• The War in Heaven was Compulsion vs. Freedom.  This is the essence of virtually all wars even today.
• Culture Wars: How do political philosophies rank in God’s eyes?
• World War III: Is there potential to see millions rally behind Islamic Fascism for a force as ugly as Hitler’s Germany within the next few decades? 

The essence of the evil behind all wars
The forces of good and evil are always engaged for the minds and souls of men, and occasionally face off in battles that take many mortal lives. Such spilling of blood may be the hottest manifestation of The Great War that raged in the Heavens and has at best only paused for brief moments in small pockets since Adam.

The essence of The Great War, and the reason there is a War, is the desire of many to exercise power and domination over others - and the desire of many others to be dominated, or “protected” from the consequences of their actions.  Still others fear to stand up against those who would dominate. 

Perhaps more than anything else, this describes “evil”.  Lucifer, the father of all lies, proposed his own alternative to God’s plan of salvation that included freedom to choose, which by definition included a risk of failure to choose as necessary to be saved.  He proposed a world in which we would be required to choose only his definition of “good”, and hence we would all be saved.  Advocating the opposite of God’s desire was to in effect set himself above God and to declare war on God and His supporters.

Evil should not be appeased, and occasionally cannot be contained
Many would have us believe that debates, philosophies, cultures, governments, and even wars do not have a right side and wrong side - and that all we need to do is strive to understand and respect the other’s point of view, and not engage them in war, and war will go away.  This is to miss the point - that many pursue evil until it defines their lives, they gain hold of nations through false propaganda and promises, and will aggressively seek to expand their domination and hatred  Such evil may shake hands with diplomats at times as a means of buying with the appeasers via a false sense of security while they gain strength.

When we see evidence that evil has progressed to the point of aggression beyond its borders, peace loving people are foolish to ignore it.  This doesn’t necessarily mean we must jump right to the Marines, but we must “engage the enemy” at some level.  This could mean attempting to educate, or better “teach truth”, to the masses in nations subject to propaganda and “traditions of their fathers”. Education on all levels (secular and spiritual) has a miraculous way of enlightening the soul to the value of allowing all men to think as they will and act according to righteous laws in a free society.  However, some nations become so dangerous and bloodthirsty that such is not practical.  Economic sanctions may be appropriate at times, but there is “a time for war” as expressed in Ecclesiastes - and if that time is delayed through appeasement or denial, the war will be all the more difficult when finally resolved to.

Desire of others to dominate has been involved in all American Wars
The evil desire to dominate over others has taken many forms in wars since our founding.  The Revolution emerged as it became apparent that England did not consider citizens of her colonies equal to citizens in Brittan, and attempted to exercise dominion over them without their represented voice.  The Civil War had slavery as its root cause. This extreme form of domination created a people callused to this wickedness and economically dependent on maintaining it.  The World Wars were instigated by plan to bring a false peace to the world by forcibly removing anyone who did not conform to predetermined classes. The Cold War and its hot spots (Korea, Vietnam) were an attempt to force everyone into the communist utopia.

“Culture Wars”
Today there is a “culture war” in America with liberals against conservatives; and “clash of civilizations” with radical Islam against everyone.  Both are growing like cancer, and the patient is either unaware of the seriousness of the problem, or in denial regarding appropriate method for treatment. Here is my attempt to map out major political movements on something like a time line, and underscored them with the major theme of the War in Heaven (Force vs. Free Will).  There are probably hundreds of philosophies with followings on earth, but I put those that seem most relevant to Americans and Latter Day Saints in 2006, as that is what I’m aware of and have an opinion on.  Other’s may disagree, but it seems hard to arrange them in another order if they are to judged as to the level to which they support force vs. free will. 
On Lucifer’s “force” side are things as harsh as breaking down doors looking for infidels and Jews to things as simple as today’s mandated plethora of programs and taxes for a host of things which were formerly left to charities or personal responsibility.   On Christ’s “freedom” side, there are Republicans who sense right from wrong, want personal responsibility, yet still vote to compel their neighbors to choose the right. 

Then there are Libertarians who hold liberty as their primary value above all else, (but with the “big stick” approach of tort law and swift, strict punishment for imposing on other’s rights).  This is the American political party I believe most Saints would most closely align with if they fully understood it (but may still not vote for it in view of sensing a need to side with a competitive party). I place the strongest form of Church government that has yet been introduced, the United Order, next. I suppose if men could practice it the way Joseph Smith and Brigham Young organized it, it would be demonstrated as incredibly beneficial.  The theory is not unlike Communism, but it stands in stark contrast being a fundamentally religious exercise of faith, and 100% voluntary.

