In the 21st Century, why are we still having wars? Is it greed or what?
596454
Behind the publicly announced reasons for every war in the whole human history you ll find what else... interests of a few people or families and money! If people cannot understand this reality there will be always wars. If people undersand that every war is just a way that few people chose to be richer then maby there are no more wars. War is also part of the human civilization as very often without war there is no progress in science and discoveries. It could be heaven if there is no war at all but... we need time until we all realise how stupid is to become wors than the most disgusting animal...
806464
Okay! I did not , honestly look at anything you had to say after your first response...War is not best solution..etc..we are all animals that is what we do ...we {most do not like it} but that is what we, in reality do. I hate it..so many lives lost. but only so many of us can stop it or do something about it.. L
905509
The reason why our world has seen so many wars is because of extremism. \n\nAn extremist is one who denies the opinions of others and persues his/her objectives by any means possible including the use of violence and often twisted logic.\n\nJust look around nowadays, Bush, Zionists extremists, Islamo facists, etc, etc. The list goes on.
584603
Because not everyone wants the same thing.  Many people want no war or poverty, but not as much as they want other things: like power or prestige or the world to be the way that they'd like it.  As long as these things are more important for some people, we will unfortunately be stuck with chaos.
366234
I think everyone agrees that war is not solution to anything however our brain is so susceptible to external factors that we get carried way with momentary impulse and get to agree with wars. Otherwise history is witness it has never solved the problem. Though I remember one war which brought peace was Kalinga war (fought by one of the Indian King Ashoka who after war realized that all this destruction was useless and he left all violence after that and turn to Buddhism).
203606
No, wars will not end in our lifetimes.  Don't make the same mistake made by Karl Marx, in assuming that all human social activity is influenced by economics.  There will still be people in the world who want to conquer us solely because of our religion (or lack thereof), our culture, or just because they're idiots.\nKeep your (gun)powder dry.
275511
There was a time not so long ago when the future looked promising....end of the cold war, the emergence of people power in harsh regimes, popular culture's role in addressing the world's starving, the advances in science that promised the eradication of disease and poverty, etc.  Now it seems that the "old order" has reasserted itself and the most powerful governments of the world are once again committed to jingoistic warmongering activities that place us all at risk once more.  Unfortunately those human traits that are no longer required but have survived evolution to date (greed, fear, aggression) are still a driving force behind most, if not all of, world politics today.  Strangely enough, everyone knows deep down the correct path to take......just no-one has the guts.
101470
Gone With The Wind Quote: "It isnt about the slaves or the cotton, Scarlett. There will always be wars because men love wars, yea, passing the love of women"...\n\nBut that's not the answer to your question. We feel the need for wars because we are not yet in a state of civilization which can properly respond to crises. Call it animal instincts. Look at people around you - some are timid or peacemaking types, but some are aggressive - ready to fight and get beaten maybe, but still fight. They will invent all sorts of excuses - ego, insult, religion, corruption, love et cetera, and simply refuse to reflect on the situation calmly. The essence of balance is detachment, i guess we just cant be enough detached.
65923
The reason for all our fighting is simply access to resources and perception of power. There is always going to be limited resources somewhere or another. People will always hoard in times of crisis, and will not think of their neighbors' welfare. Religious, cultural and racial allegiances will always be important dividers. Rich lands, poor lands, water, my pollution going to your country, my poor migrating to your country, my technology, your oil, etc. Who decides who gets to keep that? Several powers are entitled to it by one reason or another, so they'll tear it off each other's hands.
1026622
The answer to that question is very simple: people don't care. For the most part, we live in a society that focuses on today. Not tomorrow, and hardly ever yesterday. We're always concentrating on what's going on NOW, what's the cool thing NOW, what should I do NOW? It's always about now. People are bored with what came before, because, for them, there's no point. It was THEN. And this is NOW.\n\nAt the same time, for those who DO KNOW their history, and choose to repeat it anyway, well, the answer is also simple. The British Empire was exactly that: an empire, and they occupied the Middle East for the same reasons anyone occupies a territory: natural resources. Bottom line: money. And that's the same today. Sure, the justification is rebuilding a nation that was ruled by a violent despot, and that's the reason why everyday Americans, and especially our brave soldiers over there right now, support this war. But those who started it, those who made it on the very top of their agenda, well, they knew what the British knew. There's a lot of money to be made in the Middle East, one way or another, and they'll make that money if it kills everybody else.\n\nIt's cynical, true, and those who might be keen on the whole "Then and Now" thing might recognize that from a scene in Spaceballs (without trying to sound uber-nerd), but I hope that answers your question.
