Peace                            through          Strength 

   Walk softly and carry a Big stick" ...Teddy Roosevelt

One of the issues that most liberals cannot seem to get through their heads is the  need to establish and  maintain peace through a position of strength. History has established the above statement as a fact. Nowhere in history can you find a nation that was graced with peace with others without enjoying it from a position of power. This power was the only deterrent to others making it too costly to go to  war. Human history has shown the repetitive problems of greed, pride and lust for resources, power and glory of taking from the other guy is our reality. Exploiting the weak, and challenging the strong if affordable is all human history has ever been consistent in. This is because History is just the record of human nature. And the human condition is described in the Bible.

" Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Rom 5:12 (KJV)

 

The Bible says that all have fallen short of God's expectations. We have all become victims of a sin nature. A sin nature is what our human history has defined as the natural ability to miss the mark. This mark is the standards set forth by God and for disbelievers in God, there still remains the standards set up by man made philosophies and laws extended from them. In all cases man is inclined to eventually fall short and break these laws. Any mother from any culture can tell you about the "terrible two's" and how a baby does not have to be taught the word NO. They pick that up all on their own. That is a sin nature.

The liberal in most cases rejects the teachings in the Bible. Because of this, a sin nature seems like some antiquated religious belief or superstition when in fact it is the most scientific and logical fact that explains human history. With this basic elemental rejection, unbelievers find an alternative belief system. This system has a foundation contrary to the Bibles and sets the unrealistic hope for a basic goodness in man that can be shaped and molded by proper teaching and environment. This is one of the most foundational differences between Conservative Bible believers and Liberal non-believers. Put to the test, there is no evidence of any kind that would indicate there is any natural goodness in mankind. Our history tells us otherwise. A sin nature is the only natural state in mankind. The Apostle Paul understood this as he wrote:

" For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells;... Rom 7:18 P(NKJ)

When you add to this foundational difference, another Biblical fact perceived as a fairy tale, a chasm then separates the Conservative believer and the non-believing liberal. This is the Biblical truth that this fall and sin nature was the result of one rebel entity called Lucifer now called Satan and a band of eternal sentient beings that choose to follow him. This group also called Satan collectively are the enemy of God and mankind. They work behind the scenes in the affairs of mankind to lead and goad him on to fall short of anything to do with God and his ways. They act like a magnifying glass making the already sin nature that exists in man blown out of proportion that produce even more intense acts against God and man

These acts may not always be immediate acts of aggression or noticeable outward reactions. Sometimes they can slowly develop as a philosophy which lead many to ungodly acts derived from their own disbelief in God or his standards. Our rejection of Biblical truths are replaced by these unsound doctrines of life provided by Satan as "alternatives". We then deceive ourselves and become our own worst enemy when we accept them and reject God and his Word. This fact is what God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  Jer 17:9 (KJV)

These two elementary truths are why in all of mankind's history, peace only exists when a nation is strong enough to establish it and maintain it in spite of the hostility of others around them. It is also why every good intension by man has always become corrupted and turns into something bad.  Even when God fearing civilizations have started out right eventually they seem to lose their vision and way, and as  they forget God, they fall. Peace is only maintained through a faith in our God and a strong deterrent strength that discourages all others from trying to take anything away from them.

  Even Jesus recognized the importance of peace through a show of strength by preparedness.

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. "For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." Luke 22:35-38  (NKJ)

While Jesus was with his disciples there was no need for money, food or a sword, God was supplying all the needs supernaturally by circumstance and out right miracles. But he knew he was going to the cross, that his earthly mission would be completed and that arrangement would end. He told his followers that there would be a change and they they would have to make the necessary preparations in the future by taking money, food and a sword. Now nowhere did Jesus ever advocate violence. The understanding here was that the disciples were going to be sent out to strange lands, traveling long distances in the wilderness where there would be wild animals as well as thieves and  robbers along the way. The sword was an essential part of provisions for long trips to protect oneself from animals and potential problems with thieves and robbers. As the disciples are traveling in peace to proclaim the gospel, they are also showing a position of a strong defense and a deterrent to those with less scruples. This was just practicing common sense in a fallen world. 

 I know from my own experience working in the inner city of Detroit with gangs that God still can use the miraculous to deliver his people but it also does no one harm to use some prayerful common sense at times. God can lead you to be vulnerable at times for his purpose but that is usually the exception and not the norm. This text tells us that peace is accomplished through a position of strength.

