AT LAST THIRD WORLD WAR BEGINS.

At last the much feared third world war has begun but many who expect it to be a military quest for superiority as for first and second world wars are heading for a surprise.

It is a more deadly trade war and it has begun. More deadly because all past wars were actually underpinned by quest for economic advantages.

There was no way there could be a victor in a world war involving military warfare in the world of today. There are too many fingers on red nuclear buttons and so, the first to strike can only invite retaliation in no time. Each strike will be in invitation to mass destruction under every feet.

Nuclear war portends man's self destruction and even power drunk leaders know that so well and so have continued to avoid direct confrontations.

Perhaps similarities between Adolf Hitler who triggered the 2nd world war and Donald Trump who has now triggered the trade war between nations need to be pointed out.

Hitler started with his basic conviction of the superiority of the German race and became determined to compel the rest of the world to bow at his feet.

Today, Trump is trumpeting the superiority of America might and Americans. He is parroting about American broad shoulders being taken advantage of by lower rated parasites and less endowed nations that continue to visit unfair deals on their benefactor.

Both men decided on unilateral efforts to realise their political dreams and prove how right they were or are in the case of Donald Trump.

Then there is this simple but not quite understood coincidence: Adolf (5 letters) Hitler (6 letters) seems to be the opposite of Donald (6 letters) Trump (5 letters) and that could explain Trump is dying to withdraw American soldiers from different parts of the world and hopes to over run everyone else through economic war fare

He fired the first shot with unilateral new tariffs on steel imports to America then took a deep breath and took on the World's second largest economy, China by imposing 25% new tariffs on goods worth $50bn imported from China.

China has replied with its own new tariffs on $50bn worth of goods imported from the United States.

Of course, Trump will fire yet another salvo before long and that's when the fight between the economic elephants start to take its toil.

Yet, this is likely to be just the beginning. Financial markets are bound to run scared worldwide especially as the same economic giants take the fight to other territories like it happened in the cold war years when any friend to any perceived enemy automatically became an enemy

The World Trade Organisation and other international bodies set up to keep nations from apple cart upsetting unilateral actions have since been made useless. And more, like the IMF and even the United Nations may soon become worthless.

The truth is that Donald Trump has so much going for his idea of great and untouchable America. The Dollar is the world's main currency,  America is an unchallenged world military power and for decades the American economy has been the world's number one and engine room of innovation.

But that's the point. The time has come for these to end. Hence the third world war is economic and has been started by America from a position of perceived strength.

The world could do and must do without America that holds everyone to account. That fortunately, is what is likely to emerge from the current war and this is hoping that a new and workable arrangement arises from the ashes ahead just like the UN and others emerged from 2nd world and held the world from the precipice since in spite of being too badly structured to avoid today's pass.

From now on, it makes sense for all to work hard at depending less on America while avoiding running, like a disappointed lover, into the waiting arms of China.