After enjoying one of the longest periods of peacetime in the history of mankind, it looks like the generations that have never known war are now entering an era of multiple armed and long term conflicts.
Ironically, the ‘leaders’ trumpeting the horns of war are old men who still should be familiar with its horrors, although it is doubtful if they have actually been in the military, or if they have, have actually served in the frontlines where most of the death and destruction happens.
The most recent senior citizen to drag his country into a war is United States of America’s Donald Trump, who easily gave in to the request of veteran war monger, Israel’s Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu, to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites.
Of all people, Trump wasn’t supposed to be a war freak, as he is known for avoiding the draft by claiming to be injured with ‘bone spurs’, along with making ‘peace’ a big part of his campaign when he made his second run for the US presidency. Nobody knows what kind of influence or dirt Bibi has on Donald, but with the bunker busting bombing of Iran, the USA has now become a willing participant in Israel’s many wars.
Perhaps Trump thinks that dropping a few dozen bombs on another country can come without consequences for his country, so at this point, it would be interesting to see how Iran, along with the rest of the world, reacts to this newest act of war, involving another world superpower.
The USA joining Israel, which by now is probably among the top 3 countries in terms of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in its war in Palestine alone, makes war a part of the normal for this era. Counting the ongoing wars right now, there is Israel vs Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq; US bombing Iraq; and Russia’s ongoing 3-day Special Military Operation aka Invasion of Ukraine that is well into its 3rd year. Additionally, there are also civil wars in Sudan, Syria, Myanmar that has destroyed towns and cities and taken thousands of lives.
As a country where people worry over the potential of an armed conflict with the bully of the seas, China, particularly over the West Philippine Sea, seeing all these wars being waged and the lukewarm reaction of the rest of the civilized world, can be quite scary. We have seen in recent years how unhinged world leaders have proven that they can start proper wars and get away with it. Aside from a bit of military aid here and there, and a few harsh words from the United Nations, nobody has done anything meaningful to stop the aggressors from continuing their acts of war, which we all thought back then was the worst thing any world leader could do in this civilized world where there were supposed to be rules.
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is now more than 3 years old, and estimates put the Russian death toll at up to 250,000, with total casualties at over 950,000. Estimates for Ukraine are at 60,000-100,000 killed and total casualties up to 400,000. All this because of a special military operation that had absolutely no justification in international law, that was supposed to last only 3 days. Putin is still sending Russian men into the so-called meat grinder, where wave upon wave of soldiers are killed to win meters of territory that is lost after a few days. Ukraine has no choice but to defend its territory, sending its own soldiers and drones to kill the invaders. War is definitely an option once more and given the advances in technology and our ability to kill and destroy, millions more will die if the world and its leaders don’t find a way to stop the war freaks from waging even more wars.
Take the example of Israel under Netanyahu, who had a reason to strike at Hamas after the October 7 attacks, but by now has gone completely overboard with the death and violence. They are no longer in a war with Hamas, but are now engaged in the genocide of Palestine, killing not just combatants, but women and children as well, not only with bombs and guns, but also by depriving non-combatants of food, medicine, water, and dignity. For the 1,200 Israelis that were killed on that fateful day, at least 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, more than 110,000 injured, and almost all the homes, schools, and hospitals in Palestine destroyed.
Everyone knows that war crimes are taking place left and right, and yet the wars continue. And now, instead of being an example of restraint, the good old USA has jumped into the fray. How much more blood will be shed, nobody knows. How much more difficult life can become as soon as supply chains are disrupted and priorities of governments change, only time will tell. The only thing that is certain is that any war is bad, and we are in the middle of plenty. All because of war freak leaders who now know how easy it is to get away with waging mass destruction.*
