Who justifies the existence of War? – The Beneficiaries

Shenali Waduge

How can we come to terms with the truthful realization that there are some amongst us who thrive when wars exist?

For the ordinary people we question the loss of life not only amongst the Armed Forces but innocent civilians as well. The loss of a life means a sudden departure of a potential human being, a loss to a mother and a loss of a father or mother to a young child. It also means a blow to a source of income for a family as often those who enter the armed forces are men and women from the villages.

Wars also create loss to property, damages to homes, buildings etc, loss of personal belongings and damages to items people cherish.

Every man who joins the military connotes to mean a man less for a nation’s public or private sector to drive economic growth.

Every rupee taxed upon the individual by the Government to fund the war effort becomes a rupee less from an individual’s aspiration to fulfill a dream for himself and his family. Every rupee taken by the Government through taxes or borrowed from financial markets is a rupee less from the development of a country. Each time additional taxes are heaped upon the private sector enterprises it means that money is taken away from future investments and further opportunities for growth. It is prudent to remember that a Government has only the power to transfer & redistribute the resources & income of the society – it does not create production or wealth.

War expenditures impoverish people. If war brings about such colossal damage to the people and a nations economy why would Governments remain docile to setting up counter measures to effect a turn around in the situation?

The reasons are simple but most of us would not like to accept its truth. Behind every war is a group of people who thrive and whose coffers become richer and richer as war situations aggravate & set to motion a state of uncertainty.

While there are people to gain from wars there also those who gain during postwar situations as well. Considered very much as an institution, wars have turned into profitable money machines for shrewd investors with foresight. Those out of Government office are quick to use their positions in office to become international consultants, contractors, suppliers and offer global telecommunications, aerospace supplies, military equipment, sophisticated tanks, ships etc.

Let us take the example of Iraq.

The US administration is rounding up details that would foster a $100billion postwar reconstruction project for US companies in Iraq. All contracts will be offered to US companies who will be tasked to restructure the Iraqi public school systems to turn public schools into private institutes, provide USAID to 4.2million Iraqi students & teach them to be good citizens following curriculum approved by the US Government. USAID will also carry out a project to ensure US-styled democracy is practiced in Iraq wherein Iraq is to be divided into 18 regions for elections.

Thus, postwar Iraq will become profitable for the privileged companies, corporations and private “consultants” who will be given contracts to change Iraq and the Iraqi people to think American. We can now understand why the Bush Administration will not even discuss the issue of withdrawing from Iraq.

So long as wars are believed to be vital for modern economies “peace” will remain a fragment of our imagination as we are not likely to see it in the near future.

Wars turn into modern economies largely due to its industrial nature – the ability to produce military technology & military capacity which is today thriving. Those involved in such industries will argue that they would be loss of employment to millions who are employed in such industries. Why cannot people think of creating other avenues for generating income and employment without producing through military industries to kill or maim people and even justify its existence? The preference today seems to be for “occasional wars” interim periods of rest and quiet and then entering a phase of all out war. That is perhaps why Governments are seen taking greater control of the economy during wartime situations.

But who are the real losers in a wartime economy? We can see the losers but do we really see who gains?

Look around and see who benefits directly or indirectly from wars? From coffin makers, to construction industries, to print & media, traders & suppliers & practically all industries there are many who seek to gain when wars exist. Even the noble men who seek to become “negotiators” find themselves drawing large salaries and VVIP status foreign visits to engage themselves as messengers of peace.

Then what about the rebels themselves? The distinct status they command in their guerilla attire, the ability to demand in kith or kind whatever they want with the power of the gun they hold is something they would never wish to give up. Their coffers must also be full of money amassed fraudulently to create a lifestyle for themselves and their families and they too would not want to return to a stage they would have to start from scratch.

It seems they are the very people who try their utmost to ensure “peace” never dawns upon us for it would mean an end to their “incomes”.

But there are people who do not gain from wars – they are the people who earned the same living before an outbreak of war and are earning more or less the same even during a war time situation. Unfortunately these men and women and their “prayers” for peace are not heard at all. That unfortunately has become the fate of Sri Lanka.