The very essence of war is survival of the fittest.
In ancient times, wars were fought between two or more combatants to claim the best resources or land. The desire to claim ownership had clouded the minds of even the strongest and most powerful of individuals.
This can also be seen in our daily lives today.
It is evident that ‘wars’ continue to exist –political wars, trade wars, and territorial disputes. Only a handful of these conflicts have evolved into full-scale combat like what was seen in the Persian Gulf War of the 90s and the war in Afghanistan.
Even during wars, there are rules. The rules were created to minimise destruction among the people, and to ensure that communities and nations could thrive, once the war ended.
But not all parties respect them.
Rules of engagement are to minimise casualty among civilians, but the wars in the Middle East over the decades and the 9/11 attacks on the United States in 2001, showed how the rules had been simply disregarded.
The ugly side of war is seen when human rights are violated through genocide, rape, and enslavement.
Wars also see opposing parties showcasing their latest innovations and inventions. Years of research and studies, done behind the scenes, are unleashed during wars.
We claimed to have learnt from the aftermath of the wars that had taken place throughout history. The desire to claim ownership and to show brute strength had destroyed societies for years, if not decades.
Afghanistan showed how a 20-year occupation, led by the US, had failed to help the Central Asian nation. The Taliban has returned to govern, and the country’s economy remains in tatters, while its people continue to suffer.
Nations don’t need wars to flex their muscles and showcase their latest innovations and creations.
We don’t need to live through another war to see if the rules of engagement are truly upheld, just to show who is the most innovative, and technologically advanced.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
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