The Winds of War

Every world leader throughout history has wanted to do something significant in order to create a legacy that lasts through the millennia.  Trump, as narcissistic a leader the world has ever seen, is not any different. 

From day one of his presidency he has been enthralled with his generals and the toys they bring with them.  He has dreamed of having the largest military parade the world has ever seen but failed to garner one for his inauguration.   He did manage to have a small military showing in last year’s 4^th of July parade in D.C. but it pales in comparison to the parades in Moscow and Pyongyang.  Since he claims to be the “greatest” in everything we can surmise that he wants to be known as the world’s greatest military strategist in history.  You can’t do that without having a war.

In addition, no matter what happens in the Senate trials, Trumps legacy has the blight of impeachment all over it. It is a stain on his name he does not like.  I can imagine him yelling in his suite each night, “Out, damn spot!” over and over again.  The effect impeachment will have on his re-election efforts remains to be seen but deep inside his hardened heart exists a growing sense of fear and dread that he might actually lose.

“I need to do something big to turn the focus of the media away from this damn impeachment thing.  It’s all they talk about,” mulls Trump on a cold December night in an empty White House after turning off the latest replay of a Fox News show.  “What should I do?”

 “Do you want to hear my opinion?” whispers his alter-ego, Barron.

 “Maybe I should call Vlad?  He’ll know what I should do.”

 “Yes, I’m sure he’ll have some ideas,“ Barron sniggers.  “But I think he has coached you along enough that by now he is watching to see how you will react. A bold move of your own could be more impressive… don’t you think?”

 Trump’s eyebrows twitch and his arms flail for a brief second and then, with a slight grimace, he says in a wobbly voice, “Maybe a war?”

 “Now you’re talking,” Barron replies as he slithers to the other side of the vacuous brain.  “Where is the best place to start a war, do you think?”

 “North Korea!” erupted Trump.  “No, no wait! IRAN! Yes, that’s it. Iran.  I remember now.  We decided on Iran last May when I announced we were leaving that very awful Obama nuclear agreement.  It was a bad deal… very bad.  You hinted that if we left that deal it would force Iran to be more aggressive in the region.  If we played are cards right we could walk them right into a war.  I’m a genius!”

A war with Iran has zero upside and a lot of risk.  Yes, Soleimani was a bad guy, flexing military muscle throughout the region with his Shiite cells but his assassination should never have been done.  Ali Khamenei will react fiercely.  The loss of his best general is an act he will never accept.  – Gary

Oh boy, here we go. Why is it humans have the tendency to think that war is a good thing?  Legacies? Distractions?  It really ruffles my feathers.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, we chickens have a lot of bulling to deal with in the chicken yard.  There is always a young cock popping off that he thinks he has the most to crow about.  We have our battles and they can get bloody.  However, we never think about world conquest.  Geez.  Why would I want more than 20 hens and another roo or two to fret over? All we want is peace in our own yard.  Yes, we will fight to keep that peace but the battles are always very short, with the pecking order being established quickly.

Humans have several chicken adages they like to mull over such as “which came first the chicken or the egg?” (Personally, I think it was a rooster)  The one I like the best is “Why did the chicken cross the road?”  The funny part of this question is not the answers that come out of it, but the fact the question is being asked in the first place.  Chickens do not cross the road!  We are not looking to explore and conquer new territories.  We are not looking to expand our territories.  We just want a good place to scratch up a meal and safe warm place to roost at night.

My farmer has been known to say “I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without their motives being questioned.”  If you ask me, it would be a better world if humans quit crossing every road, byway, ocean and sea to find something bigger and grander to own or control.  It is their motives that should be questioned. – Peace to all, Ollie