The art of war and the art of 'ex-war' (part II)

By Michela Terrazino and Cage Innoye

Photo: The art of war and the art of 'ex-war' (part II)

…continued.

Click here to read part I.

The USA withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002. The USA is the biggest power and most aggressive power in this period; the American people should insist that their country take the lead on this issue and begin destroying weapons unilaterally to show the world its genuine and serious intent. This will ease fears; then wholesale nuclear disarmament can begin stage by stage.

Consider another Cold War artifact, NATO, the military united front against Russia, has not been disbanded. It has no purpose anymore because Russia is a part of the global shared economy and is quite successful at it. What is the reasoning for NATO? There is none. It is another extinct concept. Perhaps we should rename NATO, “NAZO” -- the North Atlantic “Zombie” Organization, for all the zombies who want World War III, and need an income in the meantime.

And what about Third World nations? We invite them into a global system, but really some want to drive them out. Why? Because they have become very successful in the world market system, they have become very successful at the American game. Other people on this planet are smart and ambitious and hardworking too. The West has no monopoly on this. So what kind of logic is operating here? You can join the community of nations in trade, but if you become too successful, well, then you must leave. Or certain big powers acting like old cartels and monopolies can impose unfair trade rules. Or worse, the US acts like an “international rogue state” threatening and invading this or that country as means of controlling its economic competition.

So while we are objectively in the age of ex-war, there are far too many living subjectively in a defunct epoch carrying three millennia of war psychology into the present and the future. They are bringing their zombie behaviors into this age of peace and cooperation, and this must be stopped. We’ve got to drag them into the casket of history and close the lid forever. And because of them, ironically, there is a great danger of war because they have created fear around the planet, and have forced many nations to prepare for war to defend themselves.

Some ordinary people may be confused about what is going on right now. This is a boundary period in human history where elements of both the obsolete age and the new age are intermingled creating a confusing mix of perspectives and strategies. To clarify issues we must ask what is rising condition, what is the declining one, what kind of world do we want to make, what kind of world do we want to leave behind? If we get clear on the age and our vision and long term strategy, then we can cut through the confusion.

No one is saying that the current period will be free of aggression and violence. That would be foolish but in the long run of history, over decades and perhaps over a century of one shared economy then war will finally end. We should be seeing a sharp decline right now in war, but we are not because of either US misbehavior or lack of leadership by the US. These basic principles have not changed: War is still just if self defense is justified; standing armies will be necessary until chaos ends and nations feel secure. And certainly war and conflict will still continue because of border, religious and ethnic issues. And mechanisms can be developed to resolve these.

But the basis for global war is over. That is the fundamental point. Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” is a handbook of survival in the epoch of combat. What handbook do we have in the epoch after war? So far, none. So let’s write the “Art of Ex-War”. What might these principles and strategies be? Let’s begin with some basic ideas:

True communication and connection between nations; the creation of mutual global institutions that all can support; establishing the principles of a multi-centered world, creation of a truly fair global economic system; developing joint economic and education projects between rich and poor nations; appreciating planetary diversity; accepting multiple-perception as a law of the cosmos; practicing compassion and aiding the needy; taking personal responsibility and each person developing their own foreign relations through travel and the internet.

And a final axiom being that the struggle against war begins at home. Warlike nations are conditioned for war because they wage war at home amongst their own people. Peace, compassion and cooperation begin at home. Diversity begins at home. Democracy begins at home. Economic fairness and equity begin at home.