Quote Originally Posted by Kraco
Mankind certainly has a tendency to wage war, but there are also exceptions: Long peaceful periods. Like right now it has been in many places ever since the end of the WWII. Which is also why I can't really understand the first season of Gundam. The world was in peace, even if in a somewhat tense peace. Why did the CB choose such a moment to begin their operation? Because it would make the peoples hate them even more, when they broke that peace? It's bloody hypocritical then to say they want to end wars.
The world at large was at peace, but there were all too many places in the world that were not. The same places that have the issues today, in the real world. Sri Lanka, Congo (Gundam used African diamond mines), the Middle East, Pakistan, South America, etc. Places that are considered 3rd world, out of sight and out of mind by the advanced and more "civilized" nations of the world. Setsuna never knew peace in his childhood, Lockon knew of terrorism, Al/Hal knew of only being created for future conflicts.

I'm going to start sounding like a broken record repeating Setsuna's line to Saji about why it was fair for only him to live in a peaceful world.

The world is never at peace. Conflict will always exist. We are a primative and warlike race, who's greatest technological advancements flourish as a result of developing from conflicts. Conflicts with each other, with the environment, nature, and society. Like with so many works of fiction, a humanity unified in hating something else is the only humanity that is at peace with itself. CB's original plan was to fulfill that role. It worked, but the result backfired. The world remained divided enough to still oppress and hate each other. Those who took power took any means necessary to ensure their power became absolute.