We are back again to this question now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, and for the time being, Abiy’s war in Ethiopia is momentarily forgotten, how will war end?
I accept to be called naive with respect to war but I must ask, what is it about soldiers that makes them religiously obedient? What is it about rapine others who have done them no harm propels them to action? Is the promise of a medal should they die on battle so tempting that all commonsense goes out of their ears?
Now, someone will remind me, as often as they have, that I sleep peacefully at night because of the soldiers. Well, I pay them as a start. Secondly it’s unlikely that my neighbours would want to attack me at the scale possible only with an organised state or non state actor. Which, I think, makes their point a moot one.
I have two friends in Kyiv and for the moment they are safe. And I hope it remains that way for long.
Now is an opportune moment to ask if there’s a just war? I am tempted to say that the Ukrainians have every right to defend themselves against an aggressive neighbour who threatens their existence as a sovereign state, in fact to use whatever is in their power to do so whilst every avenue is sought to bring hostilities to an end.
To peace.
Random thoughts 
I misplaced my psychopath hat so until then I cannot understand anything worth this much.
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You can pray for the war to end๐
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Praying works well if you have enough artillery.
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So pray but get a big gun
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So_______ but get a big gun. Fill in the blank with whatever and the outcome is the same.
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To me, this war seems pointless. Everybody will lose.
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I wonder if Putin expected a war, or did he think his forces could move in with little to no opposition? I suspect the latter.
From the Ukrainian perspective resistance to the invasion is anything but pointless. It’s up to the conscience of each resister as to the type and level of resistance to employ.
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Yes, Putin probably though it would be easy.
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From what I gather, to the Ukrainians, not resisting is accepting the death of Ukraine both as an idea and a place. So they must resist.
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That’s my understanding as well, especially after listening to a number interviews with immigrants from Ukraine.
I gather that the relationship between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine is similar to the relationship between the USA and Canada, and between Australia and New Zealand. At government level it’s a different situation.
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Is that not true of 98% of the wars? In the other 2% every one still loses except gun makers and lobbyists who make a windfall
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I recall reading somewhere, but can’t locate the source, that the resolution of one war sets the seeds for the next.
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this is true.
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IMO, the primary incentive behind war (of any degree) is the desire for POWER. Some humans (mostly men, as has been amply demonstrated over the years) seem to think their ideas/philosophies/beliefs are far superior to all other humans and thus they need to convert everyone to their perspective of life.
And once they do (-IF- they do), they puff out their chests and claim themselves as “Cock of the Walk.”
But then, the next guy with an overactive imagination comes along and … well, I don’t think I need to go on.
So … bottom line. War will most likely never end.
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For war to end, there’s a radical shift in thinking that would have to take place
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Power mad insanity. Soldiers are brainwashed into obeying orders….or else.
Hope your friends stay safe. My husband’s grandmother was born in Kyiv.
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It’s almost like being a soldier is equal to joining a cult
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Yes, running mates, I’m sure.
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They are brothers from the same womb. Only one is revered and paid for by the commonwealth
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Look at history especially with the aggressor. Young men preached to, indoctrinated like in a church, vulnerable and with an eager ego of youth. All with a “cause” to defend, some good and most bad.
Ukraine has every right to defend themselves if all else fails, which it appears to be the case. But Viet Nam..why did we go there and for so long and Afghanistanโฆyears and years. Yet WWII did need our help or Hitler would have taken over the whole of Europe. More land, more power and more natural resources to use as power.
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I think your country went to Vietnam to test new weapons that had been lying about without use.
In Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya your general were trying to make the Muslims good Christians with bombs and spread democracy.
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Here is a chilling Russian perspective from another blog I follow.
http://skepticskaddish.com/2022/02/27/an-insight-into-the-russian-public/
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yeah. war lives on propaganda
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Terrifying, but not surprising.
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Makes ya wonder if Canada or the US is much different. I would venture to guess we really donโt know what the hell is really going on anywhere.
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No we don’t….I’m sure.
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For some segment of society, they might not even know of a war going on.
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war between humans will only end when we’re fighting aliens.
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That is when we have a common enemy, you mean. I am not going to be there when this happens.
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The industrial suppliers of military supplies and armaments need the wars to keep themselves in business and their incomes inflated. The solution to wars? Give Putin a gun and send him solo to try and capture the Ukrainian president. ๐
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The solution is to have the generals fight it out amongst themselves
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I agree!!! Let the war-mongers wage the fighting! ๐
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And maybe their children while the rest of us take seats around the stage. And I want the back seat, please. I am not interested in violence.
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I have no desire to watch the show, Tennis anyone? ๐
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The only justifiable war is one where a country needs to protect itself from an invading force.
Unless of course there is an increased tax on tea.
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That would be self defence.
Going for war over tea would take us back to Boston tea party
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My point exactly… on both counts ๐
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That ‘invading force’ is called NATO. I’m not against Nato, just sick of all this hypocrisy.
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I”m pretty sure those are Russian tanks. Russian rockets. Russian missiles. Russian Russians invading Ukraine.
Not NATO. One of these is different than the other.
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Vlad? Is that you comrade? Donโt you have other things to worry about than comment on this blog?๐คช
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You finally have your answer to ‘why religion is a mass delusion’: The E.U destabilized Ukraine years long and planted a coup, while Nato expanded right up to Russia’s doorstep, and we all played deaf and blind. It’s a rerun of ‘Soviet missiles in Cuba’ (and Russia must stand for it!). Now we’re punishing everyone with a Russian passport and a recorded handshake from Putin? Wow, respect.
MBS murders people and throws genocide on Yemen, but gets to buy a British football club, the Israelis get to ‘mow the grass’, no consequences, but Putin says to Nato ‘enough is enough’ and…!
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Russia starved 25 million people. A little different level of crime than boogie man NATO. You sound like you are quoting almost verbatim Russian propaganda
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This is an interesting line of thought
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Do people actually think anymore? Chelsea FC’s fans are being warned by the English FA for chanting owner Roman Abramovich’s name; get your head around that. Hate Russia, or suffer. Pious wicked people pointing fingers at other wicked people. Thatz some crazy shit. Count me out.
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I read about Chelsea and one realizes the absurdities around war. 1984 by Orwell is prescient. With the right media, you can forget who it was you were friends with yesterday.
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