2023

Charles Dickens once wrote “it was the best of times; it was the worst of times”. For many around the world, it was the worst of times, and it shows no signs of improving in 2024.

A number of issues point to a negative assessment, from geopolitical point of view, of the year that is coming to a close.

Wars continue to ravage many parts of the world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues apace, with no resolution in sight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proven an inspired leader of a brave and resourceful nation. Russian president Putin has proven once again to be a thug determined to destroy the West at whatever cost and use the Ukrainian invasion as a first step in his road to restoring the Russian Empire.

Sudan continues to be consumed by a civil war with both sides led by egocentric generals vying for absolute power. 

Syrians continue to die by the thousands as Iran, Russia, and the United States fight a proxy war that appears inconclusive – Syrian dictator Assad does not seem capable of winning, nor does the opposition show any sign of surrendering. Turkey has occupied part of Syria as it seeks to wipe out Kurdish resistance fighters who seek to carve out a Kurdish state out of parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

On October 7th, Hamas carried out a barbaric terrorist action against Israel, murdering and raping 1,200 people, and kidnapping 250 more, taking them back to Gaza. 

Israel has retaliated by vowing to wipe out Hamas. This has proven difficult and tragic, since Hamas terrorists use civilians, schools, and hospitals as human shields – leaving no possible result other than the deaths of thousands of Palestinians trapped in the territory. Some argue that this is inhumane. Others consider it necessary, recalling that in World War II the fire-bombings of Dresden and the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki hastened the end of the conflict in which over 60 million died.

This conflict has also awakened a vile antisemitic fever around the world, as tens of thousands have marched in support of Hamas (many mistakenly equating them with the Palestinian cause rather than with the evil of ISIS). Students and administrations of prestigious universities have come out in favor of Hamas and against Israel either by acts of commission or omission, and attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions have grown exponentially worldwide.

Te United Nations has proven ineffectual in all these conflicts.

The political bodies – the General Assembly and the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, and others – have proven unable or unwilling to address any of these deadly conflicts or produce solutions that could save lives.

The United Nations bureaucracies, starting with the Secretary General, have also proven biased in many cases. In early December, Secretary General Guterres sent a letter to the Security Council under article 99 of the Charter that states “The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”. 

In diplomatic parlance this is an extreme step, one that Mr. Guterres. Has not taken with respect to the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the conflict in Syria.

This leads many to conclude that there is an obvious current of anti-Israeli sentiment in the Secretariat and antisemitism among its bureaucrats.

This is buttressed by the inability of UN Women to come out strongly against Hamas or Russia for using rape as an instrument of war, The United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) has directly or indirectly supported Hamas, and Mr. Guterres himself has been equivocating on Hamas’s responsibility for starting the conflict or for the United Nations’ failings to stop Hamas from creating a terrorist state under its very noses and aided by its own institutions.

Repeated statements by Hamas leaders that they will continue their quest to rid the world of Israel and jews, “by all means necessary” underscores the need to eliminate them and not consider the terrorist organization as a partner for peace.

Another issue we face is the growth of autocracy and the media’s tacit support of those who espouse ending democratic rule around the world.

In the United States, former President Trump has stated openly that he will eliminate much of the Department of Justice on his first day of returning to office, sic his officials on those who oppose him, and unleash the military to consolidate absolute power. 

As far as the media is concerned, it has gone out of its way to take Hamas’s side in the current conflict. From the beginning, many agencies – from the BBC on down – refused to label Hamas’ members as terrorists, preferring to shine the light of guilt for the attack on Israel.

The mainstream media have less and less credibility at a time when a credible and robust media is essential to fight against political encroachment on its freedoms and speak truth to power.

Finally, the earth continues on its road to hell as leaders endlessly debate global warming and climate change.

There is no substitute for strong, positive, and effective leadership, yet this is missing everywhere. I cannot find a credible leader anywhere who has the power to bring people together at a time when it is most needed. 

And that is my take on 2023.

I wish you all the best for the holiday season (whatever your religious or cultural persuasion) and can only wish that the holiday season brings reflection to all and some new ideas so that 2024 can bring renewed hope. 

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Keep reading: The Essequibo

Edition: Estefanía Cardeña