DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: Realizing 21st century wars could equal human annihilation

And so, the war (or special military operation by the United States) is still going on in the world, and no one really knows what’s going to happen next.

I made it to Europe today, rescheduled Singapore because Qatar Airways was predictably unpredictable. Just like everything else is unpredictable these days and tight-lipped unless you’re one of the people calling the shots – literally.

Here in Paris, the news is all about Hezbollah and Lebanon and more than a few people asking – where is Bibi?

War games – humans should be careful about what they suck up as the truth regarding these war games and the motives behind it.

That old saying “no one knows nothing” comes to mind. Particularly if you’re listening to all the news reports, which seems to be a flurry of news that is more inaccurate than not.

I flew from Los Angeles to Paris today, and even though the TSA lines are reportedly horrifyingly long around the country, in my timeline it took me minutes not hours to pass security.

My point is that not all the airport lines are long – yet once again the media has travelers in a frenzy.

Frenzy, after frenzy after frenzy. Why does it always have to be like that because it causes continual negative and fear-based emotions that are not making anyone’s life better.

Homeland Security does have a wait time at airport’s link (www.dhs.gov/check-wait-times) so if you plan to travel during the current partial government shutdown, be sure you know the situation ahead of time.

And yes, that partial government shutdown is still going on since Feb. 14. Due to that fact, TSA workers cannot pay their bills thanks to our dysfunctional government, which is still getting fat and paid.

The only alarming situation that happened to me was while checking in for my flight, since it was a one-way ticket, I had to prove I had an airline ticket to return to the US.

In fact, they told me I could not fly unless I had a return ticket. Fortunately, I did on a different airline so no problem.

However, I’ve flown around the world for years, and this was not the first time I flew on a one-way ticket and I’ve never had to show proof of my return. I joked with the gate agent asking if Americans were fleeing the country and she yes, that is the fact compliments of the latest military actions between US/Israel/Iran.

For those confused on where we are in week 2 of the Iran conflict (and CNN reported this past Sunday President Donald Trump’s plan is the conflict will last at least another few weeks), I suggest you read the White House’s Operation Epic Fury: Decisive American Power to Crush Iran’s Terror Regime at www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/03/operation-epic-fury-decisive-american-power-to-crush-irans-terror-regime offering the administration’s take on things.

Albeit remember what I told you about reading Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” in my column last week – keep those parameters in mind when reading the three objectives touted by the White House as unchanged, unambiguous, and consistent since the operation began.

As a gentle reminder, I will reiterate that at this point it seems there is nothing the American people can do pro or con on the Iran issue. In fact, it’s up to the politicians to do something for the constituents (I say the word politician very tongue in cheek because we know who they tend to work for on a regular basis).

And just another reminder for those in the back of the room – not everything is as it appears particularly if you’re sucking your information from mainstream media.

The way to control millions of people at the same time is not to do it individually. You control the patterns through constant uncertainty, economic and social fear, and future anxiety.

Anyone seeing that happening be it the war or anything else?

Are you paying attention to the patterns?

I’m going to keep repeating that everyone should familiarize themselves with the definition of propaganda.

Check your emotions.

Refuse the narrative.

Do not feed the propaganda machine.

Last week, the AtlanticCouncil.org posted an interesting set of questions and answers (www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/twenty-questions-and-expert-answers-about-the-iran-war/#israel) about the current Iran/United States/Israel conflict including a comment regarding US troop’s boots on the ground in Iran.

Indeed, situations do change rapidly, but some have said that it’s happening, which appears to be more propaganda.

Since I’m in France this week, another interesting read (https://onu.delegfrance.org/the-war-into-which-the-middle-east-has-been-plunged-must-cease-at-the-earliest) taken from statements last week in New York by Jerome Bonnafont, permanent representative of France to the United Nations Security Council. This was in response to Russia’s point of order protesting the convening of the meeting. In short, he said the war in the Middle East must cease, Iran bears the main responsibility for the “catastrophic situation” and has for years played a destabilizing role for international peace and security.

He also pointed out Iran “continues to pursue nuclear activities, which violate its international obligations” and he acknowledged Iran has developed a massive ballistic program that include thousands of ballistic missiles and tens of thousands of drones and the country “has not seized the opportunities it has received to achieve a diplomatic solution on these matters.”

So as noted in the White House link above, it is not so much that those being quoted are lying in the article, but to my point why can we not reconcile peacefully?

Oh yes, that is right, because people have big, fat egos (and no, I am not talking about Trump now because nuclear weapons have been an issue for many years).

Some leaders get voted in for real, some get voted in (wink, wink) and some just take power.

That is where we are just now on planet Earth.

The question, however, as we unpack this 21st century issue is what are the people going to do about the weak, fearmongering leaders and their puppets, because it is up to the people to change the paradigm?

The game stops working when people wake up and say “ENOUGH.”

When you vote the incumbents out (for instance this round of primaries and elections in Texas were a joke, voters lazy at best).

If people have not figured out the democrats and republicans are the same and the names Rino, and Maga and whatever else are all a diversion played by an ego versus soul narrative, it’s time you woke up.

Case in point is the continued negative talk I see on social media with people in a frenzy about how they hate this or that or the other. All I can do is think to myself – does that person realize their hate for another human or situation feeds the continuation of it. Do they realize the only harm done is to themselves and those around them because the people and situations they hate do not care.

Would the same people be protesting or acknowledging the importance of this war if it were a democrat versus a republican in charge (as in everyone’s favorite daddy Trump)?

There’s been talk of nuclear weapons in this war or in the future.

What happens if a country does fire off its nuclear arsenal – who wins?

Nuclear Weapons Worldwide reports (www.ucs.org/nuclear-weapons/worldwide) nine countries possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea. I read as of 2024 there are approximately 3,880 active nuclear warheads and 12,119 total nuclear warheads in the world.

No matter the number, it does not change the “fundamental threat to humanity these weapons represent.”

Just one US nuclear-armed submarine has seven times the destructive power of all the bombs dropped during World War II, including the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan.

By eradicating the enemy, in today’s world do the warmongers realize they will also eradicate themselves and their own country.

The human ego is embarrassingly fragile. And to that point the denial of that fragility leads to an out of control, win at all cost perspective where reality becomes lost.

The earth and the humans living on Gaia are even more fragile.

So, what will you do? It begins with taking accountability for your city, state, country, and this world.

And do it while you still can since it is clear (at least from my view here in the audience) that most politicians in the US and abroad have allowed the idea of war, ego, greed and power to control their narrative.

Unfortunately, that narrative if not changed will obviously be at the expense of the delicate balance determining the future of all living things on planet Earth.

Rita Cook is a freelance writer for The Ellis County Press. She can be reached at rcook13@earthlink.net.