If truth is the first casualty of war, hypocrisy is its staunch ally.
On Thursday,
17th September, a United Nations Security Council resolution calling
for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and
the release of all hostages by Hamas, was voted on by the 15 members.
Although fourteen
were in favour, it was vetoed by the 15th, the USA. As one of the
five permanent members, America has this longstanding, if democratically
dubious, privilege. This is the same state that frequently condemns Russia for
its targeting civilians, by military action, in Ukraine.
One of the
other five members of that elite group, Russia, must have voted in favour of
the resolution. The very same Russia undertaking ballistic aggression against
its own neighbour even as it was casting that vote.
The
presidents of both countries can undoubtedly concoct self-justifying excuses
for the inexcusable. If civilians are being subjected to terror attacks, it surely
means those prosecuting those attacks, or facilitating them, are, by definition
terrorists.
However, it
is also hypocritical to single out these states and their leaders while, at the
same time, continuing to lend even tacit support to the notion of the nation.
Russia and America are not unique in their belligerent involvements.
Competition
is in the nature of capitalism, so it cannot be surprising that capitalist
nation states are constantly seeking advantage at the expense of each other.
Warfare is the inevitable merciless expression of this competition.
It will
continue to be so for as long as nation states and capitalism are allowed to
exist. No matter what UN votes are held, successfully or frustrated. The only
antidote to war and long term solutions for Gaza, Ukraine et al, is socialism.
Voting for peace means
Treating pain, not the disease
Veto capitals
D. A.
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