Curiosity 91: Armed conflict worldwide

Today in the New York Times there was a piece about a right-wing "nerve center" in Washington DC, the Conservative Partnership Institute, a "breeding ground for the next generation of Trump's loyalists and the policies he might pursue." As usual, I checked out the comments, and although most (it being the New York Times) were ones I could agree with (like, scoffing at the very idea that the "conservatives" have any "policies" other than slaying the "woke"), one woman mentioned how good it was under Trump vis-à-vis Biden because prices were lower and there were no wars.

Ah, well. Prices: there was that little crisis called Covid, which debilitated the supply chains, raising prices. Plus, the president has nothing to do with the cost of toothpaste.

But then: wars. Today while driving I was listening to NPR (you can no doubt tell what political persuasion I am just by those two media mentions) and the reports were all about Ukraine and Gaza. Which caused me to wonder what other conflicts are ongoing in this world right now. And of course—this should surprise no one, except possibly Trump supporters—there are many:

The source for this map is Wikipedia's "List of Ongoing Armed Conflicts," with chart after chart of major wars, wars, minor conflicts, and skirmishes and clashes (as shown on the map in varying shades of red), by country, by year. In 2023, for example, the five major ongoing wars (10,000 or more combat or related deaths in current or past year) were:

• Myanmar (start of conflict, 1948; deaths 2023, 15,773)
• the Arab-Israeli conflict (1948, involving 9 nations; deaths 2023, 24,550–33,103)
• insurgency in the Maghreb (2002, involving 15 nations; deaths 2023, 14,728)
• Russo-Ukrainian war (2014; deaths 2023, 30,915–95,088+)
• war in Sudan (2023; deaths 2023, 13,225)

I'd wager the woman touting Trump hasn't even heard of the Maghreb or Myanmar. Though perhaps I am ungenerous.

Wars seem to be what people do. We are such a ridiculous species. Not only are we willfully destroying the planet, but we willfully destroy one another.

Tonight we watched The West Wing on TV—it's our regular go-to lately; we're in season 4—and there was a crisis in a made-up country in Africa where genocide was being waged. President Bartlet decided to care, and the episode (which was organized around his second inauguration) ended with him sending troops to that country to stop the killing.

Can we imagine Trump doing the same? Not if it doesn't give him any personal benefit. (I'm sorry. I try to stay away from politics, but I am beginning to feel alarmed about this next election. And I don't care if Biden is old and feeble—well, actually, I do, but there's nothing I can do about it, if he's the candidate; but I do know that he is surrounded by people I trust. And I cannot begin to say the same thing about Comrade Trump.)

Here is a chart of deaths related to armed conflict, by country, for the past several years. The players change position, but there tends to be an ongoing top ten.

Never mind the woman touting Trump: I wonder if Trump has even heard of these countries, or cares that they exist. Or that people are killing one another. I sure haven't seen him say much about Ukraine, except "Yay Putin, my buddy," or, really, anything about Israel and Palestine. (Okay: he has heard of Mexico, because it shares a border with us. But I'm not going to that particular issue just now.)

Anyway. There: a rare political rant. Though they may well become less rare as this year goes on. Not that my ranting will change anything. But maybe you didn't know about all the killing going on. And now you do. I'm sorry. We are an awful species. But enough of us are also generous and caring, and that continues to give me hope. I don't know who reads this blog, but I happen to believe that you are among the generous and caring. Thank you.