The Endless Arms Race : Down the Path to Ruin
By Sivaramakrishnan A, 4th Feb 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutWritingColumns & Opinions
Instead of tackling issues at the core of societies like poverty, illiteracy, better governance, corruption, what use if all resources are wasted to destroy what have been built over ages, including those at the very root of humanity to survive?
Will we ever learn?
A news item made me wonder whether we are still stuck in the dark ages. The gist of the news – Indian military is strengthening its forces in preparation for a limited conflict along the disputed border, and is working to balance Chinese power projection in the Indian Ocean. The news item details India signing contract for arms import expected to be worth $ 12 billion and preparing further big ticket purchases over the coming years. It also projected that aggregate spending between 2011- 2015 will top $ 100 billion!
Any level-headed person will think – are we making any progress in terms of positive thinking leading to better human relations? I feel that the evil has scored over the majority who yearn for a better life. We communicate across the world in nanosecond with the technology at hand, but we are still primitive in our thinking process when it comes to international relations! Is war the only solution and in the interest of whom? Imagine the devastation in terms of human lives and infrastructure! The words of one World War 1 veteran resonates when I see the mindless loss of lives through our follies: What use losing many precious lives when a piece of paper – a peace treaty - is signed between parties who were at each others’ throats?
Endless balancing of power equations
China & India are similar as the only two countries with over a billion populations each. Then they are touted as the hope of the future and a balancing factor for any derailment in economic growth in other sectors especially, America and Europe. But their dissimilarities are more that lie hidden.
China is playing soft and hard power with all, especially its neighbors. Its strategies are unclear as the government decides key policies under a veil of secrecy, quite unlike in India and those under democratic systems, where everything is above board and hence a sitting duck in many ways.
China and India have not found peace for decades and their relationship is beset with issues from the 1962 border war and the Pakistan equation. China is obviously supporting Pakistan in the same way it supports North Korea; using them as pawns in the world power equation. In terms of North Korea, prop up the dictatorship to weaken the US resolve, Japan and prevent a united Korea which could prove a tough challenge to them.
In India’s case, self-defeating politics and ingrained corruption are its enemies within. Then there are issues of caste and religion. But its people have seen to it that they do not tip over the abyss – thus far and no more in the final analysis. However, there are intractable other issues like lopsided sharing of fruits of growth where the rich gets richer and the poor remain poor, at least a majority of them.
For saner senses
What use indeed all these arms? Even if some sore issues provoke a short war, can they not be made resolved through all-out peace initiatives? I feel the arms lobby have worked on the fear factor to win big and they will do so everywhere else. A small minority out to destroy the efforts of the majority at a game none will win. Let us also not forget the politics where the few masters of deception use the majority in both countries for their own selfish ends.
The United Nations and other world bodies should rein in nefarious elements that negate what humanity thirsts for. The hundred billions that India has budgeted and the many billions at risk, not counting the human lives involved, should be an eye-opener to the entire world that wars are never a solution to achieve peace. It will not only put the clock back but sow further animosities everywhere with other countries having to take sides. Humanity will be the losers in the end. The issues at hand are only in the minds of those who have ill feelings for our future and it is time these tendencies are nipped in the bud.
Though an Indian, I had the good fortune to move with closely with Chinese and all others. I can vouch that we are all in the same boat with the same aspirations. The enemy of the majority is always within the same society, no need to look farther and waste enormous resources to fill the coffers of the evil! It is time we made every effort to make wars history; it will prove less expensive than all the billions spend to look for trouble in the guise of defense. Then only will we have the time and resources to tackle issues that reduce tensions all around; those include poverty and ignorance
Comments
5th Feb 2012 (#)
As long as arms factories are there.. war is inevitable .. here or there or somewhere...
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5th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks for your wise comments, Karim. I fear some of the wars are instigated by arms merchants. They have their self-interests - siva
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5th Feb 2012 (#)
War has been going around for Ages. I guess whenever you put a few people together, differences occur. Same is the case here. we have over 10 billlion people on earth with 180 nationalities and big egos. So we keep on preparing for war and acquiring arms in anticipation of a war which might not even happen
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5th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Shaunak. More countries are acquiring weapons of mass destruction including nuclear. It is time we stopped this mad race through world bodies like the UN. An all-out war could drag many others too leading to another world war with devilish consequences - siva
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5th Feb 2012 (#)
It is insane that India will spend 100 billion on arms when poverty affects so many. America's defense budget dwarfs all other nations combined, and that is the mark of total insanikty. Greaty article siva.
