Dialogue is the major casualty in these wars
THE conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have underscored the deepening polarisation of global public opinion.
The conflict in Ukraine, marked by a prolonged war of attrition, has seen a complex interplay of interests among major Western powers, often tinged with calculated naivety and hypocrisy.
From the outset, Western powers, spearheaded by the USA, have been funnelling military aid into Ukraine, fostering a belief among Ukrainians that victory against Putin’s Russia is within reach, as if Russia were a mere adversary around the corner.
However, it’s clear that only with significantly larger quantities of more sophisticated weaponry could Ukraine stand a chance against Putin’s forces. Yet the provision of arms by Western powers and Nato, seemingly aimed at prolonging the conflict without a decisive outcome, risks escalating tensions to the point of triggering a global conflict.
To justify their involvement in the conflict, Western powers have fuelled rumours of Putin’s intentions to attack vulnerable Nato member states, laying the groundwork for potential Nato intervention. This distorted narrative is further compounded by suggestions, such as those from French president Macron, of direct military intervention in Ukraine, a proposition that raises significant concerns.
In a recent interview, an American journalist questioned Putin about rumours of attacks on small Nato countries. Putin denied such claims, asserting that any aggression would be in response to provocation.
Turning to the Gaza conflict, the response of Western powers has been criticised for its lack of decisive action in addressing the conduct of Netanyahu’s government. Their apparent impotence in holding Netanyahu accountable for his actions during the conflict has been glaring.
In both conflicts, dialogue has emerged as a significant casualty. Despite its importance, meaningful dialogue appears to be a relic of the past, overshadowed by the dynamics of conflict and power politics.
CONCETTO LA MALFA, Dublin 4
Nations need to get real
AMERICA is sending engineering troops and equipment to Gaza to build a pier for desperately needed supplies, but this will take at least 60 days. In that time a lot of Palestinians will die of starvation or lack of medicines.
It would be more effective and much quicker if assault ships and their associated landing craft were used. The landing craft can deliver the equipment onto the shores of Gaza and could be quickly unloaded by the Palestinians themselves.
The distribution of these desperately needed supplies should be supervised by the UNRWA which has been operating in Gaza for many years. It was established in 1948 to assist 700,000 Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
It has been reported that 12 individuals, a small fraction of the UNRWA staff of 30,000, were Hamas supporters or activists. Benjamin Netanyahu, a man I consider to be a war criminal, caused several nations to withdraw funding for UNRWA. These nations need to wake up and get real. Genocide is taking place in Gaza every minute of the day.
JOHN FAIR, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Tuam babies’ justice
I hope Catherine Corless gets her wish and all the babies in the Tuam mother and baby home are identified, and indeed the rest of the thousands who were born and died in similar institutions. I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of their kith and kin read like a list of the movers and shakers from Ireland’s Who’s Who.