In economics, the theory goes that you don’t acquire things you don’t need or won’t use.
Since this principle is even more so in military strategy, it makes one wonder when nations will use their ballistic, biological and nuclear weapons. After all, those expensive high-tech sophisticated weapons aren’t toys or decorations. They are deadly, lethal weapons of mass destruction weapons that one day will be used on the enemy when – not if – World War III breaks out.
The First World War was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. One month later to the day, the war was already in motion, and was to last until 11 November 1918.
The Second World War started on September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the subsequent declarations of war on the so-called ‘Third Reich’ by France and Britain. It became a global war that involved all major powers of that time and the conflict killed between 50 and 73 million people, the worst attrition rate in recent human history.
After the war ended in 1945, the world powers that emerged victorious – the USA, USSR, Britain, France and China – formed the United Nations, the successor to the League of Nations that emerged after World War I, and invited other nations to join with the purpose of preventing future global conflict. It’s ironic that the USA and USSR almost immediately got involved in the Cold War for control and influence over the rest of the world, which only ended in 1991 when the USSR disintegrated.
Even now, the UN doesn’t really prevent conflicts – it manages them. With the arms race propelling less powerful nations to seek and acquire nuclear weapons, we can only pray that God help us. Worse still, cyber-warfare will surely hasten the coming of nuclear war sooner than later. With the great damage that internet hackers are inflicting on their chosen targets, from banks to nations, it seems governments aren’t always in control of their technology. A group of hackers could trigger a nuclear disaster – and the retaliation wouldn’t be against the hackers, but the country they operate from. It’s only a matter of time.
If we’re to prevent a Third World War, we must prevent cyber-terrorism. But as long as malevolent hackers can strike at any time of their choosing, may God save our souls in Jesus’ name.
Pastor Thomas Baganineza is an ordained minister who has been pastoring for more than 10 years. He graduated from Global University and is currently a freelance columnist and writer.
