What do wars achieve?
Tue, Mar 20 2007 04:48 | Permalink
I've often thought about this one, I suppose because there seems to be so many of them. Someone must ultimately decide that a war is good for something or will achieve a certain objective. The are currently over 40 separate wars currently being fought on this planet. Do you think that when they are over, if they ever are, that the people will rejoice? Unlikely considering the place they live in will be mostly destroyed, the people they love will be mostly destroyed and for generations the remains of war will still be destroying them.
Modern warfare is all about damage, civilian damage. It spoils everything and pollutes the land with discarded weaponry and munitions. Explosives wait patiently for years before unleashing their power on the unwary. Todays wars are fought as far away from home as possible because once touched by war, it is never the same again.
The welcome liberation of a country from an unwanted and uninvited enemy is a justification for war of sorts. But when applied to places like Iraq and the middle east, who is the enemy and who is the defender?
Modern warfare is all about damage, civilian damage. It spoils everything and pollutes the land with discarded weaponry and munitions. Explosives wait patiently for years before unleashing their power on the unwary. Todays wars are fought as far away from home as possible because once touched by war, it is never the same again.
The welcome liberation of a country from an unwanted and uninvited enemy is a justification for war of sorts. But when applied to places like Iraq and the middle east, who is the enemy and who is the defender?
Comments
Cover Up
Mon, Mar 5 2007 05:22 | Permalink
I hear today that in this so called country of free speech, a newspaper and the BBC have been 'gagged' from broadcasting more details about the cash for honors scandal and an apparent cover up. This all sounds like bully boy tactics from the government to me. This government has been ebroiled in more scandals and cover ups than any I can remember. How do you tell if a politician is lyiing? Their mouth is moving. This old chestnut should take on new meaning these days with email taking the place of a quick chat with someone influential. The only problem is that all electronic communications leave a trail for others to follow.
Remember the reasons for the war in Iraq? The british public where duped with lies and a plagiarised thesis from a student. Did we demand that the governement make right it 's wrong doing? No, we simply forgot and moved on to pastures new. Did we demand a full public enquiry into when people of respected opinion suddenly died in less than normal circumstances? No, we forgot and moved onto something new.
On the form of Blair and company, I hope that their time in office is short lived and never repeated. This has been a government that has completely altered our standing in this world. I hope that a future tory government will fully and truthfully investigate labours time in office and bring those to justice who have wronged. So the modern equivalent for 'how to tell if a politician is lying' must be that you will never be allowed to but you can safely assume they are anyway.
Remember the reasons for the war in Iraq? The british public where duped with lies and a plagiarised thesis from a student. Did we demand that the governement make right it 's wrong doing? No, we simply forgot and moved on to pastures new. Did we demand a full public enquiry into when people of respected opinion suddenly died in less than normal circumstances? No, we forgot and moved onto something new.
On the form of Blair and company, I hope that their time in office is short lived and never repeated. This has been a government that has completely altered our standing in this world. I hope that a future tory government will fully and truthfully investigate labours time in office and bring those to justice who have wronged. So the modern equivalent for 'how to tell if a politician is lying' must be that you will never be allowed to but you can safely assume they are anyway.
The Saga Continues
Wed, Feb 28 2007 04:03 | Permalink
The faulty fire had been returned and a replacement, for a short time at least, filled the void in the wall. This fire lasted exactly 10 minutes before deciding to do it's bit for the environment and switch off. This fire follows it's predecessor back to the shop and the third and final fire is loaded in the car.
This one doesn't even get fully out the box as all my enthusiasm has now evaporated. One look convinces me that I'd rather have a recess than a fire sticking out the wall. A couple of nice candles and some pebbles is much cheaper.
This one doesn't even get fully out the box as all my enthusiasm has now evaporated. One look convinces me that I'd rather have a recess than a fire sticking out the wall. A couple of nice candles and some pebbles is much cheaper.