THE BIRTH OF ANOTHER COLD WAR AND TERRORISM:

Written by Lucas Anuforo 

Email: peter.lemachi@yahoo.com
Dublin, Ireland

"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth."...Pope Benedict XVI

The period of 80s saw the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union army which was seen as one of the most dreaded and frustrating war ever fought by any nation in the 20th century. It created a stagnant economy as a result of huge budget spent on the war couple with its arm struggle with the United States this caused the Soviet to lose control in Eastern Europe.

The fall of the Berlin Wall between 1989 and 1990 was a beginning of a new dawn; borders were opened, free elections ousted all communist regimes in Eastern Europe. 1991 saw the collapse of the Soviet Union and the disintegration of its components into republics which witnessed the lift of the Iron curtain and finally mark the end of the cold war era.

The tragedy of Soviet Union saw United States invincibility in its foreign policy than ever before across all continents it becomes the remaining superpower in the world. In South-east Asia and East- Asia its allies; Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Singapore with its military base across these countries makes it more powerful. In Europe the US build a stronger ally with the European Union (EU). The Middle- East; Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf countries became partners and allies as a result of hydrocarbon products. Africa were treated with less respect because of corruption of its leaders but then, few heads of states like Mobutu Sese Seku of Democratic Republic of Congo and Mummar Gaddafi of Libya were used and as poster boys by American CIA to spy on Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana and host of other nations were having business with the US because of the products they could offer.

In the post cold war era; Russia were still perceived by United States as an enemy and threat to its security despite bilateral trade agreement and the space research programme co-operation between them. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Executive of the President; On August 22, 2012, Russia became the 156th Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which was overwhelmingly signed and approved by the U.S. Congress terminating the application of Jackson-Vanik and extending permanent normal trade relations to Russia and Moldova.

Russia is currently United States 23rd largest goods trading partner with $38.1 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2013. Goods exports totalled $11.2 billion; Goods imports totalled $27.0 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Russia was $15.8 billion in 2013. Russia was the United States 18th largest supplier of goods imports in 2013.(https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements).

The relationship between the two countries came to a halt in the wake of Syrian war and the annexation of Crimea in the fall of 2014. In August, Russian military vehicles were seen crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblast, massing 40,000 army units near the Ukrainian border which Russia denied its military involvement. After the annexation of Crimea, demonstrations by pro-Russian groups in the Donbass area of Ukraine escalated into an armed conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic.

This act of aggression was seen by the West as 'stealth invasion' and was detrimental to Ukraine's sovereignty. In his reaction President Barack Obama called on President Vladimir Putin to resolve the dispute by withdrawing his army from the Crimea or otherwise face economic sanctions.

Several occasions; Russia has been regarded as being bully to its neighbours. According to a UK based newspaper 'the guardian' publication dated 14th July 2015"Georgia has accused Russia of violating international law after it erected new 'border 'markings in the disputed South Ossetia region, effectively seizing part of a BP operated oil pipeline in the process."

President Putin is feisty with the relics of the old Soviet era perhaps try to reinvent a new Soviet Union because often he described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. Putin looks inexorable with Russian dream of becoming a great player in the world affairs; he does not entertain any distraction when it comes to Russian foreign policy. In his address to the Russian Federation on his re-election in 2004 he said "We are free nation our place in modern world will be defined only by how successful and strong we are." Unfortunately the state of Russian economy is not in a better shape at the moment due to the economic sanctions imposed by the US and its allies the EU.

Consequently, there has been long rivalry between US and Russia especially in area of defence- technology which both are serious competitors. The issue of espionage between the two countries has been running for years both are suspicious of each other. In 2010, 11 people were arrested in US by FBI including eight who claimed to be married couples- on charges of being part of a long-term, deep cover espionage ring run by the Russia intelligence service. And more often Russia accuses US of spying.

For the US and Russia relation to improve the two countries should partnership together and refrain from meddling in each other's domestic affairs. The US should curtail its belligerent behaviour towards Russia.

However, for United State to continue be a major player in the world affairs it should reach to all aisles and extend hand of friendship to countries like Venezuela and North Korea. The recent US-Cuba new relationship and Iran nuclear deal with the world shows that; diplomacy can achieve greater things than war.

