War mongering seems to be an industry? If I remember correctly, the world was supposed to be a more peaceful place after the cold war ended. It has not so been. War mongers made sure it was not. Has anyone truly tried to truly figure out why this is so? Arrogance, greed, ignorance, and most of all thoughtlessness are mostly to blame in my opinion. The world seems incapable of learning from experience. If peace is preferable to war, why is war not mostly a last resort in more cases? Why is the decision to go to war apparently not taken with better introspection by war mongers?
"Boots on the ground" has been tried in Afghanistan. After over a decade of war, the Taliban still seem to be alive and well in their country, waiting for foreign boots in their country to get off the ground. "Boots on the ground" was tried in Iraq. Iraq is less peaceful today than it was before foreign boots hit the ground in that country, in the opinion of many. Boots off the ground was tried in Libya. The outcome is not better. Many Libyans no longer recognize their country. They seem to have lost her. There is the tragedy still unfolding in Syria. Millions of innocent people who just wish to be left alone in their homes are being uprooted from their homes and forces to match in all directions away from their homes, not knowing when they will return.
If there must be boots be on the ground in Iraq and Syria, why not local/regional boots only? Why use foreign boots when their incendiary effects is very predictable? Why does anyone truly believe that it will work in that part of the world today? Are they enough such boots and how long before bravado shades despair?
Yes, the world is a dangerous place but why make it more so? Why fix what is not broken? Why break something to fix it? When will the human race by experience based consensus, put a fair price on the avoidable human misery, suffering, and death visited on innocent people by political and religious strife? Are what many innocent people are losing life, limb, and treasure for today, worth the promised benefits? When will war mongers everywhere give peace a chance?
Quite often times, one ask what one's life would have been like, if one was born in a more deeply troubled part of the world, where war mongers are in charge?
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Emmanuel Udogu
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 1:04 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - OPINION
Friday musing
To paraphrase the late President Ronald Reagan alias Reagan the Gipper: "Here we go again." The neo-cons are at it again beating the drums of war or "clamoring for putting boots on the ground" in Syria and Iraq in the confrontation against ISIS. These are some of the same so-called "experts" who told us that American troops were going to experience a "Palm Sunday" in Iraq as Iraqis would not only line up with palms to greet the great warriors as "Messiahs" but would also present them with roses and even "plant kisses on their lips and jaws" as they triumphantly march into Iraq and liberate it from the tyranny of Sadam Hussein.
Today, the voices of some neo-cons and politicos have almost reached their crescendos for war following the carnage in Paris. The propaganda being sold us is that anything short of war is weakness and that the application of "soft power" in conflict resolutions is useless. Unfortunately, members of the rational and silent majority are left again scratching their head.
Perhaps this is a moment in which this country should reflect on the wise counsel of the late Prime Minister of Great Britain and war time Prime Minister—Sir Winston Churchill—who warned that: "It's always very easy to start a war but difficult to end one!"
Ike Udogu
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