Middle America ready to turn
Back in June 1942, six months after Pearl Harbour, what was described by military historians as “the most consequential naval engagements in world history, ranking alongside Salamis, Trafalgar …” took place. Good military intelligence enabled American cryptographers to determine the date and location for the planned Japanese attack to trap remaining US carriers in Midway. The resulting count of four Japanese carriers to one American carrier and 10 times the casualty rate of the Imperial Japanese Navy was widely considered the turning point in the Pacific War.
Sadly, as we cross the midpoint of 2024, there appears to be no end yet in sight to the Ukrainian quagmire notwithstanding the peace summit last month; the summit was boycotted by major powers like China with a number of those in attendance including India, US Saudi Arabia and South Africa refusing to sign the joint communique. Similarly, even as Israeli action in Rafah winds down along with its war cabinet, the northern front with Lebanon threatens to open up as Gaza starves. Not far from us, Myanmar’s civil war continues for the third year, as some of its citizens find work here to fill service, healthcare and domestic gaps in our economy.
