The Growing Camp of Reason

Peter Hitchens writes:

So what has happened to the great Ukrainian offensive, which we were led to believe would dislodge Vladimir Putin's invading armies? I suppose a surprise is still possible, but it looks as if it has stalled, just as similar big pushes did in the First World War.

In fact, the whole thing looks more and more like the First World War, with its years of muddy, bloody stalemate, trenches, artillery bombardments – and the mass slaughter, disfigurement and maiming of thousands of young men.

And in the USA, those who were once keen on this war are growing cool. America's NBC News recently reported that there are already 'conversations' aimed at starting peace talks.

Back in the spring, I debated this very issue before a London audience, saying that the war was dangerous and wasteful and should be ended by negotiation.

One of my bitterest opponents in that debate was the comedian Konstantin Kisin, who has become a significant internet commentator. Mr Kisin treated me like something he had recently scraped from his shoe. But last week, lo, he began calling for an end to the war.

Quite right too. Let us rejoice over the sheep that was lost, etc. I do hope he will not now be called all the stupid names ('Kremlin Shill', 'Putin Apologist' etc) I was called for reaching the same conclusion rather sooner.

I welcome him to the growing camp of reason. But I would say that, had he and others taken a wiser view eight months ago, or earlier, many young men now dead or terribly wounded would be unharmed and alive.

Thousands of shells and bombs would not have fallen on cities, turning them into ruins. Many refugees would have been able to return to their homeland.

Some estimates suggest that it will cost more than £300 billion to make good the physical damage done in the conflict, and who is to pay this bill? The dead, alas, cannot be brought back by any amount of money, nor can those mangled by the horrible weapons of modern war be made whole again. But at least a rapid peace could begin the long task of rebuilding.

The conflict in Ukraine was always unnecessary. It has done nothing but harm to Ukraine and Ukrainians. Ukraine has been used as a battering ram in someone else's quarrel. The whole thing was cooked up in the same Washington DC kitchen where the even crazier invasion of Iraq was prepared. And I did try to tell you that the policy of driving Russia crazy with Nato expansion would make us less safe, not more so.

I really hope this will be the end of it. But I very much fear that it won't.