In late 1974, the movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, based on a novel of the same name, was released. The main plot involves four men, using colors as codenames, boarding the subway at Pelham station in New York at 1:23 pm., (hence the name) where they ultimately take a subway car full of hostages. They demand one million dollars or they will begin killing hostages.
Today, America appears to be in a similar position. The United States is that subwaycar and we, as citizens, are the hostages under the control of a small group of people. The difference, however, is that our intended fate will be decidedly different than the hostages in the movie. Our captors simply want us dead.
It is interesting to note that earlier that same year, an article appeared in the Council on Foreign Relations quarterly publication Foreign Affairs titled “The Hard Road to World Order.” It was written by Richard N. Gardner who wrote the following:
