How to help Ukraine win the war against the Russian invader and aggressor

15 September 2024

Introduction: violations, losses and prospects of war

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, instigated, masterminded and ordered by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and his entourage, is utterly unjustified and has been brutal as well, characterised by shelling of residential areas and deliberate maltreatment, torture and killing of civilians and prisoners of war.[1] So Russia is violating both the jus ad bellum (justice-of-war) ‘right aims’ and jus in bello (justice-in-war) ‘right means’ principles of justifiable and defensible warfare, mainly codified in the 1899 and 1907 The Hague Conventions and the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Any humanitarian-law violations on the Ukrainian side have been incidental and often prosecuted, so pale in comparison.

Losses

Right now the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still highly determined, capable, inventive and effective – particularly at sea and in the air through long-range aircraft, drone and missile attacks against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and other military assets on the latter’s own territory. Arguably, Ukraine already has won the war at sea, and may do so in the air soon with the final arrival of the first promised F16 fighter jets. Even on land it is continuing to inflict a heavy toll on Russian forces, which is still losing far more men and materiel in absolute numbers than the Ukrainian side (though the latter could afford to lose far fewer men and materiel in the present circumstances).

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Digest first presentation of Kadir Habibović’s book in the Netherlands

Life Against Death: Srebrenica

First passage from the book (page 4):

“In order to protect yourself against prejudice, I recommend to everyone who reads this shocking story: imagine your town instead of my Srebrenica, your people instead of my people and your name instead of my name.

Then make your judgment and try to answer a question without fear and loudly so that everyone hears: “What have THEY done to the innocent people of Srebrenica?” And never do to anyone what you would not want to be done to you …“

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January 2015

Our tolerance is an achievement of the Dutch Republic from the 16th to the 18th century. People were convinced that their own religion was the true one, and that the others would undoubtedly end up in hell. But on the streets and in commerce people considered and treated each other as equals and respected one another as human beings.

Discrimination against Muslims and other immigrants should be vigorously contested, but once people become terrorists, they should be dealt with forcefully, with the heavy hand of government. Where the violent version of Islam gains the upper hand and attains political power, it will be done and over with regarding our freedoms.

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