As someone who has taken part in wars across our tiny world for the best part of my life, I know as way too many others do, that just one more war is a war too many.
However, it’s been going on for thousands of years now, but will someone in a thousand years time be able to write what I’m writing?
When we were young soldiers and gung ho…it was cool to talk about how tough, how brave…and just how good we all were. But as we grow older, having dusted off our bravado, clear thinking comes into light, and we see war and all that it drags in with it for what it really is.
They say that war takes place when the military steps in because the politicians and diplomats have failed.
For me that’s way too simplistic. There are indeed many many reasons, although that statement does come into it too.
Where are we today in Ukraine’s desperate struggle for survival for example?
White people killing White people! Let’s save the White people by strangling and starving out the White people!
A crazy statement…or is it? Because that’s how I see it.
The wars of the last 20 years against “Brown people” didn’t warrant 24/7 coverage by the West’s media for days and days…even Putin’s managed to kill COVID, as it’s no longer covered in the main news cycle.
So Russia bad…West good.
There is no doubt that Putin’s bad, but as for the West, well for way too long both the EU and NATO have most definitely become expansionists…that expansion is for ALL to see. That is bad for peace…no doubt about it. I was always uncomfortable with Eastern countries joining Europe and NATO. I’ve believed that these countries should remain “buffer countries” in order to keep the peace between the East and West.
“We’re Global” is what I’ve heard for decades now. Yes, that’s fine for those who are making lots of $$$$$ from being “Global.” Just look at our gallant politicians and heads of big business and how too many are tied financially to countries like Russia and China. Russians and Chinese not just owning properties in our countries, but also owning and running our infrastructure. Russian and Chinese students attending our best universities so that those universities can profit from them, some paying 5x the rate of a British or US student in their own countries universities. Obviously replacing many of our own smart students who can’t afford a place at a top university. They then take that education back home with them and use it wisely in key industries that ultimately end up undercutting our own. Now if that doesn’t come back to bite us one day…
In today’s world there are too many variables left open for welcoming in a war.
Both the populations of the East and the West needs to seriously look at themselves, and see just where we can ALL be better for future peace and stability. It may take us simple folk from both sides to instigate it, by making the political leaders who have been dropping their pants to big business and their billionaires for way too long now begin to represent we peasants.
Because right now, we are all human beings, no matter our colour, religion or pronouns…and the vast majority of us just wanting to live a secure and peaceful life on our extremely fragile planet.
Bob Shepherd 
In this wave of propaganda and misinformation I think you have summed this situation up as well as I have seen.
iUnfortunately it seems that politicians around the world, be they elected or dictators, let their ego’s and thirst for wealth , fame and Power get in the way of achieving the great good for us all.
The continuing expansion of the EU and NATO has been one of a number of reasons for the situation we have now but you have to wonder how far these organisations were going to continue to increase their sphere of influence; would it have continued until Russia finally reacted.
It was the political equivalent of poking the Wasps nest with a stick and only stopping when stung.
For the sake of everyone on this planet let’s hope there are are leaders out there somewhere that have the wisdom, to go with the influence needed to end this awful situation.
Am I asking too much?