Last I hold whatever Christ will organize in the millennium as “the best government of mortals”.  Christ “stands at the door”, and attempts to persuade us to voluntarily open up to Him.  Satan on the other end would use a pitchfork and armies to force some not to smoke at the park and others into the gas chamber.

I place Democrats and Republicans near the middle.  Neither side is absolutely right and not even close.  I believe the Republicans are closer correctly identifying God’s will for us, but they are pretty far away nonetheless. I think so many LDS support them because they sense they are on the right side of the line.  The two parties are so large, that people believe them to be the only games in town.  So many mistakenly believe the Republicans are “right” at least most of the time.  I would say they are just typically more right than the other major power. Even those who know Republicans leave a lot to be desired, and may knowingly identify more with Libertarians, they vote Republican anyway out of a recognition they are the only viable power on the righteous side of the line 

Is a Libertarian vote really wasted?

I do not believe a vote for Libertarians is necessarily wasted.  Yes, it does risk that the democrats will take more power.  However, this is temporary as many begin to realize the disaster it brings on, and sometimes we have to swallow a bitter pill to shake politicians into standing up for America the way it used to be!  If Republicans would get a backbone and do good things that Americans know in their hearts are right (like balancing budgets, setting term limits, reducing government bureaucracy, and making more freedom and less regulation, etc.) they would be extremely popular.  They will figure this out if they lose more votes to the Party that stands up for these things.

It may take a decade, two, or more; but the stage is being set for a World War.
The Father of all Lies is setting the perfect stage for another world war.  Extreme ends of cultures are polarizing even those in the middle.  One angle is America, where political correctness and corruptness has extinguished Statesmanship and the ability to “call a spade a spade”.  America still has a good heart, but is wrestling intensely with the subtle craftiness of politicians, activists, and media who would have us believe that outside dangers are minimal, and that there are no dangers in our departure from traditional values.  To the contrary, such “diversity” (i.e., all philosophies except Christian and conservatism are equal, and “choose your favorite sin”) is supposedly where we get our great strength.

Another angle is Europe with a long tradition of socialism, political correctness, and placation.  Theirs has become a degenerate and Godless society, intensely jealous of American success, and shedding crocodile tears at American failure. Though they share this common bond with the Arab Middle-East, they are not loved by the Arabs.

Lies and misconceptions bred up in Islamic Nations
Lastly there are the Islamic Nations.  Where the Arabs once enjoyed status among the most enlightened of peoples during Europe’s dark ages, they lost that status and I’m not informed enough to say why.  Clearly they have been living under totalitarian regimes for a long time, which are not known for their ability to promote freedom of any sort, but especially the sort most likely to allow their populace to secure freedom and to see clearly that they need not hate others different than themselves (freedom of arms, religion, speech, press).

So hundreds of millions suffer from “hate the Jews” syndrome that has no basis in logic. Likewise, Satan is quite successful at pointing out to them what American culture’s weaknesses are, and then twisting it into “crimes” that we supposedly perpetrate on them and a commitment to forcibly right said wrongs.  There are many good people who see through the haze and are angry that so much evil is committed in the name of a religion that has brought them value.  Yet for whatever reason they seem more concerned that we not point our fingers at them than they are concerned about getting involved in reclaiming their hijacked religion.

So what of the average Muslim?
The average non-Middle Eastern Muslim probably has comparatively little against the West or Jews.  The average Middle Eastern Muslim on the other hand does.  It is hard to blame the average citizen in the core Arab nations.  They grow since babies with a limited, one-sided perspective and accept the fiction as fact because real facts never make it through.  Still, if the average citizen can be mobilized by forces of evil to militant “jihad” against us, then we need to try to dispatch that average citizen to the Spirit World where they can be taught the truth in a more conducive setting.

I find it important to remember that all born to the earth were part of the two-thirds who sided with Christ.  We don’t know the level to which they sided with Christ, and whether our earthly experience may in part be a function of our varied degrees of commitment.  I’ve often wondered if the transition from the 1st estate to the 2nd didn’t have a “judgment” of some sort similar to the final judgment.  Were we given “telestial, terrestrial, and celestial” style rewards for our valiance or lack thereof?  Maybe.

