When War is Necessary

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A war consists of individuals dividing on an idea and concerning themselves enough with it that they are willing to kill each other over it. That’s what war is. War is devastating. Every war ends with people feeling dishearented, sad, angry, and many dead. If war is really “good for nothing” as some have sung, why then do we continue to have them?

Wars are necessary. There are some wars that have to be fought. The Rhodesians fought the Bush War because ZANLA guerillas were killing civilians. The British fought World War II because they promised Poland they would stand up for them. The Mexicans fought the Revolution to overturn totalitarian rule in their country.  These wars each turn on individuals holding different ideas and caring enough about them to risk their lives.

Pacifism is not to be sneared at. Avoiding the death and destruction of human lives is worthy. General Eisenhowever was lambasted by the public when he refused to capture Berlin at the end of World War II. His decision however, was based on the estimated 100,000 casualties the victory would cost; too high for a empty prize, since Berlin was to be governed by all the Allies.

It is unwise to issue blanket statements that all wars are useless. While they can be trials for all involved, saddening for millions, some wars have to be fought. It is important, therefore to elect leaders who will make wise decisions: to avoid conflict whenever possible, and to not put off necessary fights.

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Understanding war crimes

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There have always been attempts by politicians, war historians, and lawyers to define war crime. During war, certain things are considered best avoided. Many religious scriptures also essay this doctrine. Of being fair in war and not committing crimes. To do what is required to protect something or someone. And being humane even in morbid conditions.

The Hague Conventions saw laws being developed for war situations. Quite amusing it can be said. When war itself is lawless, how could there be a law? But yes. War should have laws. A war becomes a necessity when the security of a nation is at stake. Although war itself is a crime, but when done in protection of self-interest, has a lesser criminal stature.

During war soldiers are commanded to certain things. When the situation gets more and more gory, laws are not adhered to. During a situation of life and death, rules are forgotten. Forget about laws. For no one knows if they will live to see another day.
A war crime can be different manifestations. So many cases of rape of woman have been reported. When soldiers attack another region, people in that region become refugees and helpless. Nobody knows if they are alive or not, and nobody cares. In such situations, soldiers can become hostile to them, and engage in criminal behavior.

Some of the criminal behaviors are theft, unlawful confinement and torture, rape, willful deprivation of prisoners with basic needs, unlawful conduct towards prisoners or suspects, and so on. Soldiers are not supposed to invade homes on suspicion, unless such orders are passed by the higher authorities and sanctioned by the concerned people.

 

 

 

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Is War Necessary for Peace?

There are two ways to look at such a question. On the one hand, some wars actually have to be fought to attain peace and in some other cases, war just invites more trouble. Unjust wars are those where dictators blow their way into power and hold the nation in an iron grip. There are several examples in history to quote from regarding this. During the World Wars, western nations literally blew each other apart.

They are currently distinct blocks of the United States, the European Union and the ASEAN countries. They are all attempting to maintain peace and prevent war of massive proportions from rising. The need for regulatory bodies such as the UNO is needed, but the fact remains that, with the various thought processes of the governments it is sometimes hard to pull back nations from being on the brink of constant war.

As far as war for peace goes, several nations across the world – and it still happens in fits and starts – needed to break away from the bondage of colonization and ended up waging a bloody war to get freedom. There has not been a bloodless war for freedom anywhere in the world until today. It has happened in China, Indian, South Africa and so many countries under able leaderships. Such war is what has made the world take notice of the nation in question and make it a force to reckon with worldwide.

You can’t really separate war from peace. Some circumstances necessarily advocate the medium of war in order to reach a peaceful future. However, there have been times when governments and unscrupulous agents have used war for peace as a covert means of achieving other things.

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How Government Administrations can Prevent War

When a country goes to war, it is because all possible means of finding a peaceful solution have been unsuccessful. There are certain preventive measures that government administrations can take to prevent war. While the actual processes can be extremely intricate and difficult to comprehend for those not politically inclined, here are some basic outlines.

The first thing all nations do is indulge in diplomacy. This is where two nations negotiate and try and arrive at a compromise. Though there are a few government administrations in the world that do not believe in diplomacy, this is largely the first step taken by most nations. The next step is to put a practical foreign policy in place. This should be based on mutual understanding and not threats and sanctions. It should uphold a nation’s values without undermining the values of others.

An effort has to be made to understand the cultural complexities of a nation. There are times that a misunderstanding of how the nation functions is attributed as being hostile. Such understanding will help make diplomacy and negotiations a bit simpler.

Government administrations should also consider lowering the budget given to military development. This will allow for better development of the nation. Developing military capacities to necessary levels is fine, beyond which the maintenance cannot be justified. Preemptive strikes should not be considered at all, especially if you are going up against a stronger nation. This will look like more of an offensive move than a defensive one and can get you in some serious trouble. Make sure that an effort to explore every possible option is made before war is even remotely considered as an option.

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The Effect of War on Military Soldiers

Undoubtedly, war is not a simple experience. On the battlefield, war can be devastating on your nerves. For most soldiers, the emotional trauma of having been part of war does not end with the war or when they come back to the safety of their homes. In most cases, coming home is simply the beginning of a long road to getting better.

The most common aftermath of war is posttraumatic stress disorder. This refers to some extreme situations that soldiers may have faced, which are often beyond the scope of human nature. The experiences remain suppressed in them and can take a toll on their mental and physical health. The extent of PTSD as well as the severity of its manifestations varies with each soldier and their emotional capacity. For some it may just be about going into depression. For others, there could be triggers that lead into panic attacks or hyperventilation. In some extreme cases, hallucinations and the thought of being transported back to the field come into play.

This disorder has to be diagnosed and treated in the early stages itself. It can reach the stage of preventing the soldier from trying to lead a normal life. There have been cases of suicide attempts. While for the soldiers of yesteryear, advanced medical and psychological help was not available; today, science has advanced to a great extent. A soldier can now sign up for several forms of treatment as well as become a member of a veteran’s organization and get counseling. There is Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, medication that includes anti-depressants and the like that a soldier can use. Of course, these have to be undertaken with strict medical and family supervision.

Filed Under: News, War Tagged With: , ,

Is War Reported Accurately on the News?

War was never really reported until CNN brought it to our living rooms with Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Until then, all that could be heard on war was through the radio and through the experiences of those reporting on the field. The accuracy of these reports in terms of devastation and casualty numbers depended entirely on the reporter and his ability to tell news as he saw it.

With the advent of technology, reporting, war has now reached epic soap opera type proportions. Bombings, air raids and street fights can literally be viewed in real time. Of course, we do have reporters telling us what it is like on the field, but the scope of wrong information coming to the people too has highly increased. Rumor mills run fast with stories about the persecution of women and children, ripping apart of innocent civilians and the like. Such stories often come from propaganda mills that try to tilt the war in various ways.

However, with such rumor mongering, an alternate source of possibly accurate information is from citizen journalists who, through their videos and photos captured live and on the scene, often tell a story that has not been told. This has brought to light several battles, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. It has also laid to rest rumors that had been doing rounds. Those who indulged in wrongful acts in the name of the war have been brought to task.

Reporting news in this day and age of technology and information overdrive is not easy. Getting the real story out is also difficult since many news channels owe allegiance to different political factions of belief groups. All of this plays a role in what is finally conveyed to the people and how it portrays an ongoing war. In this respect the phrase, “nothing is ever what it seems” could never be truer.

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The After Effects of War

War is a devastating period. It takes a toll on the people, on the land, the environment, the animals and almost every conceivable form of life. Wars fought on a land often render it useless. Farming becomes difficult and the very source of food for the country is threatened. Because the land is ridden with mortar shells and mines, not only do innocent people lose life and limbs, the land too cannot be approached for any sort of development.

Society as we know it is destroyed and it often becomes the survival of the fittest. Social relations go down the drain especially when there is a dearth of food and basic amenities. We have seen countless images of people fighting over emergency relief service vans and the food they offer. The economy of the country takes a beating as well since the nation will have nothing with which to do business with. If no income is generated for the nation, the country will stop being able to progress.

The nation then becomes dependent on foreign aid, which often comes without any riders. The war torn nation can also become indebted to foreign nations and this can put the country at a disadvantage when it comes to international discussions and debates.

War is a terrible thing for the people themselves. Lives are lost and disrupted. Emotions are raw and often the life of peace that seems to be on offer with the end of the war seems meaningless. More often than not people do not agree with the reasons behind the war, there are uprisings against the government in protest, and this can prove dangerous to the governance as well as the future of a country. War has to be the very last thing a nation resorts to for the sake of its people and its own existence.

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Making a Difference

Although the war in Afghanistan and the Iraqi conflicts are happening a world away, they are a part of America’s experience. One day another generation will be reading our current news in their history text books.

Whether we fully support the war or not, it would seem that every American citizen would like to make a difference and contribute to the overall well-being of our world community. Generally most desire to make a real difference for change—a change for the better.

We may feel insignificant or feel that we are only one person, but we can make a difference and let our voices be heard.

The first place to start is at home. It may not be possible to directly influence or turn the opinions of the national government administration, but we can influence the rising generation. Parents can take time to properly educate their children about the war, whether it is through a simple discussion or actually watching the news together to learn more about the war. Children should be given age-appropriate information concerning our country’s current affairs. Since they will be the voters of tomorrow and the ones to have a real say on the future of our country, parents must educate and teach them the best they know how.

Next, citizens can make their voices heard in their communities. Write an editorial in the local newspaper or add your opinion on Facebook or other websites. Be gracious in your comments while still getting your point across. If you are too insulting, people may not take you seriously.

Lastly, if you do want Washington to know how you feel, give your state representatives a call. Let them know how you feel and what you expect of them. Although this may seem insignificant, they do take account of their phone calls. Also consider writing letters to them along with others to collectively share your views.

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Your Take on the War

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There are many varying views on the war since its origin. While the events of 9/11 in 2001 connected deeply and resonated in the hearts of Americans, the war in Afghanistan may seem farther away for those who do not have a loved one serving in the military.

It is easy to jump to conclusions or feel confused from the differing reports concerning the war. Some reports don’t seem to match up, and one starts to wonder what is truth and what is merely rumor.

Obviously the government administration has the final and last say concerning the war and all that it entails. It is essential for Americans though to form proper opinions and gain what knowledge they can about the real circumstances of the war.

First off, if you want to have a better understanding of the war and its impact on America, Afghanistan and the rest of the world, it is crucial to know a little of this country’s history. Take out a map, do a little research on line, check out a book from the library. This way when names, dates, and places pop up on the latest news press, you’ll be able to fully comprehend what the news means.

Next keep an open mind to various views. Americans, like all people, take for granted their surroundings and every-day life things. It is easy to take for granted that other places are the same or at least similar. The truth is that various geographical regions, differing cultures and customs, and daily lifestyles hugely contrast, almost to the point of incomprehension. As Americans are used to relative peace, freedom, and safety, it may be difficult to image life in a country that is not peaceful, where rights are not guarantee, and where citizens fear for their lives at times.

Take time to educate yourself before drawing strong conclusions about the war.

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Honoring the Commander

General David Petraeus in testimony

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The war in Afghanistan is on the brink of being a ten-year-long venture. When considering all that has been involved and the grueling day-to-day long activity, the war seems to have gone on a lot longer.

Such warfare has required the time and effort, even the very lives of some of America’s best men and women. Although there are different opinions regarding the war effort and its validity. It can not be denied that those serving our country deserve our heart-felt support and gratitude. They have served well and done the best they can to create peace and stability in a nation with a very rocky history that has been less than democratic or peaceful.

Tackling this kind of challenge has required the very finest of leaders that Washington could produce. Currently, the position of commander of the coalition forces in Afghanistan has been held by the four-star General David Petraeus. Many Americans applaud this great leader’s resume and exemplary qualities. He has credible work experience having worked under two Presidents of the United States in two different wars. He is praised for his work in the Iraqi War when he took command in 2007. Gen. Petraeus is also known for his intelligence and excellent ability to work with others. His public relation skills have been much needed in a country where negotiating and team work have been a challenge.

Although he only took up his current position in June 2010 to replace a former General who was let go for misconduct, General Petraeus is expected to close out his tour sometime in 2011. It is assumed that the administration will allow his release only after the American troops start to withdraw in July of 2011.

Some wonder what will happen since General David Petraeus is not the only top-level official to be nearing the end of his tour. The American Ambassador to Afghanistan will also be expected to leave soon as well as several others who hold high positions.

These leaders will greatly be appreciated for their hard work and contributions to the war.

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