This article by W. Owl first appeared in Unity, the weekly publication of the Irish Communist Party.
IS the quote from the bible-Luke 14.2 and is normally associated with Christmas. Unfortunately, there are too many western political and military leaders who are intent on ignoring the biblical sentiment even though some or even all of them will tell us that they hold Christian values. But then so did the Crusaders who were basically a bunch of murdering, robbing swine who slaughtered all round them.
It goes without saying that those who speak on behalf of western capitalism especially military people, need a bogeyman to justify their existence. At the present time that bogeyman is Russia which is now the butt of some hysterical outbursts by leaders of EU countries which are facing economic difficulties but find it convenient to distract people’s attentions away from raising questions in relation to the economic system-capitalism-we happen to live under. Hence we are told by the sycophantic media that Russia is an enemy and in the words of the Secretary General of Nato, Mark Rutte that European states need to switch to a “wartime mind-set.”
Irish News columnist Leona O’Neil in a recent article quoted the present British Armed Forces minister who said that we were on a “war footing” and that the “shadow of war was at Europe’s door”.
So who is this person? He is colonel Allister Scott Cairns DSO, MC, OBE formerly of the Royal Marines who achieved his military medal for service in Afghanistan. He resigned his commission in 2024 in order to stand for the Labour Party at the general election being duly elected as MP for Birmingham Selly Oak. He is now a Royal Marine reservist.
He was previously a military adviser to three Tory defence ministers, However, it is no surprise that he could serve in this very right-wing Labour government under the present defence minister Joh Healy, whose utterings show that when it comes to foreign policy you would find it difficult to fit the width of a cigarette paper between the Labour and the Tory parties.
Whilst O’Neill made reference to Rutte and the armed forces minister she wrote most of her piece on Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, who has said that “a whole-of-society response was needed, more people should be ready to take up arms to protect the country.” He then added, “sons, daughters, colleagues, veterans will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary to fight and more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.”
No wonder then that she wrote under the headline; “No, Sir Richard, you are not getting my children to send them to war”. She added to that “You are not sacrificing them for wars started by men in suits, fuelled by greed and power.” Knighton is quoted by O’Neill as stating that while a direct Russian attack remained remote, that doesn’t mean the ‘chances are zero.”
It seems that the Air Marshall is basically scaremongering to justify his military position. The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, who seems to relish being among the big boys and girls of the EU, was quoted in the Irish Times as saying that “a scenario where Ukraine falls would leave the EU at risk of an emboldened Russia seeking to undermine the sovereignty of the EU member states. That is a real concern which may not be appreciated in Ireland.” An obvious play in his quest with other Irish reactionaries to get into Nato.
These politicians and military people should look at European history. They can start by ignoring the rantings of governments of the Baltic states who are busy re-writing the history of the 2nd world war to cover up the Nazi collaborators amongst their people. They can also reflect on the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1917 by 14 European armies, the 1921 invasion by Polish forces instigated by western reaction and of course the Nazi invasion in 1941 assisted by many European contingents. 27 million of its people died.
Is it any wonder then the Russia has security concerns? It is ironic that we are being told about a Russian threat to Europe when in actual fact since 1917 it is Europe that has attacked them.
O’ Neill concluded her piece in relation to her children when she writes, “I am not raising them to be brave in war, rather brave enough to resist it.”
That is sound advice that people should take in board and ignore the warmongers talk.
This piece rightly exposes how the “Russian threat” is used by leaders to distract from the failures of capitalism. It is hypocritical for politicians to claim Christian values while they push for a wartime mindset that only benefits the powerful.
The calls for a whole of society response are a dangerous attempt to prepare the public for more conflict. As Leona O’Neill argued we should not sacrifice our children for wars driven by greed and the interests of the arms trade.
History shows that these tensions are often manufactured to protect the status quo. We must resist the talk of warmongers and focus on peace rather than being pushed into alliances like NATO.