"The only peace to be gotten is for the dead."
This horrible quote has plenty of truth to it. There are places in the world where chaos is king. There is an existing discord that threatens the lives and properties of defenseless populations. The usual suspects to preventing peace are the Middle East, East Africa, Sri Lanka and Colombia. These locations are among the dozens with some type of civil war, guerrilla conflict or political upheaval amiss. Peace is a foreign language in our world. Peace is a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Peace is a fable with a horrible end.
GAZA
The skyline over Israel is filled with orange flames and smoke. Gaza citizens are huddled in their basements and underground shelters after listening to hours of artillery barrages. They live in repression from their Hamas terrorist rulers. Israel is approaching its 61st year of being recognized as a nation. They are approaching their 61st year by killing more Palestinian civilians for the purpose of national security.
UGANDA AND CONGO BORDER
In the Congo, refugees are terrorized by Lord's Resistance Army militiamen. The LRA are attacking Congolese civilians with machetes and clubs. They are burning civilians from their homes. They kidnap children for recruitment in their militias. After their murderous attacks, their armies retreat back to their Ugandan sanctuaries. In response, Uganda's government forces and Congo's national army are coordinating a campaign to crush the LRA. Both armies are committing atrocities against "suspected" rebel sympathizers. In a recent massacre at a Catholic church, there are claims that LRA militiamen hacked to death 45 people and wounded 200 others. These claims are suspicious. The local media is steered to the government's favor.
SRI LANKA
The Colombo government is guaranteeing their New Year's resolution. They are attempting to eliminate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelaam as a terrorist organization once and for all. Sri Lanka's 30-plus year civil war is among the longest and bloodiest in the Eastern Hemisphere. A government offensive is about to land them the Tiger's Northeastern stronghold. They are pushing the rebels into the extreme northeast part of the island. However, the Tamil Tigers are known for their viciousness and resiliency. Also, they remain the only terrorist organization with a sophsticated, air force at their disposal.
The Tamil Tigers' war for an autonomous homeland is reaping unimaginable, human costs. They are destroying a whole generation of Tamils and Sinhalese. Close to a 1,000 Sri Lankans a month are dying because of the civil war. Government forces are close to putting Tiger rebels into an inescapable corner. But, when you trap a lion in his lair, there is one thing that lion will do.
COLOMBIA
There is still violence and death after Pablo Escobar. Escobar is dead. But, his legacy of murder and terrorism still inhabit Colombia. With his Medellin drug cartel gone, the Cali cartel and FARC guerrilla movement are attempting to seize control of the country. FARC is the Marxist movement known for committing bombings, murders (of policemen) and kidnappings of Westerners and other foreigners. They also serve as intermediaires for narco-traffickers by providing protection for cocaine transports from peasant farmers to the drug labs. They earn their percentage in the drug profits. The monies are used for recuitment and weapons. Colombia's National Police consider FARC to be the biggest threat to their country's security.
There are several other conflicts occurring around the world.
In Sudan, a five-plus year, civil war is causing millions to suffer through famine and thirst.
In the Congo, emigrating Rwandans, responsible for the 1994 genocide, are at war with the Congolese government. So far, the war is claiming the lives of 10,000 people a month through combat, murder, sickness and famine.
Rwanda and Burundi are suffering tribal conflicts from rampaging Hutus and vengeful Titsus.
In Russia, the republic of Chechnya and Georgia are fighting to keep their nations independent and autonomous.
America is involved with the five-plus year, Iraq war.
India and Pakistan are on the verge of regional war following the Thanksgiving terror attacks in Mumbai (Bombay, India).
These are just a few of the obstacles preventing world peace.