Issues Under Fire: Doomsday Cometh

Issues Under Fire: Doomsday Cometh  

World leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference this weekend, presumably to find diplomatic and limited military solutions to a myriad of conflicts plaguing the planet. Unfortunately, early reports indicate military solutions may rule at the end of the day. From Iran, to Ukraine, to ISIS, patience is waning as the fog of war spread. 

With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry clearly signaling there would be no further extensions of talks with Iran if no nuke agreement is reached in March, one has to conclude the military option is the only alternative left. Since the Israelis have been chomping at the bit for a chance to strike Iran with U.S. support, it looks like that operation could be a go sooner than later. BTW, there will be no warning, just an announcement that the air strikes have started. 

Discussions concerning Ukraine appear to have a similar forecast, since the United States and (some) NATO members have clearly signaled a willingness to arm the government of Ukraine with lethal weapons along with financial aid and support. Convinced economic sanctions and a prolonged conflict on its border will drain Russia's economy and domestic support for continued Ukraine involvement, (some) Western powers seem to be doubling down on mounting pressure against Vladimir Putin.  

Were it not for German Chancellor Angela Merkel clearly signaling that Germany and other sensible E.U. members feel arming Ukraine will only lead to further bloodshed, that conflict would already be in full swing. The German Chancellor arrives in Washington today on a mission to dissuade the Obama administration and hawkish legislators from instigating an escalation in violence, without considering the high cost of unintended consequences.  

When it comes to ISIS, despite the "so-called coalition's" efforts to cooperate and collaborate, the discombobulated collective of contributors can't seem to coalesce and or coexist long enough to establish an agreed upon strategy. A lot of  fighting and dying is going on, but nobody really knows who's fighting who and worst yet, who's winning, if anybody.

With Iran, the only player in the region with the desire, influence and military capability to take the fight to ISIS being sidelined for geopolitical reasons, Syria and Iraq could bleed out while the world watches helplessly.


Bottom line: Over the next two, maybe three weeks, the world's leaders will determine the destinies of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of lives. If those leaders fail the challenge of reducing global violence and conflict through diplomacy, the death tolls will grow, refugee camps will continue to fill beyond capacity and humanity will creep ever closer to doomsday. Podcast Below!