"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." ~ H.L. Mencken
A Million People Killed Iraq: The Biggest Petroleum Heist in History?
"These are the ‘best of times’ for the oil giants in Iraq. Production is up, profits are soaring, and big oil is rolling in dough....Mission accomplished? You bet. But for those who still cling to the idea that the US was serious about promoting democracy or removing a vicious dictator or eliminating WMD or any of the other kooky excuses, consider what we’ve learned in the last couple weeks."
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This article suggests that the US killed 1M Iraqis in the 2003 Iraq war, which is simply false. The total number was far lower, and the violence was mostly between Sunnis and Shiites, though the US certainly shares responsibility for having removed Iraq's previous flawed government, with a very flawed transition plan. Such hyperbole discredits an argument that is otherwise worth attention.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War
Iraq, and places like Somalia, illustrate what happens when government disappears, but not people's desire for or belief in it. Then everyone and his dog wants to be president, leading to endless conflict.
eugenedw:
"...Iraq, and places like Somalia, illustrate what happens when government disappears, but not people's desire for or belief in it..."
And that, my friend, underscores the tipping point for all history. And it is the entrée, or liberty to enter, for anarchy (<== pdf).
I don't know how many readers place credence in a Book called the Hebrew Bible. And that's really not important. It remains the world's best-seller, which makes It unwise to dismiss out-of-hand.
Many see It as writings of old, long dead but superstitious men. To an extent they may be correct. Others base their entire life's philosophy upon It (or what they think they know and believe about It -- which is a unique topic in itself). So they, too, must be heard, since they represent the greatest percentage of religious folks in this part of the world -- and a large segment of the world's total religious.
I submit The Book is a treatise on anarchy -- anarchy is its center core and theme. And the fulcrum, or code, of the entire Book rests on this short passage.
In my humble opinion (which ain't so humble, so I'm told).
For a discourse on the endless conflict you mention from the beginning of recorded history, please spend some time with this (it's not a real easy read, because he chops most professing anarchists off at the knees). It's by the late Delmar England, who at first appears to be an atheist -- but I believe he was more anti-religion than he was atheist. That, also, is a topic for discussion.
Sam