Russo-Ukraine and the Morals of Conflict
A steadily boiling subject plenty of people have seen internationally on the news is the recurring conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Though its origins begin from the former’s annexation of Crimea and the latter’s Revolution of Dignity, the strife between the two has resurged and risen in tension within recent months.
However, while differing political groups tend to search for ethics in situations such as these, this conflict is a more difficult exception to the issue. Sure, people (those with no legitimate say in the matter) still pick sides, but what cost does it bring? On one side, those that approve of NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s) intervention usually have the mindset of defending the sovereignty of the Ukrainians against Russian imperialism. Many criticize the idea and say that fighting imperialism with even more of it is counter intuitive. Fighting fire with fire is only bound to create a greater flame, right?
This situation, albeit one that should not be viewed as what is correct or not, begs the question of whether seeking out these morals in times of conflict is an appropriate idea to begin with. It is a common statement that war is hell. Young men and women fight against one another for the sake of political disagreement, and the toll brings many to die and victory to be a pyrrhic one. Are conflicts like that of the Vietnam and Afghanistan Wars worth the price to pay? Thousands of soldiers and even more civilians end up perishing, usually with only a portion of the victor’s goals coming into fruition.
And this is not even taking into consideration the ethics of the military. In America, private manufacturers, and contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon make an extensive profit off the military-industrial complex. In the eyes of these companies, ethics only stretch as far as their guns can shoot. But on the eastern side, Ukraine has a rising movement in far-right ideology, with different military regiments and groups such as the volunteer Azov Battalion, infamous for their record of war crimes, Nazi tattoos, and similar memorabilia, that have prominent influence over the region. It may be a fight for independence, but what would become of the sovereign nation and its future?
An issue just as important is the effects this will lead to the US. It would not be far from the truth to say that many staff and students at Calloway have relatives and friends currently or formerly within the military. Because of this, many have also seen the disaster that can come from their experiences in battle. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and a lack of comfort in civilian life are all changes that many veterans must face. Bringing a new generation into the same world of violence may be one seen by authority figures as a win for western powers but is instead only letting history repeat itself in the troubles their parents and grandparents faced in their prime.
In the end, what defines right and wrong? In times of war, what ethics preside over others, and how far can you go to justify it?
