The roots of WW2 can be traced to the treatment of the defeated after world war one- The germans were crushed and left to recover on their own with heavy penalties... This allowed violent nationalism to take hold - had german recovery been aided by the victors then Hitler would have been little more than a loud trouble maker.

We learned that lesson and after WW2 we instituted the Marshall plan- I firmly believe that this, more than anything is responsible for the lack of nuclear war in the last half century.

There is and has never been such a thing as a 'good war', I dont believe that there is such a thing as a 'just war' - atrocities and injustice always accompany war... There can be 'required wars'- I believe that WW2 fell into this last category- as did Afghanistan...

When I protest the war in Iraq here it isnt because I disrespect the troops, or because I have one iota of sympathy for the animals that behead innocents... it is because I feel that this war wasnt required, and that it has and will do damage to our country and the world.

We should always strive to avoid war- doing this can usually be done in a way that is compatible with self preservation, when it cant be compatible then if you win, you should be gracious to the defeated- otherwise you breed deeper hatred, and nationalism and make a second war more likely. So while I believe our war on Iraq was not required, I have not once suggested we just 'pull out'...

Unfortunately, the way things are going I dont see that we are improving the future at all...