Tag Archives: wars

Epic Tragedy

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‘What do you think of Trump’s war against Iran?’ I asked Camp when we met for our weekly beer-chat at the Pub by the harbour.

            ‘You mean Epic Fury? The most arrogant and foolish misadventure of any president or dictator in recent history. There were other vengeful wars started for personal hubris from the Peloponnesian wars to Operation Barbarossa, Hitler’s disasterous invasion of Russia but nothing quite as senseless as this war with Iran. There is no plan, no clear objective and no easy way out. It’s just plain stupid.’

            ‘I knew you’d have an opinion, Camp. What’s really unfortunate is that this pointless war will impact everybody, everywhere and it will make life in Iran even harder for its citizens then it already was. More repressive, more isolated, more hopeless.’

            ‘I’ve read an essay by Peter Barker, former Chief White House correspondent. This is what he said last week: “Epic Fury captures the Trump presidency in its essence. It is a quintessentially Trumpian choice for the name of a war. Not for him an Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti) or Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or even Operation Iraqi Freedom or New Dawn. No uplifting sentiments like freedom and hope. Trump prefers rage. Everything Mr. Trump does, at least as he sees it, is epic — the biggest, the most, the first, “like we’ve never seen before,” as he likes to say. And much of what he does seems to be driven by fury. This is the Anger Presidency. Anger defines Mr. Trump’s decade on the political stage. Anger at foreigners who come to this country and change its nature. Anger at allies who take advantage of America. Anger at Democrats who cross him. Anger at Republicans who cross him. Anger at appointees he deems insufficiently loyal. Anger at prosecutors, F.B.I. agents, judges, journalists, law firms, elite universities, cultural figures, corporate leaders, pollsters, central bankers and the Norwegian Nobel Committee.”

            ‘Yes, that sums it up nicely,’ I said.  ‘It’s an Epic Tragedy for the whole world. To be ruled by an angry old man with nothing but hate and vengeful fury inside his head is indeed a tragedy unfolding.’ 

            ‘I’m waiting for the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations on the 28th March. A big turnout is expected across the USA. Will it change anything?’ Camp asked.

‘Probably not. It will make Trump even madder,’ I said. He would probably love nothing more than to deploy the troops out into the streets of his own country to squash all dissent and opposition. He will take it personally, I’m sure.’

‘Unless the army brass refuses to attack their own citizens, as they do in Iran and other autocracies, there will be no change, only more retribution, hate and fear. More disruption and chaos.’

‘Something to look forward to including higher fuel costs, airline tickets and groceries. Nothing like shocking the world economy into overdrive. And we got three more years to go unless he chokes on a cheeseburger,’ I said.

We both drank to that and right on cue Vicky showed up with two fresh ones. 

‘Did I hear cheeseburger? I thought you two lived on beer.’

The World Rearms

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We arrived at our watering hole just in time to snag two happy hour beers before the price doubled. It was hazy due to the fire in Squamish, a harbinger of the fire season yet to happen. According to forecasts it will be a bad one. Less rain, less snowpack, more drought and a long hot summer.

‘Have you noticed that every country is arming up; Europe, to reduce dependence on the US, and even Canada which just pledged to meet the NATO’s target of 2 percent of GDP, just before they suggest to up the ante to 5 percent. What gives Camp?’

‘We’re back into a global arms race, from Switzerland to Canada, Russia to China, Poland to Taiwan. And not just countries who are at war like Israel, Ukraine and Russia. Arms manufacturers are also supplying conflict zones that don’t have their own arms manufacturing but also no money but hey, credit for fighter jets or tanks is easily obtained. It keeps the arms industry humming along. India and Pakistan will spend billions more on arms and Israel just attacked Iran.’

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On the brink of War

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Summer is over and fall is in. ‘How quick the seasons chase each other,’ I said to Camp when we both got comfortable in our corner, looking out at the grey water of the harbour.

‘Yes, it’s a cliché that time flies faster, the older you get.’

‘If it wasn’t for the rest of the world going to the dogs, I would be quite happy with the summer. Business was almost back to before Covid and Muriel and I are planning a holiday in the sun in January.’

‘We’re still debating if we should go back to our Caribbean paradise after it was devastated and destroyed by hurricane Beryl in July. The rest of the world didn’t really notice but the 8000 inhabitants of the island were severely impacted and traumatized by the vengeance of the storm. Hundreds of buildings impacted and flattened; palms and trees stripped of their foliage; mangroves uprooted and dozens of boats beached and destroyed.’

‘If it’s not an impending war, it’s bad weather and if it’s not the weather it’s bad news from the political front. What is one to do?’

‘Clare says to ignore the noise and concentrate on winterizing the garden,’ I said.

‘She has a point and yet I cannot close my eyes and ears and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East keep me awake at night,’ Camp said. ‘Or the spectre of another Trump presidency.’

‘The war in Ukraine is pretty well black and white. One aggressor, one dictator and invader who could halt the whole misadventure with one word: Stop! The escalating war between Israel and its neighbours is more complicated. Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and radical Islamists want Israel annihilated and wiped from the face of the earth. Israel on the other hand does not recognize its neighbours – the Palestinians – as a legitimate people with equal rights to homeland and security. An unresolvable situation unless someone on both side offers a hand instead of a fist. And have you noticed that all the islamist fighters are men; angry young men driven on by old bitter men.’

‘That’s why a woman US president would be such a welcome outcome in November but I fear that common sense and decency are being pushed to the wall by hate and misogyny, by lies and deceit. To what end I ask? What is the endgame? Where is the love?’

‘Indeed, where is the love? Where is the joy and where are the laughs? We should all celebrate the achievements of humanity, the fact that most of us are living better and more comfortable lives than our forefathers, the fact that we are making progress in many facets of life like education, mobility, connectivity and information. Of course, all of these can be abused and misappropriated but the fact remains: We are an advanced civilization and we can make this world a better place for all.’

‘Worthy sentiments Camp but why do I have the feeling that we’re on the brink of a world war? That all the good we have achieved is taking a dive towards fascism, segregation and vengeance.’

‘You must stop reading the headlines and listening to the sound bites. Go home and help your lovely wife in the garden is my advice.’

 ‘You’re probably right but I fear the worst and hope for the best.’

 ‘As you know, hope dies last and is not a pro-active and pragmatic strategy.’

 I was staring into my empty beer when Vicky, like a ray of sunshine, dropped two fresh ones in front of us. 

            ‘Are you going to vote in the upcoming BC election?’ Camp asked.

            ‘I actually will and not be for the reality deniers.’

            ‘You mean the neocon conservatives?’ Camp said.

            ‘Cheers,’ is all she said with a wink in my direction.