A New Cold War

An interesting article in the BBC today. From an interview with the former Premier of Russia, Mikhail Gorbachev carried an grave observation from the former leader. He warns that a new cold war may be in the makings if not having already started. His basis are from his own observations of accelerating Western aggressions in the Middle East, tensions over the Ukraine and the continuing sanctions imposed on officials in Russia over it’s actions in Eastern Ukraine. Many in the West would proclaim “Bunk!” but we would be wrong because as hard as it might be to swallow, the West has enjoyed a great many of these things and more. Sadly, we spent to much time rejoicing in our successes that we forgot that our arrogance could and has worked against us. Over 50% of Russians now strongly support Mr. Putin and his efforts to rebuild the Soviet Union into it’s former greatness.

More than a few wars have been started over the unequal treatment that the losing side suffers. The attitude of “it’s their tough luck” might sound nice but in fact, by ignoring their plight we simply add fuel to the fire of revolution that burns so brightly in the midst of depressed economic times. A simple look back over the past 75 years shows countless examples of it and in a few rare cases such as the Japanese strike against Pearl Harbor the rise of the 3rd Rich, it was THE driving factor used to promote those aggressions. Sadly, it was similar circumstances that gave Bin Laden the support he needed to begin his campaign against “the great satan” that the US has so frequently been painted as. As we have recently learned, it was also the unfair treatment against many Muslins in Abu Grade prison that launched the birth of ISIS, which we and others are now paying for.

It is often accurately written that the winner of every conflict gets to write history and not surprisingly that history is told only from the winners perspective, often ignoring or re-writing facts in order to support the winners position. The problem or I should say the driving force behind these issues is often a political machine that fails to take into account the after effects of war and the obligations that come with being the winner. One of the greatest reasons for our allies in Japan and Europe are not from having won the war, but more from having won the peace after the war. We strongly supported these countries, helping them get back on their feet and giving the opportunity to return to some sense of normality. Lastly, but perhaps the most important is the need for us to be able to distinguish between those that can be helped and those that never will be helped, no matter our greatest efforts.

The purpose of war is to win, plain and simple. But we often forget that those we have defeated include many millions of innocents, caught up in war, that would just like to be left alone and to once again be made whole. If we are ever able to end war we must first end the reasons to make war. We need to invest in the citizens of the defeated and help them to understand a peaceful philosophy through education, jobs, and prosperity to the point that they willingly … no, make that wantingly become our allies and stand with us rather than against us. We should not try to make them a mirror image of us, only to share some of the same values for life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness while still maintaining their own culture and identity. Through respect comes admiration and the desire for emulation. Until that day dawns we will continue to face the ravages of war and there is no guarantee that at some later date it may be the other guys that gets to write the history the way they see it.