A World At War

World War I was idealistically called “the war to end war” (“The War to End All Wars,” BBC News, November 10, 1998, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/10/98/world_war_i/198172.stm). The war felt almost cosmic in scale as it drew in larger and larger powers. There was a sense that major world problems would be resolved and conflicts would be decided. Instead, the phrase is now used sarcastically, if only because it’s now labeled as the “first” world war. This is all a reminder to...