Suicide Attack in Sri Lanka

The one thing I do like about Social Studies as a subject is the fact that it is evolving as we speak. It is relevant, it is about the now and today and there are many incidents to look out for that adds to our understanding of the many case studies that are featured in the syllabus.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7653945.stm

The tamil tigers have launched a suicide attack in Sri Lanka again in a battle that has been south asia's longest civil war. The cost of the conflict is constantly high with economic and social costs always being the chief concerns. What questions then can we ask?

Why such attacks? Why when the stakes for the country are so high that these two groups cannot reach a peace settlement? What is the true cost of a conflict that has lasted for decades?

There are never easy answers especially to problem whose roots lie in very different beliefs systems in each group that has solidified through lack of understanding and a mutual hate and need for retribution. Hopefully, we would be able to see some kind of resolution in our time or esle it is the people who will continue to suffer.

World War II and Cold War

The external reasons for WWII are usually more commonly referred to the inaction of the British and French, the failures of the League of Nations, appeasement and probably the views of Russia and the way they thought they could form an alliance with Hitler. It is how the actions of those outside of Germany have contributed to the war by allowing Hitler's strength to grow unchecked.

There are many effects that rippled from the fact that Russia and USA were having an extremely strained and distrustful relationship, China becoming communist in 1949 fuelled american fears that the communists would try to take over the world. Russia=big, China=big and therefore there was a very real fear by USA that these countries could try to spread the communist system of government they so dreaded and hated.

This fear led to them taking a more pro-active role to support newly emerging democracies or weaker states that seemed vulnerable to the influences of communism. The Korean War is a result from this aspect of USA's foreign policy.