5th August 2011, 12:13 PM
I'm still in two minds over the ethical stance on wars ('military operations') for economic gain.
On one hand its a terrible crime 'when the rich wage war its the poor that die'
But on the other, this country, our freedoms and prosperity is a product of past economic wars.
I'm not saying specifically that the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya are right. But doing nothing could have had nasty outcomes. It seems to me that much of the current strife in the middle east/ north Africa is part of a scramble for economic presence and political influence in a region rich in resources and geopolitically placed at a crossroads between north, east, west and south.....................nothing much has changed there then!
You should research Russia's, China's and India's involvements in Iran, Turkmanistan, Libya, Jordan, Syria etc etc etc
Its all part of political maneuvering and economic jostling.
I'm not sure what the result would be if the UK took a neutral stance, left its NATO obligations behind, cut off our 'special relationship' with the USA, formed a military for defence only (Like Japan - although Japan is in Afghanistan!) and stopped getting involved.
But I'd bet my last pint that our economy would collapse and we'd be queuing round the block for a loaf of bread.
Unfair on everyone else in the world. But given the choice, I'd rather have food in my mouth than to be dying of starvation on the moral high ground.
However saying all that..............I agree. War is wrong.
On one hand its a terrible crime 'when the rich wage war its the poor that die'
But on the other, this country, our freedoms and prosperity is a product of past economic wars.
I'm not saying specifically that the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya are right. But doing nothing could have had nasty outcomes. It seems to me that much of the current strife in the middle east/ north Africa is part of a scramble for economic presence and political influence in a region rich in resources and geopolitically placed at a crossroads between north, east, west and south.....................nothing much has changed there then!
You should research Russia's, China's and India's involvements in Iran, Turkmanistan, Libya, Jordan, Syria etc etc etc
Its all part of political maneuvering and economic jostling.
I'm not sure what the result would be if the UK took a neutral stance, left its NATO obligations behind, cut off our 'special relationship' with the USA, formed a military for defence only (Like Japan - although Japan is in Afghanistan!) and stopped getting involved.
But I'd bet my last pint that our economy would collapse and we'd be queuing round the block for a loaf of bread.
Unfair on everyone else in the world. But given the choice, I'd rather have food in my mouth than to be dying of starvation on the moral high ground.
However saying all that..............I agree. War is wrong.