The Antiquity of War

The recent media coverage of the simmering conflict between North and South Korea made me feel rather strange about a possible full-out international war. I admit I am not the most educated person when it comes to current foreign conflicts across the globe. I am sure there are hundreds of wars being fought between countries, within countries, and maybe even within unestablished countries known as territories. Nonetheless, I have a strange feeling towards this steaming international conflict, a feeling that can best be described as: doesn't a war like this seem a little old?

I realize obviously, that the United States has been involved in two ongoing military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I have all the respect in the world towards our military men and woman. Each of those opponents in the field of war were outmatched at the beginning of the conflict and only during the occupation of each area were they able to inflict continuous serious damage on the US Military. I realize that these are some sweeping generalizations, but please stick with me.

A full out war between two nations that are somewhat prominent on the international scene, and also backed by powerful allies in China and the United States. Really? Does that seem like the best course of action for anyone in the now entrancing global economy? It seems like war would have an effect economically on both countries and all industry in the Pacific, which would be destabilized for years to come. I do not believe China has any intention in letting the conflict escalate since waves of North Korean refugees would be spilling across their border. Economically war benefits no one save weapons manufacturers, arms dealers, warlords, etc. However, how much can these international conflicts still hold relevance against the modern economy?

The Korean conflict brings me to this modern perspective of war in the 21st century, is the survival of the economy and of currency globally matter more then the typical sources of war and strife? Are we entering in an age where speedy technology and economical waves alter our automatic aggressions towards war? As the mortar exchange took place between North Korea and South Korea victims and civilians tweeted about the attack before news agencies had full clarity of the story. This is huge in the modern understanding of violent conflict, the ability to infuse the world with information constantly is a game changer in how war is conducted.

So further more what this mildly cohesive rant is trying to aim at is that in the modern world and thus our modern perspective, war appears a little antique in terms of what is happening technologically and economically. If the value of war decreases exponentially in comparison to the economical value in the global marketplace, war may disappear. It would be ultimately ironic if war ended due to money, the peace mongers and pacifists would be like "huh?".