Resolution for war will keep the peace

The situation in the Ukraine today has frightening parallels with the Europe of the late 1930s.

A state which persecutes elements of its population; a nation which is extinguishing democracy and silencing all opposition to the leader; a country which has, in part through imperial expansion, peopled others with its own citizens and now claims a right to protect them, regardless of borders or international law.

Looking back we can see that timely military action or perhaps the killing of Adolf Hitler would have spared the world a terrible war.

We are now, perhaps, facing a similar choice, and when I say we, I include this State, which for once should not run and hide behind the fig leaf of neutrality.

It strikes me that this is not the end of Russia’s ambition, but the start.

A calculation that our fear of nuclear war will allow it to do as it wishes.

Only a resolution on the part of the west for war, if it is necessary, will secure a safe peace. A grave risk I accept, but what choice do we have?

Gerry Moore

Cobh

Co Cork