Yes it would. But war is pretty expensive too, isn’t it? And the actual cost may not be as great as you think. For example, if I were to ask you, "How much of its income is the West currently spending to raise the living standards in underdeveloped countries?" - what would you say?

 

The answer is, according to the noted economist Jeffrey Sachs in his book The End of Poverty, approximately .2 of 1%. That’s not very much, is it? If I were to ask you, "How much would this expenditure have to increase to eliminate world hunger and disease?" - what would you say? You would probably guess that it would take a huge amount of money. The actual answer is .5 of 1%. Incredibly, if the West increases its investment in poor countries by ½ of one percent of its income, we will come close to eliminating world hunger and disease.

So the investment needed to revitalize Middle Eastern economies is substantial, but is realistically possible for the West to do. Also, as a Vision of Hope begins to take root in the Middle East, it will be possible for the West to reduce military and security expenditures. The West may also be able to open up new markets for its goods and services in such areas as Africa and the Middle East, as new and vibrant economies begin to grow there.

 

This process, which is already happening in China, India, and Russia, is indispensable for the ultimate success of globalization. It could also be argued that Western investment in underdeveloped areas will not only lead to peace, but could lead to a resurgence of vitality and moral purpose in the West. Helping others is a good prescription for helping ourselves.