At present, the sentiments shared across Arab world towards America were not based on mere hatred or resentments but were purely based on suffering of the Palestinians in the hands of Israelis government. An average Arab will confirm to you that US is playing a political chessboard on the Palestine border conflict with Israel they believe that the US is the only country that has the leverage to settle the long time running conflict that has span for decades but deliberately it failed to accomplish that.

As terrorism is gradually overrunning the world, unfortunately, the so-called world powers seem to be helpless and confused. Instead of these countries to come together and find solution to this satanic monster they are resort to fan ember of another cold war. Hitler tried it and the world rose against him and he was defeated alongside with his Nazi army. Today something bigger than the Nazi war is on the loose again. Unless the United States, Russia, EU, Japan, China and other civilized society come together and fight for a common course against these Islamic blood thirsty militants the security of the world would be at risk.

They're moving towards borders of Europe and Australia in a deceptive manner as war refugees pretending to be asylum seekers but sooner their real mission will emerge. They are out for apocalyptic doom and aiming to obliterate all traces of history and human civilization, they have tampered with the ancient civilization of the Great Babylon in Iraq and some of the archaeological site close to Syrian city of Palmyra; spilling blood of young girls, slashing the throats of men while the children watch their fathers being slaughtered daily like animals, youths are forced to join the terror movements and women are being constantly rape almost each minute that pass. This is a war between modernity and medievalism.

Almost every corner of the globe is douse with terrorism. The Chechnya rebels are the Russia's headache, China has the Uyghur Muslims minority to contained with, while US has the home-grown terrorists, France has the Muslim migrants from North Africa to deal with. And Perhaps Britain with 24/7 surveillance camera on its Middle- East fanatical Muslim clerics and some young Jihadists that are joining ISIL in Syria on daily bases this is a worrisome development.

Until the so-called world powers unite and shun politics of share interest in the conflict zones the global peace and security will never be achieved. One should today ask; where did ISIL acquire such dexterity, skill, prowess and warfare techniques to overrun every opposition despite the multi- national force that is being led by the US? And how did ISIL acquire its inaugural weapons? Unfortunately the global terror network has become a multi- billion dollars business empire. The funding are no longer untraceable as ISIL is in control of some Iraqi oil installations this has continue to be the live- line on their weapon procurement. While the Al- Qaeda is still making revenue from its multi- million dollars opium poppy farm business in Afghanistan and Boko Haram is still being financed by some sympathisers mainly from some few notable rich northerners in Nigeria. The group recently pledged allegiance to ISIL perhaps, an indirect appeal to ask funding from ISIL. Boko Haram since few months has suffered heavy casualties and defeat in the hands of multi- national force from West Africa but since the new administration took over there has been an increase in their attack.

ISIS is the most global threat of the 21st century .Their organisation system is well structured, very articulate and well managed but very brutal and dangerous. Social media is their strongest weapon through chatting which they could woo and recruit mostly; the very young vibrant that are on internet blogging just to further campaign of their attack. However recently, one of the UK's dailies 'Express' dated 07/07/2015 with the headline captioned "Islamic State terrorists’ sneaking into Europe on migrant boats, top EU official warns." Michele Coninsx an EU prosecutor warned that ISIL terrorists are coming to Europe hidden among migrants crossing the Mediterranean in boats. She said: "It is an alarming situation because we see obviously that these smugglings are meant to sometimes finance terrorism and that these smugglings are used sometimes to have and ensure infiltrations by members of the Islamic State."

Fighting terrorism is no longer based on using heavy or light weapons only; but it requires intelligence sharing and co-operation across all borders. Unfortunately the world is helpless and bewildered on way forward in fighting this monster unless we embrace a new chapter in relationship between nations which base on trust.

Since the "Arab Spring" revolution in 2010 which brought crisis in the Middle- East the Western powers have not done enough in helping these nations to rebuild their past instead; their vested interest is what is at stake. The antidote is until the so-called rich nations reduce its imperialistic influence on the poorer countries through non interference in their domestic issues thereby allowing them to choose the system of government that will suit and enshrine with their cultural values without this, the much expected world peace and security will never be achieved. 

Lucas Anuforo is a Freelance Journalist

Please check out for this links:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/14/georgia-accusesrussia-of-violating-international-law-over-south-ossetia

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4480745.stm

http://www.express.co.uk// ...ISIS-Islamic-State-Terrorists-sn…