Many people of this great nation and abroad have said that the War on Terrorism, in retaliation to the September 11 attacks, may become known by future generations as the third of the world wars due to its global impact and the number of countries involved.

However, others argue that it is highly unlikely that the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will escalate to the point that the US would be engaged militarily with at least one other major military alliance, such as Russia or China if they so become allied with Iran.

Either way it is good to note that until Sept. 11 from the creation of NATO that they have had to enact their war articles. As of present the major media outlets have not taken to referring to the conflict as World War III but seem to be getting close.

With every poll showing majorities of Americans both fed up with Bush’s war against Iraq and convinced that Bush’s invasion of Iraq has made Americans less safe, the President in a recent report in Newsweek said that along with VP Cheney has already ordered the U.S. Strategic Command come up with plans to strike Iran with tactical nuclear weapons.

Also, it was reported in the “Jerusalem Post” before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fell ill that he had set a deadline of March, 31st to attack Iran.

If Iran retaliates against Israel or the US in Iraq, then both nations will proceed with a plan that is already in place to destroy all of Iran’s biological, chemical and conventional weapons sites. In fact, this is the ultimate US strategy anyway; not the elimination of the “imaginary” nuclear weapons facilities.

Both the US and Israel want to “de-fang” the Mullah-regime so that they can control critical resources and eliminate the possibility of a regional rival in the future.

In the short term, however, the plan is filled with difficulties. At present, there is no wiggle room in the world’s oil supply for massive losses and gas prices will reach an all time because of this.

If the administration’s war on Iran goes forward we will see a shock to the world’s oil supplies and economies that could be catastrophic.

That being the case, a report that was leaked last week that Dick Cheney had strategic command draw up “contingency plans for a tactical nuclear war against Iran”. It makes no difference. If Iran is attacked they will retaliate; that much is certain. It’s only a matter of time.

You say, how does this affect the students here at UTM? We are at war with Iraq & Afghanistan, thousands of soldiers have been deployed since the winter of 2001, thousands have been sent to Iraq since 2003, and not to mention that the Military enlistment is at a low. What does this mean?

When we do go to war with Iran, where are we going to get troops if not enough people volunteer? More than likely the draft will be reinstated and most of us will have to go and defend the nation.

Remember, this time it’s not only male’s who will be called upon.

I would gladly defend my nation in this case. In a report done in the “Washington Post” an interviewer asked a white house official of the likelihood of the draft being reinstated, the official simply said “It has not been totally ruled out”. It is a good idea for everyone to keep up on this even though recently things have been on the silent side.

As I stated in an earlier article, remember it may be you soon on the battlefield.