A loud and menacing beat of war drums signal yet another mournful battle. Its roaring rhythm symbolises the ominous anticipation. Its booming cadence envisions more death and destruction. The mood is tense and tingling as we shudder at the drummers at the gate.
More barbaric attacks on the weak by the strong is a repetitive refrain throughout history. Without sign or signal, note or warning, the happy wanderer aims his arrow at the lonely sparrow. Where is the glory.
When you hear them say “all is fair in love and war,” it suggests, that lawlessness is acceptable — reason is absent. In other words, “war is madness”. It inflicts the deliberate taking of human life — a crime in all contexts — but in times of war, it is encouraged, pursued, even glorified.
Were you to ask which is the most warring country in the world, the immediate and unequivocal response is the US.
Since its creation, it has engaged in 12 major wars and 135 military conflicts. This warm relationship with war explains why and how America came into existence. Its birth resulted in its independence from Great Britain.
Most wars are fought for power and territory. The US at first fought for its lofty ideology — freedom, equality, democracy. Through the years, its exemplary doctrines soured. A far cry from “its tired, its poor, its huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.
In Plato’s Republic, Thrasymachus defines justice as “nothing other than the advantage of the stronger.” They must have read their Greek classics.
As the drums keep beating, constantly and consistently, we give pause to the many wars, before the next cry of terror is ushered in. Critics, politicians and scholars describe and analyse the crisis of today, but a look at our “yesterdays” seems strangely familiar.
Its past military conflicts and interventions are never-ending, itching to engage in the next argument, skirmish, or battle.
“Justice is not inherently good or beneficial, but rather a tool used by the stronger to maintain their power and advantage,” so it is with Israel, with the US, and with all wars. The exception is that the US is compelled to act as policeman to the world and “there’s the rub.”
The Pentagon controls 750 to 800 military bases in at least 80 countries, with a notable presence in Japan, Germany, and South Korea. It is a present empire that spans the world. Why?
Not out of sympathy or self-interest, like neglected Rwanda or Uganda. Better reasons are for oil, strategic or military reasons, and above all the fear of communism.
Following the initial war of the native Indians, the war of Independence (1775-1783) was founded with the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
After a period of peace and security, in June 1812, a war was fought by the US and its allies against their old friend the UK and its allies in North America. The British supported the confederacy of Native Indians over territorial expansion in the Old Northwest.
Thirty years later, in 1846, the Mexican-American War was an invasion of Mexico by the US army, following the annexation of Texas. The Republic of Texas was an independent country in North America since 1822. Calling it “the most unjust war ever raged by a stronger against a weaker nation”, no doubt Mexicans are still bitter over its stolen territory. So much for Thrasymachus.
Time for a rest until the next war: the Spanish-American War (1898-1902) caused tension between the US and Spain over Cuba under Spanish rule. The US declared war, vowing to free Cuba and end Spanish control in the Americas. In 1898 Spain surrendered and the US had control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. A new global order was born.
Wars and victories became easy. In WWI, the US was initially neutral but soon joined the Allies, effectively ending the war. The US now emerged as a significant world power.
Two decades later, WWII broke out and again the US perhaps tired of wars, remained on the sidelines. The attack by Japan on Pearl Harbour brought the US to another victory in 1945, setting a new chapter of invincibility in its history. It was never again to taste victory in wars.
Five years later, the Korean War ended with Korea still divided, despite the major role the US played.
The Vietnam war (1964-1975) is considered by most scholars the most unjustified war of the last century. The US saw its first miserable defeat, and to a poor, undeveloped country. Vietnam wished to be a communist and remains a communist.
They tried victory again, but was never sweet.
Oil was the focus of the Middle East. Endless wars over Kuwait, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, and Somalia fill volumes of atrocities because of power and greed.
Even more unjustified in the 21st century is the Iraq war (2003-2011) considered by many as a criminal war, killed one million civilians, more than 5,000 American troops, and deliberately destroyed the remains of one of the most advanced civilisations in all history.
Down fell the great monuments of antiquity, now lost forever to humanity. American citizens cried for war on the basis of erroneous information. They have lived to regret it.
Are they about to repeat the same error? Are they not weary of blood and gore, of death and destruction, of violence and barbarity?
Nothing is demanded of you but to be human.
“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”
Sun Tzu (544-496 BC)
* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Short link: