Trump’s grasp of reality seems increasingly tenuous as egomania devolves to megalomania.
Eighty years ago, when World War II ended, U.S. rulers’ belief in war and empire was understandable. The U.S. had won the war at relatively low cost compared to the carnage and devastation in Europe and Asia. It had the atomic bomb and the only intact industrial plant. Millions of men were returning from the war raring to produce and procreate. The U.S. was the undisputed master of the world, and the U.S. empire was at its peak.
World War II may turn out to be the apotheosis of war. It certainly has been for the U.S., which hasn’t won a war of any consequence since. Empire has been a curse rather than a blessing, except for those who profit from it, win or lose. Widespread acquisition of nuclear weapons has meant that another world war could mean the end of humanity.
Under the shadow of that threat, war has evolved such that in nonnuclear conflicts, increasing amounts of blood and treasure are expended for either minimal gains or outright losses. Fueled by relentless technological development that both lowers the relative cost and increases the effectiveness of resistance, irregular, asymmetric warfare has stymied the designs of those who would acquire territory, resources, and political control via the traditional means of invasion, offensive war, and occupation.
Guess we will find out at some point. In the meantime, we have to get up tomorrow, go to work, be a caretaker, put food on the table, and do all the other mundane things responsible people do. Instead of responsible people running our nation, we have sociopaths, psychopaths, and narcissists. So, we can expect violence. That’s all these clowns know how to produce.
That’s the whole point of war after WW2. To make money and instability to make more war, more instability, and more money. You can’t do that if you win.