One thing that is different now is that I am not at all sure everyone on the same side is on the same page or is even reading from the same edition or maybe even the same book. In the past, “sides” were pretty well defined, and while the Italian Facists and German Facists and Japanese Militarists were not in complete agreement in all things they pretty much wanted their side to win. This unanimity was less apparent for the Communists, but neither was it totally lacking.

But today, it is not at all certain that Iran, or Russia, or Pakistan, or many other countries each have a central position or strategy and even less likely that a combination of counties do. Trying to figure out what Russia or Iran is doing may be impossible because there is really no “Mr. Big” in those places who has all the pieces and his hands on all the controls. Things are too much of a mess there for that to be true. And it is even likely that if there is a Mr. Big he may be playing both sides of the street to his own advantage.