Gallipoli – we shall remember all of them

I try to think we were doing the right thing in supporting the British Empire at the Dardanelles but then I have lunch with my Turkish friend and the principles become a little more blurred.

I’m sure much of USA thinks the same way when it comes to the US invasion of IRAQ – especially the many non-radical Muslims who now call USA Home.

The Crimean Peninsula has been a contested hot spot of political nationalism for many years.  Do the many Russians who live there really align with the Ukraine.  How about the Palestinians – somewhat irked do you think, with the United Nations gifting parts of their homeland to Israel.

Should we have sent our young men to Vietnam in the 60’s, a war closer to home and closer to my own likely participation at age 18?  We now go there on holiday – and we lost, they won!  The same in Turkey.

ANZAC day is a time for us to remember the ultimate sacrifice our service personnel and their families made in giving us the ability to enjoy the lifestyle we have today.  There should be nothing but respect and honour.  We need to question why the wars eventuated, because history teaches us what not to do – or does it?  Loyalty is important for a country, community, family but blind faith can be downright dangerous – and often is.  Political correctness is the arbiter for blind faith, the prescription if you will, for central planners.

Tribalism, religion and political power are the fundamental drivers for war.  We see all three at play in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.  The question that external political leaders must continually contemplate is……. At what point is ‘entry’ appropriate and what is the fundamental reason?  Churchill desperately wanted unencumbered access through the sea of Marmara and into the Black Sea – the back door into Europe at the time of the First World War.  Chamberlain desperately didn’t wish to engage with Hitler and made a peace pact with him before the Nazis invaded Poland in the Second World War.  The peacemaker was pilloried – the war monger, an exalted hero!

George Bush senior and the US military departed from Iraq without completing the annihilation of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime and George Bush junior needed minimal incentive to finish off the uncompleted task.  An international conflagration has followed.

Kennedy wasn’t convinced that Vietnam was a realistic place to make a stance against communism but his Democrat replacement, Lyndon Johnston, couldn’t wait to wade in to fulfil the wishes of generals and political Hawks alike.

I wouldn’t want the responsibility for sending my countrymen to war, it’s no wonder that Franklin Roosevelt delayed his entry until forced to by the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbour.

There is no doubt that USA, in joining with the British and its allies prevented world domination by a German nationalist and a Japanese imperialist.  We should be grateful to have such allies.  Unless you stand up to bullies they will attempt to dominate.  Undemocratic countries are something to be wary of and fear – however seemingly friendly they purport to be, to their own and to their neighbours.  Note China in the South China Sea and North Korea off the coast of the Korean Peninsula.

As I rationalise the Wars we have participated in – from South Africa to the Middle East, Europe and South East Asia, Malaya and Korea (the Pacific Rim and Japan) the irony is the complicity of our countries immigration and commercial/sporting connections.

In my lifetime and certainly that of my parents, we have alternated between dire enemies to ‘home’ for people from many disaffected countries.  I only hope we learn to integrate better with these many nationalities because those countries who have not are paying the price in cultural and religious rebellion.

Whilst I have often criticised the role of US as the world’s police officer, it worries me to see undemocratic countries growing in power and hubris.  Just as we have noticed crime and illegal behaviour expand and threaten the values of our towns, cities and citizens so to, worldwide.  The major role of government is the protection of its people through defence force, police and the judiciary.  We must accept a social democracy also protects its most at risk, however if we allow political correctness to usurp the fundamentals – the flag we fly will change.

Thank you to our fallen and their families and the politicians/leaders who had the bravery to commit.  Whilst it is easy to criticise our losses after the event we should unite in gratitude at this time and never quiver in the face of the next provocateur.  Perhaps being pre-emptive is at times the correct action.

My friend and I agree that Ataturk was a great war general and ultimate leader of his people, after all he was defending his homeland.  We Kiwis must remember their losses were greater than ours and yet they welcome us to their shores.  Despite the war losses, despite the very different religion and despite a culture created by various tribes and centuries of tumultuous change – they welcome us and it is genuine. 

We shall remember them