Why Was The American Amaranth Anthology Written?
The human costs of war are horrific. Men, women, and children lose their lives or are handicapped permanently. Love and hope fade quickly in the maelstrom of war.Families are torn apart and suffer emotional scars lasting lifetimes. The flower and innocence of youth is the greatest casualty. From a human perspective, there are no winners in war, only losers. Nevertheless, war seems to be a permanence in human history. It is a stain on the evolutionary cloth of life.
Since the end of World War Two, two opposing geopolitical poles have become established. America and her allies with the Western Democratic Model of government have been in constant conflict with nations having an anti-American view on the management of the world. Since 1945, USSR/Russia and China have remained the major enemies of the "Western Way". Wars have been fought all over the globe between these opposing poles.
With the discovery of oil in the Middle East in the early 20th century, and the creation of the state of Israel after WWII, there has been a resurgence of radical Islam across the Muslim world. America's direct support of Israel and our involvement in the economics of oil have caused radical Islam to join the anti-American geopolitical pole. Both Russia and China have welcomed their alliance and have directly supported the development of nuclear weapons programs in Pakistan and Iran. The US and Russia/China/radical Islam have been in covert war for decades.
Most recently, a belt of Jihadism has flared across North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Civil wars in Libya, Egypt, and Syria have caught the attention of the world. Iraq has become an Iranian satellite, as Afghanistan is a Pakistani satellite. Pro-Western governments in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey are much less safe than they appear. Radical Islam could easily alter their borderline allegiance in an instant.
After the tragedies of 9/11, America has decided to stamp out Jihadism and eliminate Islamic Terror wherever it exists. Nuclear weapons programs in Pakistan and Iran will not be allowed. They are considered existential threats to the Western World.
Most recently, a belt of Jihadism has flared across North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Civil wars in Libya, Egypt, and Syria have caught the attention of the world. Iraq has become an Iranian satellite, as Afghanistan is a Pakistani satellite. Pro-Western governments in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey are much less safe than they appear. Radical Islam could easily alter their borderline allegiance in an instant.
After the tragedies of 9/11, America has decided to stamp out Jihadism and eliminate Islamic Terror wherever it exists. Nuclear weapons programs in Pakistan and Iran will not be allowed. They are considered existential threats to the Western World.
Although Islamic nukes are also threats to Russia and China, these countries have continued to support their rights to nukes. Access to energy reserves have increased their support. This, in turn, has caused America to apply economic pressure on both Russia and China to change their ways. Suddenly, America has become an existential threat to Russian and Chinese powers in charge. Putin lives under constant threat of being overthrown, and the Chinese Politburo is becoming unstable in the management of their country. Civil wars may be brewing. The world is becoming progressively more chaotic.
Today, American military might lies close to their main targets of Pakistan and Iran. I would venture to say that by 2020, both these countries will be toothless. Russia and China stand by to help their "allies". Their involvement in the apparently upcoming fray is still in question. It is a greater gamble for them than for the US. I believe that Russia may come to her economic senses and move more closely to the West. Incredibly, all parties involved believe that they can win a major modern war in the 21st century. Iran and Pakistan risk total annihilation if they bring their terrorism to the American homeland. Russia and China risk civil war. America also faces great risks. Reason and rhyme seem not to be playing a part in the geopolitical strategies being considered.
Today, American military might lies close to their main targets of Pakistan and Iran. I would venture to say that by 2020, both these countries will be toothless. Russia and China stand by to help their "allies". Their involvement in the apparently upcoming fray is still in question. It is a greater gamble for them than for the US. I believe that Russia may come to her economic senses and move more closely to the West. Incredibly, all parties involved believe that they can win a major modern war in the 21st century. Iran and Pakistan risk total annihilation if they bring their terrorism to the American homeland. Russia and China risk civil war. America also faces great risks. Reason and rhyme seem not to be playing a part in the geopolitical strategies being considered.
The American Amaranth Anthology was written to honor Americans and all "freedom loving peoples" in the great struggle to come. It exposes the sad losses of war. Love and hope, and all other virtuous human sentiments, suffer, but do not succumb to the despair of war. It is a foreboding, cautionary tale. It is my attempt to hopefully, through magical thinking, prevent a titanic human calamity.
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AMERICAN AMARANTH ANTHOLOGY by J.R. Ortiz
SpeculativeHistorical Fiction
Political Thriller/Global War
