A new cold war?

Among the things for us to worry about this year are Iran and its antics—anti-west rhetoric, development of a nuclear arms capability, suppression of human rights and collusion with societies fostering terrorism. Debates over what to do embraces ideas ranging from sanctions to air strikes to ground warfare. I think we’re too war-weary for another ground war in the mid east, and air strikes are estimated to only set back the nuclear effort a few years.

The reality is that we are facing cold war 2. There are similarities to the cold war with the Soviet Union. Both presented a nuclear arms threat; both had economically destructive plans against us (the Soviets with their Berlin blockade and Iran with its threat to close the Hormus Strait.) Both strove for domination (the Soviets for world domination, Iran for Mideast domination). Another cold war is a frightening and gloomy prospect—or is it?

During the last cold war, our military and space technology sprang forward with spectacular results in our struggle to contain the Soviets. We were motivated. We developed capabilities such as surveillance from space and weapons delivery that outstripped the Soviets’ capability. Much of these advances depended on new technologies that eventually found their way into consumer products that improved our comfort, safety and enjoyment of life. The best example is large-scale integration of electronics—necessary for military and space programs but also a backbone of personal computers, mobile phones, cameras and a host of personal electronic devices. Much of the cold war saw high employment and a growing economy. It was also a period of rich scientific discovery and social advancement. Because of assured mutual destruction, there was no nuclear war. And the forty-year confrontation led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

One can wonder if Cold War 2 will be the stimulus to get us out of our national laziness and lethargy and get us innovating, investing and growing as we did during the earlier cold war.