Mason Gray

Within our interconnected world filled with tensions and armed conflicts, the narrative that war is the solution should be challenged. By examining the issues of military spending, the tragedies of murder, and the complex dynamics between nations such as Russia and Ukraine, as well as America and Pakistan.

War, with its jarring impact on the consequences of international disagreements, is the way in which nations can define themselves. Throughout history, war has also thread itself through the nations to influence how we view foreign societies. The fundamental pillars of war can be between two or more nations and have to occur when there is a disagreement or something that is deemed not right. War mainly comes into play when other means do not satisfy this disagreement. Johan M.G. van der Dennen (1981) defines the meaning of war in ON WAR: CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS, RESEARCH DATA - A SHORT LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY, by stating,

According to international law, war, in principle, can only take place between sovereign political entities, that is, States. War is thus a means for resolving differences between units of the highest order of political organization. The majority of those who have been concerned with war as a socio-political phenomenon have also adopted as their basic premise that there is a fundamental difference between domestic conflicts, for which there are normally mechanisms for peaceful resolution, and international conflicts, which occur in a state of anarchy. Wars have been seen to involve directly State institutions, such as the foreign office and the armed forces. (p.1)

The idea of war from an international standpoint is deemed to be an elaborate battle of solving issues with efficiency and domination, but it is much more than that. The largest portion of the animosity within warfare stems from politics and deeming what is right. The yearning to address issues on an international level through peace or combat is all a part of the idea of war. Differences are something that will always set nations apart, although it's how we traverse these differences is what defines war. 

There are always going to be two divergent perspectives when it comes to war and how each nation secures themselves. Especially with the use of technology and the internet, it is ever more possible for wars and conflict to arise overseas. One of the more significant and relevant issues between nations can be seen between Ukraine and Russia. Jen Kirby and Johnathan Guyer (2022) state,

Putin’s attempt to redraw the map of Europe risks becoming the most devastating conflict on the continent since World War II. Already, it is causing an astounding humanitarian crisis: Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians have died, and more than 1.5 million people have fled the violence so far, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, making it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. (para. 2)

Here it shows that individuals within political power, in this case Putin, are trying to rewrite how we view nations, which causes issues with Ukraine because of historical implications. Especially as a prime minister, his tensions with Ukraine have only incubated since 2014.  During this time Russia, the Crimean Peninsula, which caused the invasion of the eastern part of Ukraine. This caused an immense tragedy to the Ukrainian people, killing many. (Kirby & Guyer 2022) This form of massacre is what led to international condemnation and sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, it drives Ukraine away from sharing culture, people, and much more. The loss of innocent lives can be an aspect of war that highlights its tragic and destructive nature. Additionally, this has a large impact due to the displacement of populations, and the long-lasting trauma inflicted by a massacre of this level. 

This figure is described to be, 

The number of people killed directly in the violence of the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere are approximated here. Several times as many civilians have died due to the reverberating effects of these wars. The methods of accounting are described in this paper (Human Costs of U.S. Post-9/11 Wars: Direct War Deaths in Major War Zones | Figures | Costs of War, n.d.) 

Although this figure lacks the deaths that were an implication of the Russia and Eastern Ukraine Invasion, it is a great chart to draw from when understanding the devastations that can be inflicted due to war. These deaths mainly occur within the middle east, which is a hotspot for American and Middle Eastern conflicts. 

Pakistan accounted for over 67,000 of the deaths due war, or in this case the conflict that arose post 9/11. (Human Costs of U.S. Post-9/11 Wars: Direct War Deaths in Major War Zones | Figures | Costs of War, n.d.) Pakistan can be associated in the west as another country riddled with military combat and terrorism, and while that is far from the truth, it does not stop conflict and massacres from arising in the nation. Specifically from an issue surrounding an airstrike, Democracy Now! (2013) details this issue by stating, 

The Pakistani government is warning of a new rift with the United States after a CIA drone strike that killed the head of the Pakistani Taliban. Hakimullah Mehsud and six other militants died on Friday when U.S. missiles hit their vehicle in North Waziristan. Mehsud had a $5 million bounty on his head and was accused of responsibility for thousands of deaths. The attack came just as the Pakistani government had relaunched peace talks with the Taliban. In a broadcast exclusive, we air a documentary that highlights the stories of civilians directly impacted by drone attacks in Pakistan: “Wounds of Waziristan,” directed by Madiha Tahir. (para. 1)

From an outside perspective this can be deemed as a positive act of warfare, due to the bounty being on and individual grim actions and orchestrating a multitude of deaths. This can be seen with people such as Osama Bin Laden or Hitler, as the person is responsible for leaving devastation and sorrow onto others. In that same article Democracy Now! (2013) states,

‘Waziristan is only half the size of New Jersey. How would it feel if bombs rained over New Jersey for nine years?’ asks Tahir in the film. ‘Would you be frightened? If they killed your son, your cousin or your husband, and got away with it, would you be angry? You probably couldn’t forget about it if you tried. You’d be haunted.’ (para. 1) 

It's important to understand the level of the two sides fighting in this war too, and the platform that the United States has in this situation. In Militarization, by John Bellamy Foster, Hannah Holleman and Robert W. McChesney (2008) they state, “Since  2001,  acknowledged U.S. national defense spending has increased by almost 60 percent in real dollar terms to a level in 2007 of $553 billion” (p. 29) The United States' security is greatly enhanced by this, but it has less of an impact on pursuing smaller nations. This is one area where there are no rules during a war, therefore it occurs frequently between developed and developing nations. 

In conclusion, while the usage of nationwide security and warfare can seem necessary in defending a country in the state of the world today, it is far from ideal. The toll from mass destruction and massacre that are inflicted on mostly smaller countries. True security lies not in the weapons and warfare used within conflict but in diplomacy, cooperation, and the promotion of peace. 

Works Cited 

Van der Dennen, J. M. (1981). On war: Concepts, definitions, research data–a short literature review and bibliography. Yearbook on Peace and Conflict Studies

Kirby, J., & Guyer, J. (2022, March 6). Russia’s war in Ukraine, explained. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2022/2/23/22948534/russia-ukraine-war-putin-explosions-invasion-explained.

Human costs of U.S. post-9/11 wars: Direct war deaths in major war zones | Figures | Costs of war. (n.d.). The Costs of War. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/figures/2021/WarDeathToll

Now, D. (2013, November 4). “Wounds of Waziristan”: exclusive broadcast of new film on Pakistanis haunted by U.S. drone war. Democracy Now! https://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/4/wounds_of_waziristan_exclusive_broadcast_of

Foster, J. B., Holleman, H., & McChesney, R. W. (2008). The US imperial triangle and military spending. Monthly Review, 60(5), 1-19.