1044409
Because we don't actually fight, we try to stop everyone else from fighting.  That will never work!\n\nOh, and the UN would not be happy with is if we did what it would take to actually win a war.
429372
No, I do not.\n\nSex is far older as a motivation for human conflict.  Individuals against each other for a single partner or tribe against tribe for sex slaves and wives.\n\nPower predates Religion as a force as well.  Sargon of Persia was the first human (at least in recorded history) to rule more than a single “City.”  He was also the first to have a paid standing army.\n\nHumans will always find an excuse for armed conflict.  Even if the reason is resources (oil) it is easier to sell as “democracy” vs. “religious terrorism.”\n\nDon’t get me wrong, religious reasons are real and do cause a lot of conflict.  But it is not the root of humanity’s problems.  Lack of tolerance, greed, power and even lust are far more responsible for current world events.
1050715
I'm not sure it's that we lose these wars, we just refuse to win them; leaving the enemies to fight another day.\n\nI want to win so we can get it behind us [for good], but that requires something we [the culture at large] no longer posses: moral clarity, conviction & certainty of purpose.
683406
Wars are fought when two countries have big problems such as invasion when a country wants more space or more people there are many reasons why a country go to war but there are a lot of disadvantages to because going to war is  lose of a lot of money and loss of life.
56232
How many reasons do you want?\n  - O I L\n  - Morality.  We're the richest/strongest. shouldn't we help others as well as ourselves?\n  - We want some of what they have (resources such as titanium, diamonds, etc. that are not found in the USA)\n  - To support friendly countries in areas where there are many UN-friendly countires\n  - etc, etc, etc.\nFact is that we are part of a world that technology keeps making smaller and smaller, and while isolationist policies may have helped us in the past, those policies have not worked since WWI and the beginning of the idustrial revolution.
375511
your observation of current conditions go far beyond the political structure that our world suffers from Today.In brief, the answer to the first part of your question is 'Its already too late!" Our Environment is in total upheaval due to the persistent use of FOSSIL FUEL!! Global Warming is UPON us as we sleep, eat and make war....for the very product that will terminate Life as we know it...First of all,once the concept of Greed is comprehended ...We as a race might have a chance to not become exstinct. As it stands now, it doesnt look very good. Understanding the free worlds economy and realizing that it is controlled by the Petro Dollar.and the handful of people that own the Companies that produce Petroleum.Failure to keep the Petro Dollar afloat WILL and WOULD collapse the free world economy,  THIS is the POLITICAL Machine that decides whose Son or Daughter should be sacrificed to maintain a "Freedom" to breath foul air and watch our Planet slowly Die; Being ravaged by Hurricanes,Tornadoes,and Floods caused by the melting of our Polar caps.Once the Salinity content of our oceans deviate much more or the temperature should fluxuate (I believe its 4 Degrees Celsius) disrupting the food chain, we as a race of people should be issued a shovel the next time we fill our gas tanks ....so we can start digging our own graves....We are on the Precipice, and it IS serious,....but we as a people have a tendency to not want to hear this until its knocking at our door...I pray that we as a society will take note and a STAND and commit...your children and your grandchildren have the RIGHT to live in a world free of Toxic Gases we call 'AIR' that is generated by the handful of Petrol Sharks that keep us stuck from utilizing the technology that ALREADY exist to burn clean fuel  ...Sundancer
800522
We already dominate the world. The world is jealous of our hard working successful society.\n\nWe have sacrificed our sons and daughters countless times to help stabilize the world. And we have spent vast fortunes to rebuild our enemies homelands and protect their liberty and freedom. Even when they have tried in vain to take ours away.\n\nWhen America goes to war it is for a damn good reason. Period.