Morality of War Part One

So, when war breaks out in a corner of the globe like we’ve seen in the Ukraine in recent weeks I find it heart breaking. We know there will be heavy casualties: innocent men, women and children. Amid the shelling and gunfire families will be torn apart.

When the reports from the Ukraine appear on the television news at night, I have to mute the sound. I can’t bear to watch the suffering. The bombed-out buildings and the swollen, teary eyes of terrified small children.

War is futile. War is destructive. War should play no part in the world today. We saw what happened last century and the terrible cost of two world wars and multiple conflicts between countries particularly in Africa, the Middle East and Central America.

But human beings being human beings don’t seem to learn from past mistakes. That said, there are just wars. A megalomaniac brought about the second world war. A person who was hell-bent on restoring German status and pride after his country’s ‘humiliating’ defeat in World War 1.

Hitler’s troops steam rolled through Europe with no regard for the rule of law or the sovereignty of other nations. He had to be stopped so the world united. Likewise, in our region the Japanese were causing carnage in the South Pacific and threatening many countries, Australia among them. Japan also had to be stopped.

Reportedly, more than 70 million people perished during the second world war. The price of freedom was massive.

Again, the world has united in support of a country that is being invaded. The Ukraine today is suffering because of the narcissistic and irresponsible behaviour of a tyrant. A man who many times in the past has shown he isn’t someone to dismiss lightly. He too, like Hitler, has a point to prove. The former KGB agent was never happy with the Soviet Union’s breakup and believes the Ukraine should come back into the fold.

The Ukrainians, however, hold a different view. They value their independence and freedom and the vast majority do not want to come under Russian autocratic rule.

Australia, Europe the United States, and indeed the world is behind Ukraine at this terrible time. Where it ends it’s too early to say.

While Australia supports the Ukraine, and rightly so, the prime minister announced last week that Australia would send missiles and other weaponry to the Ukraine. Yes to financial aid. Yes to tents. Yes to food and water.

But our contribution are weapons that will kill. The Australian Government’s announcement has left me feeling uneasy. I feel we are just adding to the misery and carnage.  

Am I wrong?

Morality of War part two next week

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