The other day, probably a month ago, I heard Barack Obama state categorically that the US was not – and would never be - at war with Islam. Its real enemy was Al-Qaeda. I immediately felt reassured.
Nonetheless, as time went by, I began mulling the subject and, the more I thought about it, the more my levels of confidence dropped.
I pictured a couple thousand bearded men walking the mountains of Afghanistan, and reckoned to myself that they can – and did - undertake a few isolated acts of violence that lead to death and destruction. Defeat the US? Unthinkable! Was that their objective? Laughable!
Then, like all old men who have nothing to do, my mind went back to medieval battles. In those days, attacks of diversion took place before the enemy suddenly found himself encircled by the opposing troops in a surprise onslaught that was often fatal. What if Al-Qaeda was nothing but the tip of the iceberg, the periscope above the submarine, the moving target?
It is a known fact that Iran is the main supporter of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban through sections of Pakistan, as it is also the mainstay of Hizbollah through Syria.
It is a known fact that Iran has been playing cat and mouse with the world regarding its nuclear program, a clear sign that it is playing for time. That would indicate that its intentions are less than honourable and that its real aim is the acquisition of nuclear weapons.
It is a known fact that Iran has vowed to destroy Israel and that it considers the West the Great Satan.
It is a known fact that Iran has recently begun creating banks in Arab countries. That would indicate that it is preparing for financial freedom as soon as it is ready to go to war.
Just this week Hugo Chávez was in Iran for the ninth time since he became president of Venezuela. Many agreements were signed, included one designed to assist Venezuela in acquiring nuclear power. Both leaders solemnly promised to bring about a new world order. Does that sound familiar? The media carried a picture of a Chávez with his hands in a silly position of prayer before a clearly patronising Ahmadinejad.
World War III has already started. The reason we don't realise it is that we have not got to the nuclear stage. Yet.
Now, one month after listening to Obama, I shake my head in disbelief, and I smile. Naiveté is so charming, isn't it?
