Thursday, February 5, 2015

Which shall prevail – war or peace?



If the US ships weapons to Ukraine, the war in Ukraine will become a proxy war between the US and Russia – and this is very dangerous.  President Obama and President Putin each wants what he wants with sovereign intent; and, these aspirations can work towards war or peace.  These two heads of state have an extraordinary amount of military weaponry (including an arsenal of nuclear weapons) within their command, which could become an issue if hostile political climates do not subside – DIPLOMACY – this will be most advantageous for everyone.  Physical force (e.g. military intervention of personnel / equipment; existing wars around the world) only causes death and destruction.  When great superpowers come together, they can either accentuate the positive in their discussions and actions towards those states within their realm, or decide to exert globalized negativity, fear and subjugation.  We’re now in the midst of another “Cold War” – where sovereignty rules, and military might empowers. 
  
Political fall-out due to the Ukraine/European situation (inclusive of coup d’état) is totally out-of-control!  Beheadings and massive brutal kidnappings by terrorists have become common-place; the filtration of weapons around the world is most lucrative – this catapults dictators, henchmen, immoralities, and violent atrocities. How do we (mankind) move back from the “point of no return” – from the brink of disaster?
 
§  Certainly NOT by providing more weapons, thereby contributing to more deaths and annihilation of communities.  Governments sell and/or give weapons to other countries on an international scale, and everyone should understand the consequences of those sovereign actions.  Refusal to come back to the “table of diplomacy” will cause more destruction to global societies, and escalate fragile economic conditions in existence today.  People around the world are suffering because of the actions of those who emit powerful colonizing demands amid economic provocations and on-going political confrontations and power struggles.  Children die horrible deaths, and if they live through the continuous wars that ensue, they become desensitized and cynical with thoughts of retribution; as adults, self-preservation (of family, traditions, religious ideology, a way of life) become foremost on their agenda.  Violence begets more violence.

§  WEAPONS are designed, manufactured, sold and also procured by industrialized nations in the international arena.  How much is enough?  Russia and the United States have enough nuclear weapons (just between those two sovereign states) to destroy the world as we know it.  However, it’s believed that nuclear weapons are deterrence to another world war – as there would only be losers if there was a full-scale war between superpowers.  Overlooking the advancement of NATO in the Baltics would be a mistake, just as exporting more weapons to Ukraine will be “fanning the flames” of chaos.  

International relations between the United States of America and Russia have deteriorated to the extent that a new cold war is rapidly emerging, ready to be ignited at a moment’s notice.  It is still time to turn back from the “brink” – to embrace diplomacy once more for the benefit of humanity.

I say to those in power, “Your next thoughts, emotions, expressions of conflictive maneuvers, and ultimately manifestations of political, military, and economic exploitations will erupt.  Make peace among the Council – the United Nations Security Council, the body setup to maintain world order.”  It seems that objective is not going so well.  UNSC consists of US, UK, France, Russia and China; there is much to be done to avoid, deter, contain, and eventually eliminate terrorism within all societies – no state is immune to terrorism.  This should be a focused and collaborative effort of the UNSC. But, the Council cannot perform well when fighting among themselves.   Germany, a financial powerhouse, also has much clout within the political arena.

Powerful states that provide financial and/or military support to other countries should require that responsible and humanitarian actions are exemplified according to international law – ideology for governing nations of people.  When laws are broken and brutal, calculative, and decimating actions are committed that are so overwhelmingly abhorred by rational-minded people, then something must be done to right the wrong that has occurred.  The situation must be rectified, if there is to be a peaceful resolution - however, oftentimes rectification does not occur.  What are the ramifications when wrongs are  not righted?  Just taking a look at the world provides some answers.   Why are so many politicians hell-bent on war?  War has never solved the world's problems - it has only created more. 

As I contemplate the seriousness of this dilemma, I am feasting on fine chocolate –truffles from France, Belgium delicacies, and Olympic chocolates from Russia (Sochi).  

Bon Appétit indeed!