ISIS, ISIL and a Cast of Thousands
Several years ago I commented in my newsletter that the United States Armed Forces had apparently accomplished its goals in Iraq with the execution of Saddam Hussein, and its goals in Libya with the death of Muammar Gaddafi. I raised the question about the cost incurred – not only the monetary costs but also the humanitarian costs – and whether those costs would be justified in the end by the ultimate results achieved. Unfortunately, we now know the answer. The arrival of ISIS, ISIL, and too many others to mention says it all. The money expended in training, arming, and clothing the Iraqi Armed Forces appears to have gone up in smoke – they fell apart, ran away, deserted in some cases, and left a significant amount of American supplied armaments and equipment for the terrorists taking. We are all aware of the problems which have directly affected the people of Iran and Syria also as a result of ISIS/ISIL. The significant number of refugees, orphans, widows, and widowers resulting from this war – the human and economic costs are unfathomable. Additionally, the brutal beheading of several innocent American and British citizens deserves world-wide condemnation – who are these barbarians?
Israel and the Palestinians
Another explosion in the Middle East erupted this summer involving Israel and the Palestinians, which resulted in the tragic loss of lives by both groups. What is the alternative? Either the parties agree to enter into peace negotiations and recognize Israel’s right to exist as a country (and without the mindset of some people who believe that Israel must be eradicated and wiped off the face of the earth) and at the same time accept and accommodate the right of the Palestinian people to live in a peaceful and safe environment. The alternative is to continue with the existing status quo, namely, sporadic warfare, until one party concedes to the other, with the continuing human and economic costs.
Russia: A Superpower
The world at large understands clearly what is happening here. The Russian leader Mr. Putin, a former elite member of the KGB has always had the goal of returning Russia to the position of being a “World Superpower”… in fact the world’s only Superpower. This goal has been apparent for a number of years based on his actions, posturing, and verbal pronouncements
Russia: Ukraine
The actions of Russia with respect to the Crimean Region of the Ukraine is another step in Mr. Putin’s plan; in other words Mr. Putin is working to achieve his goal by physically annexing Crimea and cutting it off from the Ukraine. Is Ukraine itself the next target? Mr. Putin’s statement to the world to mind its own business and not to question what happens behind Russia’s borders such as Chechnya, Georgia, etc. are a further example of his attempt and goal to dominate and expand the Russian sphere of influence and control. Unfortunately no one has really been prepared to stand up to Russia physically (in particular President Obama who has shown that he has no backbone!) This includes putting boots on the ground if necessary, without any hemming and hawing. While to some degree the world has implemented economic sanctions against Russia, this alone will not and has not stopped Russia from pushing the envelope.
As I am starting to write this newsletter, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, at the World Economic Summit recently held in Australia, told Mr. Putin to get his troops out of Crimea and the Ukraine; the verbal confrontation, while not exactly scaring Mr. Putin, was certainly noteworthy. Good for our Prime Minister! As Canadians we should be proud of the stance our Prime Minister has taken; however, this demand in itself has not and will not result in Russia backing down.
Of course there are many other hot spots, wars, conflicts and other ongoing issues in the world: issues such as many African countries being in conflict, and subject to terrorism; the jockeying for control and sovereignty over the Arctic involving Canada and Russia most recently; Mexico in its war against the drug trade; Argentina and its social unrest; Venezuela with hyper-inflation; the United States – its illegal immigrant issues at its border with Mexico; illegal immigrants from some Caribbean countries; major racial problems, political refugees, and many more concerns; political issues affecting England and Scotland (concerning Scotland’s vote to secede from the United Kingdom); political issues for England and Australia (regarding Australia’s proposed withdrawal from the British empire); and the United States changing its position on trade with Cuba. In other words, many, many worldwide issues.
The United States
What a major disappointment President Obama has proven to be. He was elected with huge expectations from the American people and will be an outgoing lame duck President for the next 2 years with many people feeling they were deceived and led down the proverbial path in voting for him in two elections. What significant positive results have resulted from his Presidency? Obamacare seems to be something less than what it was supposed to be. The economy is improving for which some credit has to be attributed to President Obama. His foreign policy is almost non-existent and what it is has appeared in many situations to be a failure – Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Russia, Syria, the Middle East in general, aspects of its relations with Canada and Prime Minister Harper – need I say more?