So if all were on Christ’s side, then we must conclude that many fight against good unwittingly because they are fed a constant diet of false traditions.  Opportunities to hear the word and gain true education may make headway.  But the liars among them are powerful and are rallying them to “fight the Nephites”.  Those seeking power and dominion among them would have them believe that the religion that has held goodness and stability for them also requires them to hate us - often to the point where they are willing to sneak in among innocents and risk their lives to murder.

This movement is gaining steam among millions.  The danger is different than in other massive, threatening wars.  In the world wars, the enemy did not have such strong religious conviction, and was easily identified. The Cold War was a few people with the ability to kill millions.  The next Great War could be millions willing to each kill a few.

“Collateral Damage” is necessary when removing cancer
Our media is one of our greatest blessings and greatest curses at the same time.  Wonderful it is to know what’s going on, sad it is to see how they sensationalize insignificant losses and paralyze us from taking any action just because it is likely we’ll make some mistakes - which paralysis is the greatest mistake of all!

Insignificant losses?  Not really.  But I mean losses that cannot be fairly compared against the gains.  American wars have cost tremendous blood.  I understand the Revolution killed 25,000 of 2,500,000 on the continent.  This 1% applied today would be 3 million of the 300 million!  The Civil war took half a million.  The world wars took more than a hundred thousand each, and Vietnam took 53,000 - about the same as the 3-day battle of Gettysburg.  And what of Iraq?  2,500 so far - the smallest loss of live ever!  And what of civilian casualties?  Cancer embeds among healthy cells, some of which must be cut away if the whole body is to live! Mastectomies (carpet bombing) is rarely required anymore, thank Heaven, but we cannot let the fact that a few of our soldiers and innocents will die keep us from hunting down those who are at war with us.  If we do, we only allow them to kill more of their own, and rally larger forces against us.  We just delay the day of reckoning.

America is right to be serious
Bush was right to do something significant.  Other politicians would have second guessed and over analyzed to the point of doing what we do best - slapping wrists and opening “diplomatic dialog” with terrorists who only laugh to see what a paper tiger we really are.  Of course we can all see that when we stepped out into the unknown, we had some learning to do. Was it wrong?  I don’t think so.  No WMD’s of significance I guess, but think back to those days and we all knew it was possible.  Were they fighting against us?  Yes.  They were declared enemies and sought out ways to support those who would attack us, even if only as a cheerleader. Are the people better off?  Hard to know, but at least things are moving over there.  It may look to be moving negative, but it could easily prove to be positive.  “Darkest right before dawn”.  If we can trade a few thousand soldiers and civilians for what would otherwise result in much larger battles down the road, it is positive even if the media parades every coffin on TV.

Can you say “N-U-K-E-S”?  There is a push to get them, and technology, black markets, and tremendous oil wealth will likely see first rate, intelligent suicide bombers show up in our lifetimes potentially with a suitcase nuke, but surely something that can take hundreds or thousands for the price of one.  To say they are not attacking is to have your head in the sand.  Nations may not be attacking in a traditional way, but through wealth, support, and cover, loony toons will increase their destructive ability, and it could happen as a complete sneak attack.

Potential rise of someone more influential and devastating than Hitler
Imagine for a moment you are very charismatic, very intelligent, completely evil, and living in a time of tremendous ability to kill.  Hitler did happen you know! 

Now add to Hitler doctrines that gain perhaps hundreds of thousands of followers - maybe even millions -  with suicidal religious zeal (even hard-to-profile, native-born American followers).  Add also tremendous wealth, ability to kill a thousand fold greater at ever more affordability and availability, and an organization able to operate in the shadows across borders where the USA cannot easily point to who did it.

I plan freeways and trains for a living.  The larger the project, the more willing one must be to take extra time and care to get it right, but it is satisfying work because you know the payoff will be big.  One of Hitler’s fatal moves was to break neutrality with Russia and fight two fronts (greed).  So lastly, add patience.  To sneak massively destructive weapons in among us may require recruiting and securing people with high IQ’s and American complexions to lead secretive cells very skilled at staying under the radar.  They would work for perhaps decades determining how to deliver the weapon undetected, and may even be patient enough to wait for the invention of things that hardly exist yet such as “suitcase nukes”.

