[Peace] Fwd: how to argue against the war - my take

[Tony Palomba]

Folks,

Two things

1) Depending on the weather, if you are up for a Ukraine vigil from 2 - 3
on Sunday, please reply.

2) Below is an excellent effort to argue against the war by a very old
friend with years of work on defense and foreign policy.

Tony

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Carl Conetta <cconetta at comcast.net>
Date: Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 12:45 AM
Subject: how to argue against the war - my take
To: Anthony Palomba <palomba10251 at gmail.com>


Arguing to end the war can be tough because most people have a myopic and
cursory view of the crisis. Appreciating it from Feb 2022 forward, it seems
clear-cut and simple: Moscow invaded, attempting to seize the country, and
wrecking much of it. Moscow’s action was a straight-forward and grotesque
violation of intl law. Russian efforts have been brutal as well. So, all
the received “wisdom” from WWII would seem to apply: Munich...no
appeasement... etc etc. And both Democrats and Republicans have closed
ranks (more or less) on staying the course of war until victory is achieved.

Arguing for the universal goodness of negotiation often won’t convince
people. Why? Well, Russia’s action HAS been criminal - a case of “breaking
and entering,” “robbery,” deadly assault. Be clear: these violations of law
are not a matter of two parties “disagreeing.” A typical response from a
pro-war advocate might be: Negotiation is what Putin wants because it opens
a door for him to grab some portion of what is not his: Ukraine. "What’s to
negotiate? How much of your stuff he can steal? It foolish to give ground
to a thief and killer"

One could argue from a pacifist position: oppose war and refuse to fight
because all killing is immoral - even in self-defense. Here the preferred
option might be patient non-violent resistance. I won’t argue the merits of
this except to say I think it is strongest when stated clearly and
directly: killing is wrong. However, I don’t think it will win many people
today or even give them pause. It stands as a moral stance, an assertion, a
value statement.  It's admirable, but it’s not my principled stance or how
I would argue the war.

The position I consider strongest is one that emphasizes:

(1) The global cost of the war (and how it’s being fought by all sides)
that’s being imposed on all regions, all people everywhere, and on the
future. Its too costly to be worth it. This war is a global disaster. (Next
step: It's not a "good war." It's a trap.

(2) The 2022-2023 war is just one part of a Big Power Struggle over Ukraine
and NATO expansion that’s being on-going for 20 years and that really
exploded in 2014. In fact, its part of a global struggle between Russia and
the USA that serves no one’s interest. This war reflects a big-dog-fight,
Moscow vs Washington. It sacrificed Ukraine and now asks that we sign on to
this contest.

(3) This war was avoidable. Unecessary. It could have been easily avoided
via diplomacy and a little give-and-take with low costs to all years ago.
100,000 Russian and Ukrainian lives could have been save. Maybe another
250,000 elsewhere. Probably $500 billion saved. This war represents a
grotesque failure of leadership on all sides.

(4) Some give and take could end it very quickly now... but that requires
the leadership of the USA and NATO who can began to set terms... in the
interests of the 10's of thousands dying due to this conflict OUTSIDE
UKRAINE or RUSSIA ...in the interests of the millions being thrown into
poverty outside of the conflict zone. Don't demand more war. Demand a
powerful diplomatic intervention to stop the disaster.

CONCLUSION: Do not stand with the unnecessary avoidable and hugely costly
Big Power fight. Stand against it.

(5) Here's a final point that I would NOT get into with people, but is
instructive. The Great Power Competition that caused and feeds this
disaster has had representatives inside Ukraine, too. Only one side is open
and active now, but back in 2014 there were two sides - each supported by
outsiders. The US- and Western-aligned Ukrainian-language side won by
deposing a democratically elected Russia-friendly president with the help
of western dollars.
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