From an American perspective, the Vietnam war, the oil embargo, the terrorist acts of the 70s, the Soviet invasion of Hungary, etc. were events taking place at a time when the world was bi-polar – a dominant military America and a rising Soviet military power.

In today’s world the dynamics are different.

·         The Russian-backed rebel insurgency in Eastern Ukraine is really a civil war and the rest of the world has no business other than to see a federated State or two countries. The Russian actions and Obama’s smart reticence are not any kind of Super Power shenanigans.

·         That brings me to the other two-State situation. Hamas in the Gaza strip is nothing more than a Taliban force or an ISIS-type organization with a little more defined context. Hamas is a proxy force that really should abandon the destruction of Israel from its Charter. The West Bank Palestinians have grown tremendously while they work out the thorny issue of land and especially Jerusalem’s status. There will be civilian casualties and Israeli scampering to shelters, but really this will be over in a few weeks as Hamas’ rockets work themselves out.

·         China is trying to be a military power in the Asian sea theater and has built mobile rockets with the range and accuracy that is uncomfortable for American aircraft carriers. But China is nowhere near challenging the US in that theater. The Chinese know their limits as the specter of a nuclear Japan is always in the American hands.

·         Assad is having a difficult time owning a lot of his country and gradually the ISIS forces will be knocking at his Palace. But the reality here is that since the Arab Spring and Obama’s break from colonial temperament and backing of ground-up democracy, the old Iron fist holding different tribes in place is being becoming relegated to history’s dust bin.

·         Same story in Afghanistan after the US leaves.

·         The Iraqis’ civil war will only end in three countries – a Shiite Iraq, a Kurdish Iraq and a Sunni Iraq. After that Syria is on its own and the Saudis will have to look elsewhere to fund some trouble.

·         The Libyans civil war too will peter out as weapons dry up.

Meanwhile the Americans have mechanisms in the economic sphere to make things uncomfortable with those it does not choose to go to war. America has to maintain its policeman’s role, spend a half-trillion on Defense, and maintain a vibrant economy. In the real world, it is not easy to understand how trading lanes are controlled by Yankee navy; the aerial intelligence and Space monitoring along with cyber surveillance; the trade financing that happens in US dollars that are cleared in US-Controlled banks. Look at how the Swiss, and French pony up massive fines. Quietly the world goes about its business, and here in the States the economy is rock-solid, with the inequality question a thorny one, innovation is happening at a vibrant pace.

We’ve seen today’s events played out before. Thanks God there is an America to keep things under control.