close friends. Because war is the killing of a future friend, so he can’t help you, when you most need it.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
