Numb: Deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move. The present conflict in Iran and the whole Middle East is making me feel numb. In my own lifetime since 1950 there have been regular shock waves, but this is by far the most consequential. This is a bloodbath of civilizations; on the one hand the West with its so-called “liberal” views on sexual preference, social intercourse, explicit media of all sorts, uncontrolled caveat emptor capitalism, versus the East which in many cases opposes. The West, led by England and Scotland essentially initiating the Industrial Revolution along with British naval power were able to dominate the planet and passed the torch to the United States in 1944. For over 200 years the British Pound and now the US Dollar have been the global reserve currencies giving them financial dominance of unparalleled influence. This power was used by the British through opium to subjugate China from 1850-1950 in what the Chinese call, “The century of humiliation.” Will the American and Israeli militaries prevail in literally conquering the Persians, one of the oldest civilizations, or will the 21st century emerge as the turning point in history where no individual sovereign country holds all the cards?