A Time for Peace

Is another war brewing in the Middle East? Is the U.S or Israel preparing for a spring or summer strike on Iran? And could Putin's Russia enter this possible war and turn it into a huge, messy regional war?

War seems to be in the air. All you have to do is turn on your TV and not a day goes by without a debate about war with Iran. This is not a picnic. It's deadly serious. But the real question is: has the world suddenly developed an appetite for a new war? Has the world readied its stomach for a bloody war? Is war becoming the first option rather than the last resort? Most importantly, is the world drifting from the path of wisdom and peace?

Talking about wisdom, I remember my first days in America as a young man. This was many, many years ago. I had just come from Ghana (I'm American now). In Ghana there is a saying that “strangers have big eyes”. On this fateful day, my eyes were truly huge. It was Columbus Day and here I was at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York City. The parade was spectacular. I was enchanted by the beauty of Manhattan. Almost everywhere I turned, I saw magnificent high-rise glass buildings. For the first time. But there was more to come. On the main building at Rockefeller Center, I saw the writing: “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times”. Again, I turned right and another writing quickly caught my eye: Isaiah Chapter 2 versus 4;“…They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore”. My soul connected to these words and I felt as if I had seen the light. I was mesmerized. Being in America for the first time, with the beauty of the city and the Rockefeller center, and my spiritual connection to these ancient words of wisdom, it felt like the classic hope and glory in the eyes of a child. I stood amazed at what I saw. I felt like Alice in Wonderland.

It is true that America was built on the wings of strength. It may be true that strength won the Cold War as the Reaganites love to say. But it is also true that values, wisdom, principles and great ideals are the fundamental pillars on which America is built.

With talks of spring or summer war in the Middle East, is the world drifting from the path of wisdom, knowledge and stability and precipitating into an apocalypse of human destruction the scale of which may not be immediately imaginable? Where are the cool heads? A new war in the Middle East? Is the world moving from one war to another? Is this a return to the World War 2 era? Another cold war? It appears nations are now giving priority to the barrel of the gun, not the conference table. War is now becoming the first option, not the last resort.

War mongers and ultra-conservative hardliners are calling for war all over the place… Iran, North Korea, China and sometimes even Russia. I remember my student days in England. In England, World War 2 documentaries are shown on TV nearly every day. Sometimes, I felt some people were so obsessed with Hitler that they want to watch him every day! I remember watching one documentary called “The Color of War”. The whole point of the documentary is that war brings unimaginable horror and suffering. It is ruthless and destructive and hardly does it produce winners.

I also remember watching Fox News and one commentator or analyst allegedly said something to the effect that if war breaks out in the Korean Peninsula, it will be finished very fast…meaning tons of hydrogen bombs will be dropped on North Korea and the war will be won quickly! Well, I don't know in whose name those bombs will be dropped, and for what? Now, it appears some hawks want the world to see the color of war all over again, perhaps in the horrific colors of World War 2. For what? Have we reached that point?

The world can and should end generations of war and mistrust in the Middle East. Is war the only thing that can be imagined? If , God forbid, war breaks out and thousands are killed on both sides, who will benefit? And who will win?

President Obama came to power on a platform of peace. He promised America a clean break from war and a clean break from the hawkish policy of the former Bush administration. Is he now going to rule on the back of war? It appears he may be preparing to pick new fights, fights that even the hawkish Bush chose to let go.

Despite centuries of warfare and bitterness, a more peaceful world is possible for the Middle East. I believe Israel has the right to protect and defend itself. After all, the Jews are living on a tiny piece of land. Isn't there enough land for everyone? While it is understandable for Israel to protect and defend itself, I believe Israel will benefit more than any other country if peace is achieved in the Middle East. Imagine a peaceful Middle East guaranteed by peace treaties signed by all parties. And imagine a Middle East Free Trade Union bringing together over 500 million people, similar to the European Union. In peace time, Israel will be a clear leader of this bloc because of her competitive economy, sophisticated financial system, advanced space capability, military-industrial complex edge, democracy and technological superiority. Israeli exports in the middle east will skyrocket in historic magnitude similar to the Chinese export boom. Clearly, in this scenario, Israel will be a big winner and ultimately Jews, Arabs, Muslims and peoples of all backgrounds will live in peace and prosperity.

America is better off staying on the path of wisdom and stability. Who wants to see the color of war? Everybody's finger is on the trigger. A small mistake could spark a bloody war that will forever change the course of history. It's time for cool heads. It's time for peace.

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About Moses Asare
Moses Asare is a director and special writer for the AFRICAN LEADER, a New York City-based media company serving the over $50 billion U.S African consumer market through direct subscription, email list, event sponsorships, networking, newsstand sales and online platforms. As the trusted and reliable media brand for the U.S African market, AFRICAN LEADER is available in a newspaper format and also online at www.africanleader.net. Moses Asare is a respected expert on the U.S African Market, a booming niche market valued at over $50 billion. In various key executive positions, Moses Asare has been actively involved in the U.S African market for about 10 years. Through his consulting work in Africa, Europe and the U.S and also as a strategic advisor to a New York-based communications firm providing marketing and advertising services to Fortune 500 clients, Moses Asare has provided strategic advisory services to leading multinational companies seeking to grow their brands and improve ROI in marketing to international, multicultural and niche consumers in the United States.

Moses Asare is also a director of Convergence International, a non-profit, New York City-based global think tank established to promote free enterprise, entrepreneurship, investments and opportunity particularly in emerging and frontier markets and also in disadvantaged communities in the United States. Moses Asare has written extensively on key global issues and current affairs. Moses Asare is passionate about writing on key issues that impact global peace and prosperity. He is currently living in New York City with his wife and three lovely children. You may contact Moses Asare at [email protected]. To support our work, Donate NOW. Send your check or money order to AFRICAN LEADER, 1211 Brook Avenue, Bronx, New York 10456, United States. Your help is urgently needed. Please make check or money order payable to Moses Asare. Or email us: [email protected]. Big, anonymous donations are welcome to help the company advance its creative 2012 projects. Call Toll Free: 1-877-606-3085 Fax Toll Free: 1-888-540-5684