If you have read Kim by Rudyard Kipling you will be aware of the long and testing spy war fought alongside the military wars between Russia and Britain over Afghanistan. This was brought to mind today when Russia stood firm against UN declarations against Assad in Syria whilst people died, and my thoughts went once again to the way in which we think it justifiable to put one county’s interests over and above the people of another country. It is the way in which deals were done when there were no true democracies in the world and I have to wonder why they are still doing the same things?
Of course Russia is a thug ridden semi-Tsarist nation not even playing at democracy but it isn’t just Russia, all countries play this game whilst championing the cause of freedom. The Chancellor of the Exchequer during the famine in Ireland would not open soup kitchens because he thought the poor would get used to them and stop working. I am sure he went to church every Sunday whilst a million people died.
The sadness is when you have power you no longer make decisions based upon who suffers, but upon who benefits and not seeing that alleviating all suffering is the greatest benefit is the corruption at the heart of all government.