My first realisation of modern warfare, as a child, was watching the television, just after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British dependency in the South Atlantic. As a young boy, no more than eleven years old, I was scared, anxious and didn’t understand the reasons behind what was happening. At the time, I felt all war and loss of life was wrong; it seemed like the end of the World. Between April and June of 1982, I spent many sleepless nights, as Britain sent a task force to retake the islands and restore its national pride. At school, I had just started to learn about the First World War; the incomprehensible loss of life and the dubious reasons for justifying a conflict that would destroy a whole generation. As children we are somewhat sheltered from the harsh realities around us; as I grew older, I became very aware of the spectre of discord and dispute, the struggle of nations and the futility of war!
Here in 2018, armed struggle and confrontation between neighbours appears to be on the march. I can’t remember a more dangerous period, in my lifetime. In the squares of Gran Alacant, everyone has a view; concern and mistrust, of those who govern us, commonplace. Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, during the cold war, the threat of hostility between the West and the USSR was very real; most who live here, will remember the volatility of the time. I recall my Mother and Father explaining, just how close we came, to annihilation, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; the World believed nuclear war was imminent. The Cold War was a dangerous time, bravado and posturing the name of the game; despite all the talk and rhetoric, words were rarely put into practice; although the World seemed to teeter on the edge, it never crossed the line and life continued very much in this vein.
When the old Soviet Union collapsed and communism failed, I like many others, believed this was an opportunity for the World to finally come together and work for lasting peace. Of course, as we are well aware of now, nothing is forever. The end of communism and the improving relations between the East and the West was merely a smokescreen. Trouble ignited across the World from Bosnia in Europe, as old tensions resurfaced, Libya, Iraq, the threat of ISIS and the Korean peninsular. North Korea’s intention to create a ballistic missile, that could threaten the United States, was as clear as day. As we know now, they have done just that, as the pariah Korean State launched a series of successful nuclear tests.
Korea has directly threatened the stability of the region; China and Russia’s inability to curtail the rogue state, has left tensions running high; it is important something is done to stop a further escalation of malevolence between opposing sides. The President of North Korea, Kim Jong-un is unpredictable, President Trump, untried and untested and China and Russia are warning of consequences if any action is carried out against its ally. Yet another stand off in a volatile area, as the two World superpowers continue to work against one another, for fear of losing face; egos bigger than the good of mankind.
Looking towards the Middle East, particularly Syria, ISIS has rampaged across the region, murdering the innocent, destroying buildings, trying to erase history; anything that did not conform to their set of ideals. Once again both western nations and Russia were dragged into a conflict that had nothing to do with them. The west wants an end to ISIS and President Bashar Assad of Syria; Russia wants an end to ISIS, but is protecting President Assad, who it considers to be one of its allies. The muddy waters and unclear messages, have once again left The USA and Russia, fighting enemies of freedom, as well as each another; creating a dangerous situation, that could provoke a conflict between them at any time.
I am not a pacifist, far from it, but in order to justify a war with another nation, potentially causing catastrophic loss of life, one must have a concrete case, with evidence to back up, such a decision. One has to remember that going to war is a failure in all respects; a failure of negotiation, a failure of diplomacy and a failure to recognise the opposing sides view. For these reasons, there has to be a legal basis for war; used only as a last resort.
In July 2017 a BBC interview, with Sir John Chilcot, (chairman of the inquiry into the 2003 Iraq war,) a year on from the release of the official report, claimed Tony Blair wasn’t ‘entirely straight’ with the British public over the need for conflict; a damning indictment on the Prime ministers decision to take Britain to war. Mr Blair had based his decision on intelligence, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMD), a claim that was untrue; the intelligence agencies had got it wrong. Like another controversial Prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, Expats have outspoken views on Tony Blair. He was the most contentious Prime minister of my generation; polarising views across all sectors of society. It is likely the Iraq war was illegal and caused an unnecessary loss of life. Had Mr Blair been straight with the public in the first place, stating regime change as a reason for action, rather than the uncertain view, that WMD existed in Iraq and were an immediate threat, he may well have not found himself in the precarious position he does today.
A commitment to take a country to war is a formidable one, a judgement a President or Prime minister generally has to make on their own. It is important to have all the facts at ones disposal, exhaust every other avenue of dialogue and have the full backing of those you represent. Sending young men and women to fight, representing Queen and Country is the most difficult decision a politician can make. Fighting on a foreign shore, for unjustified reasons, with no immediate threat to those taking action is not something a country should contemplate. Each life lost for erroneous reasons and mistaken causes, is a family destroyed; a huge responsibility on anyone’s shoulders.
There are reasons why war is justifiable. Looking back over history, World War II is an example of allies working together, to end the rule of a despot like Adolf Hitler. We all owe a great debt to my Grandfathers generation, who defeated fascism allowing us the freedoms we have today. The fight against ISIS is another necessary battle we all have to win. Of course we are told there are only pockets of resistance left in Syria, as the West and Russia, seem to have broken ISIS’ resolve. We can not rule out however, a return to conflict, if we become complacent. Extremists who kill with such barbarity deserve no place in the modern World. On the other hand, there are many wars and conflicts that have been fought, that are questionable in nature; we will probably never know the real reasons for these engagements. A politician can make a water tight case for war, but it isn’t until the skirmish is over, that we really begin to understand the rights or wrongs of a situation. Like many people, I feel duped by Mr Blair’s reasons for war with Iraq; together with the members of Parliament who voted for military action at the time, I can only hold my hands up and say I was wrong. A compelling case is not always the right case. In an uncertain world, even as laymen, we should always hold our representatives to account. Do your own research, don’t bury your head in the sand; above all stand up for what you believe. Everyone has a view; if others had spoken up at the time of the Iraq war, maybe the World today, would be a safer place!