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Steve. I cannot understand this mad race where none will be winners except the few who peddle the deadly arms. Why can't we just find a way to ease the tensions and for that UN and other world bodies should play their part. We have a feeling that peace is unatainable. As long as weapons are easily available, the base instincts to killl, impose one's will upon others will win - siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Siva, I too wish the UN would do something but, I find them to be part of the problem. All we have to do is look at the oil for food program the UN/USA set up with Saddam. It brought devastation to the Iraqi people, especially the small children. It also proved just how corrupt those that are suppose to have our best interests at heart, really are. I feel times will change (and only then) when people are just good to thy neighbor, those in power only care about that, power. It is up to the everyday citizen to make the change. Nice read. Thank you for sharing.:)
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Denise, for your kind words and thoughts. What takes ages to build both in terms of infrastructure and human values can be destroyed in moments through mindless war. Are we doing enough to prevent wars? What use UN and other world bodies when they prove toothless? Rather than wasting precious resources on endless arms race, why can't the world leaders put their heads together to find common ground? Are these just altruistic thoughts? siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Siva, I wish I knew the answers to your questions. I do not get it. It is like with religion. I have my beliefs and someone else has there's. Unless this person's religion is one that hurts/kills another person, I have no say, what so ever and nor should I, I am okay with this. When we 'the people' finally realize, it is okay to be different and still like that person, then maybe times will change. I understand full well what war does, I also am aware how much damage one person can do to millions, in the name of 'their leader'. Do we just sit back and allow that one person to torture, starve and kill the ones he/she says, he wants to lead. Maybe you got me wrong, 'I am not' for war, I want world peace, period! I am also a person that has been thanked by a woman after she was saved from certain death, if not for our American soldiers. This was when I lived in Guam. Look up 'tent city', you will see a snip it of what we saw. Now just because I was forever changed from this woman reaching out to me and thanking me for her very freedom (Even though I was just a kid and did nothing to save her) we all take for granted, it does not mean I am for war, It means, I am for justice. The UN in my opinion is a disgrace. They sit there doing nothing (other than to threaten to put a sanction on them), while one too many people are being killed around this world. Have a blessed day.:)
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Denise. I know you have supported my basic thinking like most others. No one in their right senses wants war. My only point is many poor countries are forced to spend not only their fortune but also pledge the future of their generations on mindless armaments that shore up the coffers of those who have every reason to trigger wars! In fact, the cutting edge arms around the world are supplied by few powerful countries without much thought to the consequences. Take India for example. Hundred billions could have made a real difference to the lives of the their poor millions. And to think China has trillions of dollars at command! I feel UN should be empowered to do much more than just be a nice idea and folks without much ability to prevent conflicts - siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
I too think the UN should do more and it just steams my buns they don't. I do agree we need to stop this arms race. Siva, the majority of folks feel just like we both do, they want peace and wish there had to be no conflicts. As you have stated, it is those, our so called leaders that keep playing these games. As a American, you know I have seen our government spend us into hole and it is a hole, it seems we will never get out of.
I do see your point. I would also like to say, it is a pleasure when we can debate a subject and not get offended. Maybe the UN and the leaders of our country's need to come and see how it is done. Then maybe they will not have to spend as much trying to get their point across. Have a blessed day my friend.:)
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7th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Denise for your kind words. I am least offended as we are having healthy exchange of views only. On the one hand, there are few villains and on the other, the vast poor who suffer most when these hideous weapons are used indiscriminately. Even In Afghan & Iraq conflicts, imagine newborns maimed, killed or being near the deadly bombs. What trauma for them and their mothers! And for the soldiers who have seen the killing, the suffering and responsible for them even! We need to grow up before these weapons fall into the "wrong" hands. The "right" becomes the "wrong" before we blink; today's friends become tomorrow's enemies. Let UN rise to the occasion than just be a gloated bureaucratic setup that no one takes serioulsy - siva
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8th Feb 2012 (#)
Siva, 'I do' think of those people, the children, women and men so innocently maimed or even killed. As I do think of our soldiers maimed or even killed. Afghanistan as I have said earlier, we should have been out of there along time ago. As far as Iraq, that is just a different story, like I said, we kept the Iraqi people hostage with our no fly zones for a decade. Go look at the red cross reports during those years and it will tell of a story of so many innocent people being maimed or even killed by the hands of Saddam and his ilk. This was a situation of, we sit back and do nothing as hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's are steadily maimed, starving or even killed r we try and help these people. To say we should have done nothing to me was not a option. We set this up, we allowed Saddam and his sons to rule with a iron (bloody) fist by the games HWB and Clinton played with Saddam...cat and mouse games. Yep, far more were killed under them three than there was in the war, fact! As far as those maimed and killed in Iraq, the majority was taken down by not American troops but outside groups and Saddam loyalist with their suicide bomb vest, another fact!
