AUTHORITIES of nations mediating, dealing or intervening with the Russia-Ukraine battle should avoid making the wrong moves, which would impel the lunatic Vladimir Putin (a former KGB official) of Russia to unleash upon the helpless Ukrainian citizens those destructive chemical weapons that Russia has in its arsenal.
The US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) member countries might be forced to intervene, which could start World War III and destroy mankind.
Diplomacy should play a very vital role to de-escalate the tensions and the shellings on Ukraine.
Fr. Rlando V. dela Rosa, O.P., a columnist at the Manila Bulletin, painfully asked: Are we destined to self-destruct?
If things get worse in the Russia-Ukraine episode, then it might be that we will lose all calmness and plunge into the destructive WW3. Sus.
And China is just waiting at the sides. A treacherous ruler like Putin, Xi Jinping, ruler for life, prides himself in the belief that he can annex easily the otherwise peaceful Taiwan.
Let us also watch closely the antics of North Korea. Its lunatic leader, Kim Jong-un, has devious plans to be recognized by the world leaders by test-firing various missiles, perhaps to intimidate or outrightly threaten the superpowers. Kim Jong-un engages in this dangerous real-life game even as his fellow North Koreans wallow in poverty and destitution. He acquires expensive military armaments while depriving the citizens of the resources to acquire basic commodities.
History is replete with accounts of traitors and treacherous leaders like those mentioned. Not so long ago, we had the misfortune of having Muammar Khadafy of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. They were brutal and cold-blooded murderers while avoiding good reasons for their victims. They slaughtered people at their fancy for no reason at all. In Iraq, weapons of mass destruction were reported to be used to protesting people.
Such is the order we are faced with: one wrong move will spell the destruction of the world, of mankind. There is a saying that for evil to triumph, good men do nothing to stop them.
We certainly do not know if the fracas in the Russia-Ukraine battle will soon end. We only know that such disturbance brings too much inconvenience in our lives. The spiraling oil prices are only one grave reason why we should maintain peace and stability in our midst.