Are We Stumbling, Bumbling, and Fumbling to War?

Years ago, when I first read Barbara Tuchman Guns of August, I was struck by the fact, that the great powers stumbled, bumbled, and fumbled their way to World War I. Are we, that is the United States, headed to a General War in the Middle East? There appears to be no adults in charge in what is happening in the Middle East, the Israeli Government appears to have forsaken its role of being both a leader and a controlling influence, as it allowing its military to wage general war against Lebanon, striking targets which appear to have no connection to Hebazollah. The United States rather than acting as the adult in this matter, appears to have given Israel a free hand.

Do not think I am advocating peace, I am not, but rather I am advocating a rational policy of dealing with Iran. The culprit here is Iran and they are pulling the strings in the Middle East, causing both Israel and the West to react. What concerns me even more than the actions the United States and Israel is the reaction of the West. The nations of Western Europe are pretending they do not see the threat posed by the Iran and the spread of its radical brand of Shite theology. In addition to a General War there is the specter of religious war pitting Shi’a and Sunni against each other. Not since the rise of Hitler has the West confronted such a situation, and like the 30’s is sitting passively on the sidelines.

The conditions which led to our last two great World War’s is being repeated, is the United States and the West prepared to act and not stumble, bumble, and fumble their way to World War? I am not sure.