Since the publication of part two of this column on Jan. 22, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine has become imminent, the White House states repeatedly. Russian troops and tanks continue to cross into Russian ally Belarus in preparation for joint military exercises scheduled for February. On Sunday, the U.S. government announced that it would reduce its embassy in Kiev to essential staff, issued a travel advisory for Ukraine, and began to deploy weapons and ammunition there, including Javelin anti-tank missiles. On Monday, the White House advised U.S. citizens to leave Ukraine and placed 8,500 troops in high alert.

Also during the weekend, less than two weeks shy of the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics, China decided to flex its muscles yet again, staging its largest incursion into Taiwanese air defense space since October 2021, with a total of 39 warplanes.

War over either Ukraine or Taiwan is likely to generate an unpredictable chain of events, perhaps leading to what some are already calling World War III.

But is America ready for a global war?

There are different dimensions to war readiness. First is military preparedness, which includes the ability to recruit, train and deploy sufficient troops and support personnel, along with weapons, ammunition and supplies. By almost all accounts, the United States has the world's most powerful military.

In case of a prolonged war, America would most certainly have to expand its active forces, but studies show that the pool of potential recruits may not be deep enough. In 2017, the nonpartisan organization Mission Readiness reported that 71% of the 17-24-year-old population did not meet requirements to serve in the military due to obesity, health problems and inadequate levels of education; and that only 17% would be "qualified and available for active duty."

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, matters have gotten worse. Take a look at David Brooks' recent New York Times column, "America Is Falling Apart at the Seams," where he paints a chilling picture of American society across generations: increasing careless driving, fistfights in airplane cabins and other forms of violence, murder, anger, fear, depression, narcissism, drug abuse and suicide.

A 2020 Reference.com article listed the qualities of a good soldier: "reliability, fearlessness, discipline, consistency, courage, motivation and skill... prepared(ness) to exceed their abilities, be diligent in getting tasks completed and stay focused on safety." But these qualities are in short supply in TikTok America.

Recent data show that approximately 30,000 active-duty military personnel have failed to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in defiance of Defense Department orders; a few hundred have been forced out of the military.

A related form of war readiness pertains to the home front. Since the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in 1945, the United States has been directly involved in around 30 wars and armed conflicts, some brief like the invasion of Grenada (1983), some prolonged like the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021). But as costly in American blood and treasure as these conflicts have been — 58,000 killed in Vietnam; $2 trillion spent on the Iraq/Syria War — the American public has faced few disruptions and inconveniences, nothing comparable to the challenges and sacrifices of World War II.

The exigencies of World War II forced many sacrifices and lifestyle changes on the American public. The government imposed various forms of rationing as early as a few weeks after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, including of tires and gasoline. Starting in May 1942 consumer products such as coffee, sugar, meats, butter and canned foods were rationed. Americans were encouraged to walk and ride bikes to safe gas, and to vacation close to home, to work where they were needed, to cultivate "Victory Gardens," to can fruits and vegetables and to mend torn items of clothing.

But we live in times of TikTok and are extremely divided and polarized. America's enemies are well aware of that and factor it into their calculations as to whether invade our allies or not.

Luis Martinez-Fernandez is author of "Revolutionary Cuba: A History" and "Key to the New World: A History of Early Colonial Cuba." Readers can reach him at [email protected]. To find out more about Luis Martinez-Fernandez and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.