Cocky: Arrogant; pertly self-assertive, conceited. I have to admit that at many times in my life when things were going my way I got cocky. However, invariably things would change as always, and as the saying goes, “again a mouse!’ What is happening on the world stage is similar as two world powers got very cocky and now with them not realizing they terribly underestimated who they were bullying, we are all in a heap of trouble. Aside from the utter destruction of massive amounts of infrastructure and the death and maiming of untold masses, the burgeoning middle classes will be left to carry the weight of reconstruction. “Rich man’s war, poor man’s fight”, we used to chant in my anti-Vietnam War days, is always true, but it is the middle classes who are overly burdened with financing the rebuilding of societies in the aftermath. “Taxation without representation”, was the complaint of the American Colonists and that is exactly what is going on when the majority of the citizens are opposed to unprovoked aggression by their government. This conflict is definitely an existential one for those invaded, and if you believe the rhetoric, also for Israel. However, this never was and never will be an existential fight for the survival of the United States as we are on the opposite side of the planet, separated by two oceans. Many of us thought that as soon as it was obvious this conflict would have devastating consequences for the world economy that the aggressors would back down. However, it appears they are now doubling down and what happens next is everyone’s worst nightmare…