The realities of conflict.

As the war in Gaza has shown, conflict brings in its wake the death of innocents.. a fact that the world needs to face up to, if peace is to be achieved.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky news also in Britain, made a decision not to air appeals for aid for Palestinian victims of the Gaza war. Their reason? That it could come across as taking sides in the conflict.

This in itself, is a quite simply flawed argument.

The death and displacing of innocent men, women and children in Gaza is very real. The need for help to rebuild their shattered lives is also very real..

Without getting into the justification or not for the war in Gaza, the death of innocents was an inevitability known to all when the possibility of Israeli strikes was still being muted, prior to the start of the war.

It is perhaps best that the world begin to see a consideration for the plight of innocents as a means to shift focus.

Whether war is justified or not should not be what is important. The focus should be on the utter devastation that arises from a lack of peace.

"What are you gonna do about taking care of the people?"

.. A question posed to the government of Israel by CNN contributor Lt. General Richard Honore rtd. as Israel's bombardment of Gaza and Hamas' firing of rockets into southern Israel enters Its 9th day.

So far, 507 Palestinians have been killed and about 2,200 have been injured. Much of Gaza's infrastructure have been decimated by persistent and ruthless Israeli bombardment. 6 Israelis have so far lost their lives in the last 9 days from Hamas rocket attacks.

Israel insists it is doing what is neccessary to bring peace to Its citizens who are living in constant fear of Hamas rockets. Israel's biggest ally the United States agrees wholeheartedly..

.. But has Israel used its might, as well as its so far unequivocal support from the U.S as leaverage to truly challenge Hamas to reach a peace that is, in the words of U.S secretary of state Condi Rice "durable and sustainable"?

The discourse so far perhaps, has suggested war and not peace.. even if Israel and the U.S say otherwise.

A discourse that has peace as its basis would immediately appreciate the dangers inherent in creating conditions in Gaza that alienates the man, woman and child on the streets to the extent that they become even more hateful of the Jewish state and Its people.. this a situation that can only fuel Hamas anti - Israeli rhetoric and rocket attacks instead of a dialogue for peace..

In the last 9 days Israel has so far not articulated how it intends to accommodate ordinary Palestinians on Gaza's streets as It targets Its Hamas adversary. Instead, the number of dead women and children rises to unacceptable levels..

For Israel again the question, what are you gonna do about taking care of the people?

A Tragedy..

Recently, about 150 people were killed in Kiwanja, Eastern Congo in what the International Herald Tribune of December 11th 2008 describes as "a study in unfettered cruelty meted out by the armed groups fighting for power and resources in Eastern Congo".

the Tribune draws one's attention to how the world's largest peace keeping force [centred in the Congo] has failed in its mandate to protect the people, and in the words of Anneke Van Woudenberg a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, "the people were betrayed not just by rebels who committed terrible war crimes against them, but by the international community that failed to protect them".

The rebel forces of Laurent Nkunda meted out death and rape on the people whilst trying to flush out it's enemies. Government- allied militias looted and meted out rape on the people, as they attempted to flee Nkunda's advancing forces..

.. And what is the largest United Nations peace keeping force anywhere in the world cites poor communication and staffing, as well as inadequate equipment and intelligence breakdowns, as reasons for failing in its mission of protecting the people..

What happened in Kiwanja ranges from a lack of appreciation of the need for a 'people- centred' peace keeping, to a blatant disregard for human life..

What happened in Kiwanja is quite simply, a tragedy.

The Obama presidency and hope for a more peaceful world.

Barack Obama will on January 20 2009, start a 4 year term as the 44th President of the United States of America.

His ascension to the presidency has been achieved on the back of a rational and emotionally mature approach to issues- including those of foreign policy.

He has promised to dialogue with America's adversaries if that is what it takes to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable solution to crises..

Obama's thoughtfulness as well as his steady approach to foreign policy issues may yet serve as the soothing balm that an increasingly fractious world needs..

The man who would be the most powerful person in the world may yet, by sheer dint of personality and temperament, steer our collective discourse more towards a quest for peace than a readiness for conflict.

On Mogae, Botswana and the Mo Ibrahim Prize..

It is to be lauded, the idea behind the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Prize for good Governance, initiated by Sudanese- born Dr Mohammed Ibrahim.

A prize won in Its inaugural year by Joaquim Chissano (former president of Mozambique), the 2008 winner has been named as Dr Festus Mogae, Botswana's former leader.

Kofi Anan, spokesperson for the foundation described Mogae's efforts to protect the peace, security and development of his country in the face of tough challenges, as the reason for his securing the prize.

Despite critics accusing Dr Ibrahim of wasting his money trying to bribe African leaders into behaving themselves, there is some sense in initiating such a prize..

.. On a continent rife with conflict, poverty, disease and corruption, there is a desperate need for achieving necessary traction in solving the continent's ills.

A Prize for good Governance which by virtue of its principles, encourages a striving for the noble and the ideal, goes some way in creating the platform for achieving this necessary traction..

Talking means one cares enough..

The recent comments made by Brigadier Mark Carlton- Smith the British commander in Afghanistan, regarding the war in that country, is put in perspective..

Brigadier Carlton- Smith declared that the British [and indeed the Americans] were not going to win the war [against the Taliban] and insisted that it was about ".. reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that is not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army".

He went on to highlight that talks with the Taliban about a political settlement should not be ruled out...

These comments show admirable insight and tremendous personal courage.

There is however another side to the issue..

.. That Talks mean that hopefully, untold hundreds of ordinary Afghans caught in the cross-fire get to enjoy relative peace.

.. Talking means you care enough about them..

Skepticism, hopefully not a hinderance..

Yesterday Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai finally signed a power- sharing agreement, which should hopefully bring peace to the streets of Zimbabwe and set the country on the path of economic recovery..

Reports have put the inflation rate in Zimbabwe at 11 million percent.. "one of the highest inflation rates ever recorded"..

As far as this power- sharing agreement is concerned, skepticism rightly or wrongly has quickly taken foothold.

Analysts have described the agreement (details of which, are still fuzzy) as "complex" and "confusing"..

Great Britain has pledged to support the recovery of Zimbabwe only in the event that the deal is "faithfully implemented"..

A European Union statement links its [European Union] aid to "reforms"..

The most important thing perhaps is that Robert Mugabe has agreed to share power with Morgan Tsvangirai. . that both Men appreciate that the road will not be easy, but declare that Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans remain the reason why they want to try..

It is understandable, the concerns of the skeptics... however, for the sake of Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans both men perhaps best be actively encouraged through what would be a difficult process..

A 'wait and see' approach that judges, without an honest appreciation of the difficulties, is not the way to go as this approach may not be in the best interest of ordinary Zimbabweans..