Once again, as I previously stonewalled and obfuscated about, the Good People of Television are preparing for a civil conglagration amongst the warring factions at the broadcast networks. I didn't want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong... No mayor wants war.

But war it is. While we can expect CBS to remain a mighty fortress, and for Fox to continue to thrive thanks to its wile and cunning, we worry about the other networks as the battles grow more heated.

Those in my cabinet who have bravely ventured into the outlying areas of Television report that only a small number of network executives and reality-show producers are engaged in sectarian violence, while the overwhelming majority want peace and a normal life in a unified country.

While the fighting is expected to become particularly fierce next week, when the networks roll out their new fall schedules, Fox has already ventured forth with a few attacks with some success. “Prison Break,� “House� and “Bones� all remain steady performers for the network, while “Vanished� seems to be losing a little steam and viewership ebbed from “Justice� just a bit in its second week. “Standoff� did well in its debut, but its true test will come when it’s not up against repeats. “’Til Death� and “Happy Hour� may need reinforcements in the fierce Thursday-night battleground. So the network has already introduced all of its new fall shows, and doesn’t look to need to make any strategic adjustments until after the World Series.

One must implore the networks to consider more peaceable tactics in the future: Please, no more reality shows involving "celebrities" unless the phrase "washed-up" or "has-been" is actually in the title.

ABC, meanwhile, is pursuing a policy of aggressive caution: It’s introducing 10 new scripted series, but rolling them out over a two-month period. “Men in Trees� has been dispatched to make the first incursion on the primetime schedule, airing this Tuesday before settling down in the relatively somnolent Friday-evening combat zone. Leading the attack with such a modest, mildly charming show seems an odd choice – I might’ve led with “The Nine,� a splashier show more attuned to our times, or “Ugly Betty,� perhaps ABC’s best new series, to ensure it some sampling on Thursday night before its big guns get sent in, or maybe “Brothers and Sisters,� just to get that sorry bit of cannon fodder over with.

ABC needed to be this bold in bringing out so many fresh troops, because outside of four or five hits, its lineup is sucking air. On the other hand, launching this many new pilots is obviously risky, because there’s only so much promotion the network can do and there are only so many new shows audiences have an appetite for sampling, so the long, slow rollout is probably sage.

I wish the violence would go down, but not as much as ABC programmers would wish the violence would go down. But, incredibly enough, they show great courage, and they want our help. And any sign that says we're going to leave before the job is done simply emboldens reality-show producers and creates a certain amount of doubt for people so they won't take the risk necessary to help a civil society evolve in the country. But here's betting that ABC will have already cancelled a new show (at least) before it debuts "Day Break" in November.

Meanwhile, it’s hard to point at a weak spot on CBS’s schedule. A weak show, or two, or three, sure, but the network has maintained an astonishing stability and, “Shark,� given the unbeatable combination of James Woods’ charisma and “CSI� as a lead-in, may be the surest thing to a guaranteed hit coming in this season. Barring any unforeseen widespread crumbling of viewership on hit shows, CBS will continue to prevail over virtually every battle.

Which is worrisome: We’ve all seen what the all-powerful warlord Les Moonves did to Tom Freston over at Viacom; I fear he may have his sights set on my position next.

NBC’s clearly in the toughest position as the insurgencies continue to spring up. Kevin Reilly may have inherited depleted troops from Dark Overlord Zucker, but for some reason, it’s his leadership on the line. Reilly has responded with some pretty good new shows, albeit some that are tough sells: Programs about showbiz (“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,� “30 Rock�) and sports (“Friday Night Lights�) may be the network’s best new offerings, but they’re notorious for failing to attract viewers.

I am aware that extremists and terrorists are doing everything they can to prevent NBC from growing stronger. That's what I'm aware of. How they managed to sneak into Reilly's office and slip "20 Good Years" on the schedule is a mystery we're all trying to solve.

As for The CW, it probably should have been more aggressive in terms of new programs and made more of a statement that the mediocre ratings of UPN and The WB were no longer acceptable. But apparently, the mediocre ratings of UPN and The WB are acceptable. The only interesting thing to watch there is whether “Gilmore Girls� can help spark a ratings insurgence in “Veronica Mars.�

So, as the annual autumnal civil war gets under way, sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy. This is -- but war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times. These are challenging times, and they're difficult times, and they're straining the psyche of our country. I understand that. You know, nobody likes to see innocent people die. Nobody wants to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by reality-show producers. And our question is, do we have the capacity and the desire to spread peace by confronting these network executives and reality-show producers, and supporting those who want to live in liberty? That's the question. And my answer to that question is, we must. We owe it to future generations to do so.