War and Peace in 2024

    While Gaza Strip, Palestine, and Israel, plus strikes across other Middle Eastern countries garner the headlines, Russia and Ukraine continue to roil in their more than two year war.

    What would Leo Tolstoy think? Russia, Russia, Putin. Most of the Western world stands behind Ukraine, including the U.S. presidents and our representative congress.

    Sudan has been going through real strife, war, people displacement. Down near Chad, one ethnic group in particular has been suffering. (I looked it up the day, partially based on a question from my daughter).  Other problems in Africa? From what I can tell, Libya is doing much better than the disparate groups have been doing since the Arab Spring of 2011. Africa is doing better than other parts of the world, particularly Asia and more lately Europe in the aforementioned northern Black Sea region.

    Mexico has its drug cartel violence, Ecuador got scary a few months ago; Haiti, I should have mentioned has become overrun with gangs and anti-government forces.

    China threatens nations in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and its borders with India. Some actions are bellicose, but like Russia they justify those moves.

    Iran has swapped missiles and drone attacks with Israel, and against U.S. and allied forces in Syria and Jordan, among other places. The Yemeni send missiles and UAV attacks against many, including the shipping lanes.

    2024 is not great, but it could be worse. I think.

    Gaza Strip is bad though. Too many innocents are dying. Starvation and rampant third-party deaths is unacceptable.