Times Of Swaziland: GAMBLING WITH 3RD WORLD WAR GAMBLING WITH 3RD WORLD WAR ================================================================================ Chris Morgan on 06/03/2025 07:43:00 "He who pays the piper calls the tune” is a famous expression long standing in our world. Whether it’s an employer, or more remotely a taxpayer or even more remotely a ratepayer, it is a dominant characteristic in global human behaviour. But just because the piper is in an almost unassailable position in terms of power, in the free world the humble ordinary person is entitled to disagree without the ‘piper’ throwing his toys out of the cot. So please understand, Trump, that I do recognise your hugely elevated status in life and I do like the way you declare your fight to help the ordinary man and woman. But I am also entitled to criticise – responsible criticism – without being penalised for doing so. Or more specifically, not causing my country to be penalised for that. It is a purely personal view in a country of predominantly free speech. Siyavumelana? Excellent. So under that accord I venture to suggest that in my opinion Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, came out of the infamous White House discussion last week far better than did the other two participants – Donald Trump President of the United States of America (USA) and his Vice President, JD Vance. Firstly, Vance in his supremely articulate style was unfairly rude to Zelenskyy, in an entirely unprovoked manner in saying Zelenskyy had failed to express gratitude for USA assistance in the Russia – Ukraine war. The reality, unfortunately, is that the majority of Americans, while sympathising with the tragedy of that war, are probably shocked when they see the cost to the USA of the military assistance package. And would welcome a reduction. Well, that isn’t an option. It’s like running slower to catch a bus. Ukraine would then lose the war. It now appears that this is perhaps the plan to make Zelenskyy look ungrateful and ashamed for ‘dictating how USA should feel’ and make the American public relieved when Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine. This could be the forerunner to the USA supporting a peace deal that would allow Russia the 20 per cent of Ukraine that it has already occupied. Shouted The two White House bullies never allowed Zelenskyy to finish a sentence, especially one where Zelenskyy referred to a 2019 agreement that Putin had broken. They just shouted Zelenskyy down. Everyone would like to see peace between Russia and Ukraine. It’s absolutely tragic that thousands of soldiers and completely harmless and innocent civilians are getting killed every month. And this war is continuing with no guaranteed outcome, given the present balance of military weapons and personnel. The USA and Europe would continue to pour more money and to no avail. To the warmongers, the lives lost are viewed as water under the bridge. Russia will want to keep the 20 per cent they’ve invaded and Ukraine will refuse. If peace is forced by the very real threat of USA aid being withdrawn from the war then an independent observer would be justified in the accusation – invade, take, agree peace and settle back to enjoy the winnings. That’s not fair. In the two world wars the defeated side gave back the territory conquered and agree to reparations. That’s the way it should be. The only decent peace deal is where they sign a substantial ceasefire agreement and Russia gives back the 20 per cent of territory occupied. Trump will not secure that, despite the many compliments he conveys to Putin. It appears inevitable that the current suspension of military aid will force Ukraine to the table and allowing Russia to keep the stolen goods. I do believe their attempt to humiliate Zelenskyy in the White House shouting match was to wind up the average American in preparation for the bad peace deal. Unfair Trump has said Ukraine are ‘gambling with a Third World War.’ That’s downright unfair. It’s Putin that does the gambling, and many countries are convinced that his Russia would not stop at Ukraine. That could lead to a Third World War. In the Atlantic Council Global Foresight 2025 survey, 40 per cent of those interviewed thought there will be that War in the next 10 years. But fortunately, the big boys on the block, who would dominate such a war, and are fully prepared for one, are aware that none of them would come out of it without really massive damage. The famous philosopher, Betrand Russell, captured it nicely – “In war it’s not a matter of who is right, but who is left.” And there wouldn’t be much left on either side. Even faraway countries, including those across Africa, would suffer hugely. A nuclear war would cause death from starvation for those who escaped the bombs and radiation. On May 8 this year, it will be the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day – popularly known as V.E. Day. Those who took to the streets in wild and grateful celebration, and relief that their terrible war had ended, would have agreed unanimously that ‘The world has learnt a lesson – there can never be another world war.’ The secret is, of course, you simply have to keep out of office the nationalistic extremists who pursue idealistic and often narcissistic ideologies and are prepared to lay down the lives of the people they claim to love, purely to support their own dreams. Putin and Co want to create a restored Soviet Union that imploded in 1989. Somebody guide him in the right direction please, with him giving back what he took.