We cannot hope they will change - they won’t! We cannot delay - it will mean we hand our children a struggle for their lives because we wanted to get a few more peaceful ski vacations in if we could.
My beliefs on the outcome. 
We won’t collectively see the vision early enough to avoid significant pain, but I’m optimistic that once stronger-than-today-pain is evident, we may quit tip toeing around collateral damage and do what we must to search and destroy.  For after all, it is not us killing innocents as liberals and media would have you believe.  It is Islamofacists rejoicing that innocents will unavoidably be killed and we’ll get the bad press.  The solution when things get bad enough may not be all that different than raining bombs on Germany.  We may just have to pound terrorists a lot harder than we do today, with the collateral damage to governments and civilians so severe that they work much harder to reveal and kill the terrorists in order to save their own butts.  It cannot be done however, without first experiencing great loss on our side, because the media and public would simply not go there unless we had been brought to our knees.  It would take World War Three.

What is World War Three? 
For all of my life WW III was assumed to be the war between the USSR and USA that had potential to annihilate all human beings.  The last 20 years shows that to be unlikely anytime soon.  Another assumption is that each World War would be bigger and more horrific than the previous, so people don’t want to believe that this silly little terrorist thing qualifies.  I would say it remains to be seen just how “little” this really is.  To earn the title of “World War” it needs to be a big deal war - not just a bunch of small-scale actions across the globe - but it doesn’t need to be more colossal than the last war in terms of lives taken.

We can all look back with 20/20 vision at Hitler’s rise. He was gaining momentum for more than 10 years before he finally initiated the war, and all the while people were in denial.  Are we now poised for another war?  How big could it be?  When would it be so large as to be undeniable as a World War?  Consider the following:

Successful major strikes by Radical Islam:  It is no secret that Middle-Eastern propaganda has turned the hearts of the commoner against the west and even more so against Israel.  It is one thing to “not like us”, and quite another to be motivated to take up arms - especially when you believe your enemy is invincible.  But those committed few such as Osama Bin Laden have demonstrated for the world that America is not invincible, and that she is in fact the “Paper Tiger” that has been claimed.  Even with the strongest Texas Cowboy President we could have had, President Bush has of late been lambasted for taking a strong stand, and so it must appear to the terrorists that they will achieve their goal of turning away public opinion so that we retreat.  This is all they need to achieve heroic status with the commoner. 
The Tiger’s tender bleeding heart:  Media intent on instant coverage of the bleeding boy with a teddy bear in the midst of rubble makes it impossible to gain public support to do what must be done while it is still early enough to be just a few children instead of a few thousand or hundred thousand.  Americans will put off fighting seriously until they feel far more threatened.  The terrorists know this.

“Michael Jordan’s of Jihad”:  As the preachers of jihad are shown to have more ability to “scare the Tiger”, without suffering much for consequences, they will achieve near god-like status among many. Instead of thousands who are now willing to hunt for ways to strike, it could easily turn into hundreds of thousands and then millions.

Islam is everywhere:  This is not contained to Middle East sticks and stones.  If only say 10% of Muslims across the globe can be radicalized and begin searching for ways to strike, it is not necessary for Middle-Easterners to leave their borders. 

Religious fervor:  Hitler had a committed following, but this is a sight to behold.  Potentially millions of converts yet to be made - ready as “suicide bombers” at any moment.  However, they will likely learn that this is an inefficient use of their zombies, and the smart ones among them will be studying ways to do more damage for less.

Oil.  Danged if we do, danged if we don’t:  This scares me as I see problems either way.  Our economy is too dependent on our enemies.  My dad has said “we’d go to war over oil”.  I didn’t believe him at first because it seems such a trivial thing.  However, if nations were hijacked by terrorists, or if they deny us of their own will, it could tumble us into a major depression.  “So break the addiction” by pumping our own, sharply raising fuel taxes to encourage conservation and spur incentive to develop other means (though DO NOT raise this tax without lowering some other by the same or more!).  I support pumping, taxing, and investing all as means of breaking free from enriching our enemies (but I don’t want to see us pump more without also setting a “man on the moon” initiative to develop alternative fuel sources).

However, I am concerned that if we actually succeeded in turning off the flow of money, the Middle East could melt down even faster, as the commoners would then be in big trouble and they’d point to us as the reason.  If I have to choose, I say bring it on sooner rather than later.  If we have cancer, of course we wish it would just go away, and of course we do not want to swallow the bitter chemotherapy pill, but we all know that “herbs in Mexico” don’t work as advertised, and every day we wait is all the more strength our enemy has to kill us.

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