To exemplify this by history let's go back to 1943 in Europe. X                                                   This map shows Europe in 1943. The Blue is the territory occupied by the Nazi Axis Powers. The Red are the Allies and the White are "neutral" countries. Spain remained "Neutral" however was a fascist state and sympatric to Germany  Portugal was spared only because Spain stood in front and offered no strategic advantage. Ireland held the same security only because England stood in front. If England would have fallen Ireland would have it's neutrality ignored as an easy target as with much of Europe.

That brings us to two other white areas, Switzerland and Sweden. Switzerland was spared from a Nazi invasion for only two reasons and had nothing to do with Germany respecting them while ignoring everyone else. What was so special about Switzerland? They were the location of global banking interests many of which supported the Nazi machinery. This fact also alludes to the global conspiracy and power that the international bankers held over nations and their rulers. The other reason was one that Hitler learned of as he surveyed this land over the Alps. He came to understand that it was Swiss policy that every adult able bodied citizen had to perform two years in the army. Upon their discharge, they were provided with a fully automatic rifle and ammo to keep in their homes for national defense if needed. Realizing he would have to deal with an entire population of well armed citizens, it was not worth the effort.

Sweden realized the importance of air power since the invention of the airplane. They had a national air force that was minimal but maintained better than most countries for the next two decades. While America ignored their own Billy Mitchell's warnings about the importance of air power, it's strategies and defense, Sweden listened and responded. The Swedish Government encouraged research and development. At the end of World War I, many German engineers left Germany as the  Versailles Treaty  forbid them from developing any aircraft. They went where the work was, in Sweden. When Hitler came to power most of the German engineers left back to Germany working for the 3rd Reich.  Much to the advantage for Sweden, they had many of the German designs and were familiar with most of the newly developed Nazi aircraft and technology. As nations fell under the Nazi machinery, Sweden quickly built a worthy air force with bases throughout their country. They remained neutral because they had a powerful enough air force to enforce sovereign air space over their nation. If an Axis or Allied plane of any type crossed over into their airspace, they were grounded, the plane or planes seized and the crew was sent back home. Their neutrality was respected only because they had the power and will to enforce it upon both sides. Peace through strength.                    

In more recent times, John F. Kennedy had been elected as the youngest President ever and was put to the test by Nikita Kruschov. He was suspected as being weak for several reasons but he soon dispelled that by the Cuban Missile crisis blockade. Kennedy had come into a strong military built up by the Eisenhower administration and was not afraid to apply this power. The only time an American President was tested by others was out of the suspicion that they are weak. When Jimmy Carter was President Iran took hostages from the Embassy and held them for over a year, terrorism was on a high increase during his weak leadership. In 1980 when the Californian cowboy came into town the Iranians released all of the hostages within two weeks of Reagan's eight year leadership. Only one voice, Moammar Khadafy dared to oppose  Regan and America with terrorist activity linked to Libya.  Regan quickly sent squadrons of F-16's to end his vain threats. He has behaved since.

Now we have the promises of Barrack Hussien Obama. He promises to speak with terrorists, eliminate the world of nukes, drastically reduce our military and stop funding research and development of new weapons systems. Biden announced that within six months of Obama's inauguration, he would be tested by some international event. With all the evidence of being a friend to Islam, a Marxist with a resolve to diminish our military's might he certainly will be tested. With his promise of a sudden withdrawal of our troops in Iraq and a quick end of the war, in spite of the dangers to our troops as advised by our military leaders, how many of our troops will suffer with such a foolish strategy.

Give Obama any length of time in office and he will strip our power to a third world rating. Typical of liberals inability to see the importance of a strong defense, they have continually tried to block research and development of new weapons systems. In the 70's they tried to stop the Abrams Tank because it was, " untested and cost too much". This proved to be the number one tank in the world with nothing comparable. In operation desert storm 2000 Russian T72 tanks were destroyed within 100 hours by the Abrams M1 without a single loss of our own. This saved countless American lives no thanks to liberals and Democrats.  The F14,16 Patriot missile and stealth bomber met the same problems and just about every top weapon of today.  In such a dangerous world we live in, this hippy wish of peace through unilateral disarmament is wishful thinking that has no logic or common sense behind it. That is blind faith on their part! Hippy wish peace only brings terrorism, war and death. To walk softly and carry a big stick? That is, as I have shown being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, the scriptural way to live in a hostile world of unbelievers with peace in our land!

Will our Big Stick be whittled down to a Toothpick by Obama's Naive actions ?