Bertrand Russell on class war

["Andrew Hagen" <xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Today I checked out the recently published Bertrand Russell biography
by Ray Monk from the library. I'm finding it interesting.

In 1922, Russell wrote two articles that Monk weaves together into
something that captured my attention in particular.

" 'The future of mankind depends upon the action of America during the
next half-century.' If America continues 'upon the path of capitalist
imperialism which is indicated by present tendencies and
opportunities', there will be an international class-war between it and
the oppressed nations of the world, and, whether the European countries
are on the side of the oppressor or the oppressed, the result will be a
world war 'so long and destructive that nothing would be left of
European civilization at the end'."

pp. 17-18. (quotation taken from longer discussion)

Did Russell's time frame end too early? Is the current situation
brewing into the wider war he prophesied, 79 years after he wrote it?

For the record, I support the limited military intervention that George
W. Bush has proposed. My understanding is that we will attack
Afghanistan with the purpose of extracting Bin Laden & Co. That sounds
like a relatively clear mission. If we have to depose the Taliban
government to complete the mission, so be it.

I'm an American citizen. I feel that we have to do something. My
support for intervention is contingent on its limited nature, however.
We cannot let the war devolve into the conflict Russell foresaw.

Does anyone here believe that an international class war will spring up
as an inevitable result of US military action?

Andrew Hagen
xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx