War is stupid

By Alex P. Vidal

“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”—George Washington

NO, not during the pandemic. War plus Covid-19 would be a double whammy against humanity.

Even if it will involve only two neighboring countries outside Asia, America and Africa, a war using the latest missile technology and other advanced weaponry, can damage or forestall the recovery efforts from Omicron of all races, in one way or the other.

More than 200 Filipinos now living and working in Ukraine will be displaced and add to the problems of the Philippines if they are forced to evacuate and go home.

As of now, we are “worried” only about the Omicron (although cases in the Philippines, as well as in other parts of the world, are starting to reportedly decline), and the May 9, 2022 election.

Even if US President Joe Biden has declared in a recent statement a Russian attack on Ukraine is “still very much a possibility” and the human cost would be “immense”, we are confident there will be no war.

No human life should be wasted in a war even if Mr. Biden, the most powerful person on earth, has assured the world “the US was ready to respond decisively to such a move” by Russia against Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had now reportedly massed some 150,000 troops on the border with Ukraine.

-o0o-

Despite assurances from Russia’s defense minister that some forces have withdrawn, Mr Biden remained skeptical saying in a televised statement that this had not been verified.

Mr. Biden said: “(Russian forces leaving) would be good, but we have not yet verified that. We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases. Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position.”

Let’s hear from the Culture Club’s 1984 hit, The War Song

War war is stupid and people are stupid

And love means nothing in some strange quarters

War war is stupid and people are stupid

And I heard the banging of hearts and fingers

War!

People fill the world with narrow confidence

Like a child at birth, a man with no defense

What’s mine’s my own, I won’t give it to you

No matter what you say, no matter what you do

Now we’re fighting in our hearts

Fighting in the streets

Won’t somebody help me?

-o0o-

It was reported on February 15 that the websites of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and two banks came under a cyber-attack.

The cause was not immediately clear but Ukraine has suffered large-scale attacks before on its online infrastructure and has pointed the finger at Russia, reported the BBC News.

There has long been concern that, rather than a full-scale invasion, Russia could use less obvious means to destabilize Ukraine, for example through cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, the report said.

President Biden said on February 15 the US was prepared to respond to any such move.

Mr Biden’s speech came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow’s security concerns should be addressed and taken seriously.

Mr Putin has always denied planning an incursion, and said Russia did not want another war in Europe. However, tensions have been rising since November.

Following earlier reports that US intelligence believed Russia could attack Ukraine on February 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared it to be a day of unity, calling on citizens to wave the country’s flag and wear blue and yellow ribbons-Ukraine’s national colors.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)