Modern civilized society is an intricate structure of common social values, political structure, civil and criminal laws. The fabric of interlinking business enterprise and technology in today’s modern society works like a Swiss watch. Please excuse that antiquated metaphor, but it captures the dynamic of every thing working together in unison.

In America, as in much of the modern civilized world, everything meshes and works well with just a little bit of oiling or retooling the social infrastructure structuring as friction occurs. Our laws, courts, and punishment have evolved to address the common disagreements, misdemeanors, felonies, and as well as horrific violent crimes.

The system works well, although, continuous improvements are our general goal, and so it is with modern societies around the world. The system works fairly well even between other modern countries and cultures. It fails terribly when aberrations occur that cannot be reconciled with our established governing principles.

We are watching a psychological drama on a global stage unfold, as we have a discussion with ourselves about whether we should allow illegal enemy combatants access to our civil and criminal courts with all the rights and privileges citizens. Our objective seems to coexist and blend. That is what modern civilization now seeks, and as a civilized society, many are inclined to offer the Geneva Convention rules and treatment to a group of terrorist Barbarians who have no rules and know no bounds of destruction

If a civilized society becomes so absorbed with its own narcissistic self-image that it is not able to effectively cope dangers presented by Barbarians intent upon the destruction, then each day is a day lost. It almost becomes impossible to comprehend the potential danger because the concept of discourse and reason have become so ingrained in the civilized society, so that we debate the rights of those who kill us and our children. For many, denial has become a mental illness. To live in denial is easier than having to accept the responsibility of harsh action, so the data is ignored and the country ceases to exist.

Modern civilized societies create and build, while the Barbarians seek to destroy. The Barbarians have a very simple set of precepts much as the “Borg” on “Startrek, The Next Generation.” Their motto reflected “We will absorb you. Resistance is futile.” And so it is with the Barbarians. I use the word “Barbarian” because that is what they are by definition, and they use terroristic actions to achieve their goals. It is the manifestation of evil.

This is not the clash of civilizations. It is a struggle for survival and how to respond, so that we survive and our culture survives. What is a civilized society to do when the polite rules of war do not apply? Do we gather in groups to argue and debate how to apply our rules to a new game created by the Barbarians who insist on applying their own rules? Our objective generally in war has been to conquer the offending nation and help the people reconstruct their country with ideals of order based upon our view of fairness, so the defeated can have self determination in their new society. Wonderful ideas.

As we negotiate with our culture and the Barbarians with the concept of fairness, we attempt to lead by example by putting their combatants in a conformable prison with excellent cuisine and other amenities not afforded to U.S. citizens in maximum security prisons. In response the Barbarians torture, decapitate our soldiers and mutilate their bodies. Our society then debates how we could more effectively communicate to achieve a better understanding.

This debate will continue until the Barbarians touch us more directly in our own country; then we will become the beast that only knows survival and vengeance. It does not know fairness, it does not respond to polite discourse; it only knows a controlled anger that is far beyond vengeance for both the Barbarians and those who lead us to the chasm. History showed us that side of horror in the French Revolution, and other tragedies are chronicled throughout history. Civilization then becomes lost for a period of time as it does on the battlefield.

As I write this, I am listening to the news that the Barbarians in England have attempted mass killings of innocent people. The new Prime Minister issued and edict to his government that the word “terrorist’ is not to be used. Additionally, the British government continues to enable the destruction of their country by allowing their banking institutions to channel money into terrorist organizations in headquartered in Mideast countries. Additionally, Tony Blair supported policies which allowed known fanatics into Briton. One British analyst on Fox News just stated, “They (the British) got what they deserved because their policies invited and empowered the terrorists.”

We also have out the welcome mat, and the Barbarians are among us … waiting. We now know what is coming.