I watched as thousands of people walked (Some hundreds of) miles to get to a polling booth to cast their vote, the whole time having bombs lobbed at them not by Americans but by, insurgents and Saddam loyalist. 1 too many were killed but you know what, they kept marching, they knew what this moment meant and they were (in there way) fighting to make a change. Not only did they go all out the first election but, the second election even more came out, more were killed by suicide bombers and yet, they kept marching. They still proudly displayed their purple fingers, as they walked out the door. I do not know if you have looked into the oil for food program through the UN, if not, you should. The corruption was what gave Saddam a blanket to cover up sick deeds. Saddam would buy spoiled food from one country (mostly, Russia, China & France) and then let the rotting food stay in a storage facility until they could dispose of the garbage. Saddam then was cleared for a food purchase by the UN, the country he bought it from now got money for garbage and the Iraqi people, got nothing! I mean, do you remember the scam because, I do. We will never agree with this but, I will leave you with what I take to my heart and try to remember each day I wake...
"The world is not a evil place because of bad men, the world is a evil place because of, good men doing nothing". We will have to agree to disagree. Have a blessed day.:)
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8th Feb 2012 (#)
The facts you have highlighted I am aware of but don't forget Saddam was propped up by US as a buffer against Iran earlier. My only issue is we should, through cooperation of world powers, end or, at least, curb the arms race. Saddam and his ilk got the weapons from arms merchants and the race is ongoing. My main issue is few have vested interests to keep many countries at logger heads and even incite wars. Let us nip them in the bud. The arms race will prove an albatross around the necks of poor countries, especially. Though it may sound rather simplistic, we need to address this issue to its right conclusion through UN and other world bodies. For countries like India to spend hundred billions, when half their population do not know where their next meal is coming from, is just criminal. They are in effect digging own graves! Thanks for your frank views and I do appreciate your point of view, Denise. Wars and WMD can be made history if there is a will - siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Siva,
No one can dispute your argument that spending money on arms is a waste of money. But unfortunately, we live in a security environment which demands this expenditure as a deterrent for other countries to embark on any adventure. What happened when China attacked us in 1962? The UN is a dysfunctional body. Russia and China vetoed the resolution to condemn Syria. Before the UN wakes up, the Chinese will come to Delhi. It's stupidity, agreed but an essential stupidity if one could be called that.
You should study the amount China spends on Military and its expansion plans. Even the USA is concerned. Recently Obama declared the USA is a Pacific country and decided to put up a contingent of Marines in Australia. Your piece is good, but I am afraid it is a bit simplistic, if you don't mind my saying.
We cannot forgo our freedom. Costs don't matter.
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks GVR. By spending an amount of one hundred billion dollars and forced to spend more as China has trillions, we will soon be bankrupt! Our rupee has taken a dive most among all Asian currencies. By spending more than what we have, our freedom could well be at stake as the poor citizens will rise in revolt even against democracy itself! Agreed we need to spend, but within limits as we cannot bankrupt ourselves in the process. My point was - what use playing into the arms of arms merchants who have everything to gain by triggering conflicts egging both sides. We need to make an all out fight for peace through every way than spend billions on arms that will be outdated within years. There will be no end and we will be in perennial poverty trap losing all meaning of freedom and endangering hard-earned democracy. There are limits to everything - siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
our country too spends a lot on national defense instead of debt servicing and alleviaiton of poverty
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7th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Cowboy. Armaments, weapons, spare parts for them, bring big gains to the dealers and the power brokers in between. And the poorest of the poor suffer in the end. The arms race is one where none will be the victors except those few who supply them to all - siva
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6th Feb 2012 (#)
What a wonderful piece. And I loved the conversation about it between you and Denise O too. Thank you so much
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7th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Sheila. I strongly feel that few with agenda are behind the indiscriminate arms race. We need to curb their proliferation before they get out of hand; we might have already "crossed the rubicon" ! China is playing soft and hard power; something bordering on "either you are with us or against us"! They have threatened some neighbours with "wait to hear the booming canons soon". China has $ 3 trillion reserves which none others can ever match. They can always have the best cache of arms and the juiciest pick. If others try to outdo them, their societies will fall apart with the weight of debts. We have to turn for better solutions than war. The writing is on the wall - siva
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10th Feb 2012 (#)
So many good question Siva...well said
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10th Feb 2012 (#)
Thanks Delicia. Peace is eminently achievable and not something we should avoid by endless preparations for war and playing into the hands of few who have nothing but profits in their minds - siva
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