World peace means confronting warmongers

The geopolitical map has certainly been shaken since Donald Trump began his second term as President. He said in the campaign for office that he would resolve the war in Ukraine. Moves do appear to be being made in that direction. Most concerning for Europeans, though, is what that peace will look like. It has been interesting to see the question of Ukraine's mineral wealth suddenly being raised by President Trump. Over the previous three years of war, these resources rarely got a mention in the media discourse. Despite, ofcourse, being a crucial part of the war equation. Indeed, that discourse was one of unending war, causing death and destruction whilst the cash tills of the arms companies rang ever louder. At least now some of the issues are up front. The concerns for European countries and particularly the UK is a new defence burden that it seems will be placed on them. The new US administration expects Europe to pick up the bill for it's defence. In the Ukraine context, this could mean a peacekeeping force. This will cost billions. That money will come from other areas of government. It will mean less money for essential services at home and abroad. Already, Prime minister Kier Starmer has declared aid to the poorest in the world will be cut to make up the defence budget rise. The UK is in a very vulnerable position, out of the EU, and in a different relationship with America. Potentially a small isolated country in the north of Europe. How the UK government plays it's hand will have serious consequences for now and future generations. The present government would do well to remember the warning of a former US President, Dwight D Eisenhower, who on leaving office in 1961, warned of the power and growing influence of the military industrial complex. A group who profit from war. They have grown as President Eisenhower warned, wielding huge influence. And for every penny spent on war there is less for everything else. Eisenhower declared: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." He went on, describing this, as "not a way of life at all." "Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron." Good politicians know when to stand up to the generals and arms companies. We desperately need peace in the world but must not mortgage the future to the weapons industry and those who depend for their existence on war. It is a fine line to tread but all must proceed with care in order to ensure a peaceful future.