While there is no precise definition of a world war, it is generally viewed as a time when there are several countries on two sides over multiple theaters of battle — with other nations in support of one side or another. World War I and World War II were monumental examples of that type of global conflict. To a lesser degree, however, the definition fits today’s world.
In terms of active military engagement, we have the Axis of Evil – including Russia, North Korea, Iran, Palestinian territories (Hamas), Lebanon (Hezbollah), and Yemen (Houthis) – all engaged in active combat.
Nations in support of the Axis of Evil short of direct military engagement in the shooting war include such nations as China, Belarus, Georgia, Chechia and other Russian allies. There is an interconnection between Russia and Iran that make what is happening in Ukraine and the Middle East essentially a united global conflict.
Syria is currently in flux. It had been clearly aligned with the Axis of Evil – and a state sponsor of terrorism – until the precipitous fall of the Basha al Asaad regime. It remains a nation in which ISIS and al Qaeda have bases. The apparent new leader comes out of al Qaeda and is a wanted terrorist. He claims to have given up his terrorist past. We shall see.
The Democratic Alliance of active combatants includes the United States, Great Britian, France, Israel, and Ukraine – all engage in combat. Nations supporting the Democratic Alliance short of military engagement includes most of NATO, Japa and South Korea.
All the battlegrounds have become interconnected, Russia is fighting in Ukraine and had been fighting in the Middle East on behalf of the Iranian regime and Bashar al Asaad in Syria. While the United States is not officially at war, American military personnel have been fighting and dying throughout the Middle East since the first Iraq war. That puts America into the action – and it is more likely that American involvement will increase and not decrease in the days ahead.
The good news is that at this moment the Democratic Alliance is winning – with the possible exception of Ukraine. That is a toss-up at the moment.
The international situation has been tipping in favor of the Democratic Alliance since Israel decided that the tit-for-tat warfare that has been going on for decades had to end. When Israeli Prime Minister said “enough is enough” after the October 7th attack on the Jewish state, he obviously meant it.
He declared war on Hamas and has now reduced the terrorist group to a shadow of what it was – and is still finishing them off. Many experts predicted that Israel would not fare well against a more powerful Hezbollah. Netanyahu took on the Lebanese terrorist group and has decimated that organization and killed its top leaders. When Iran waded in with direct attacks on Isreal, Netanyahu responded with a reprisal attack that crippled the Irani military machine, including its air force. Thanks to Israel, the Iran terrorist network is now in shambles.
The inability of Russia and Iran to prop up Bashar al Asaad gave an opening for the Syrian rebels to mount a successful uprising, resulting in the collapse of the regime.
Clearly the good guys are winning in the Middle East theater. The situation is less clear in Ukraine. Ukraine is in a good position to win the war without ceding land to Russia – and even force Russian troops out of area they currently occupy. In such an aftermath, Ukraine should be admitted to NATO immediately.
It is Putin who is on the ropes. His military has not been able to make significant gains since the start of the invasion. Russian forces have not stopped the Ukrainian military from invading and holding part of Mother Russia — and taking out military installations in the Putin homeland. The Russian navy has been forced out of the Black Sea – taking refuge in their Syrian Mediterranean ports. Now they have had to abandon them. The more than 300,000 Russian fatalities are undermining public support for the war – as is the cratering of the economy. The Russian casualties have forced Putin to bargain for North Korean soldiers. Thanks to Israel, Iran is no longer able to support Putin as it has in the past.
The only thing that has prevented a Ukraine victory is a lack of a winning commitment by the United States – and NATO, which has been held back by the Biden administration’s too little/too late policy.
Winning this mini-world war, would enable the world to enter a new age of peace — with the United States, NATO and the world democracies in leadership. Old adversaries, such as Russia and Iran will have been tamed. Nations like China and North Korea will be less threatening. China would stop threatening Taiwan and North Korea would stop firing missiles across Japan. There would be a new and more expensive round of peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world. Those are the potential fruits of victory.
Though admittedly a rosy picture, it is not an impossible one. It is time for the United States and the Democratic Alliance to exert its maximum influence and power and put an end to this overly long ongoing mini world war. Carpe Diem.
So, there ‘tis.