The War to Prevent All Wars

On this morning's Imus program, Senator Orrin Hatch (R Utah) justified the Iraq invasion by saying that U.S. troops are fighting in the Middle East in order to prevent World War III. Senator Hatch is losing track of his world wars--which is an easy thing to do these days.

Some military scholars think of the War on Terror as World War III. Others say World War III was the Cold War and the War on Terror is World War IV.

So viewed one way, Hatch is saying this war is an attempt to prevent itself. Viewed another, we're fighting this war to prevent the previous one.

Senator Hatch, a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq, never served in the military.

JLH