12th April 2026
How long has Homo Sapiens been evolving?
About 300,000 years (give or take a week or two).
When was the first known inter-tribal war?
Probably one in Sudan about 13,000 years ago, where archaeologists found a cemetery of about 50 people half of whom showed signs of death by arrows, spears, and clubs, and is considered the oldest known "race" war.
How many wars have there been between nations since 1 AD?
This stumped A.I. a touch, but it comes back with......
No exact data but studies suggest that in the last 3,500 years there has only been 268 years in which there wasn't an "armed conflict" somewhere.
One study says there's been more than 10,000 "battles" since 2500 BC.
There have been about 260 "major wars" since World War One.
When did the last nation's leader actually lead their army on the active war front?
Looks like Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, in 1935 against the Italians, has that clear honour, of actually putting his body in harm's way, in an inter-nation war. It's the done thing now for old men to kick it off and get young men and women to do their fighting.
How many national governments currently want to take over territory of others?
(As of late 2024, A.I. says...) Russia, China, USA, Morocco, India, Pakistan, Somalia, Venezuela, Iran, which doesn't include hosts of small national border bickers, and some aggressive pushing and shoving over islands, atolls, and river courses.
So, what can you say? Are we simply a naturally war-like species, continually fighting with our neighbours? Is the gaining and exercising of POWER the true driving force of the human brain? (You need to ask A.I. this one yourself. I have and it's ... nup, check it out. You need to know this stuff).
For my money, having been around for 87 years, born into World War II, seen Korea and Vietnam all over the papers and TV, been subjected to the seemingly endless African and Middle East body counts for all of my life, the current grinding stupidity of the Ukraine "special military operation" (geez, great PR), just those alone would suggest you'd have to say yes.
300,000 years and we've learnt fuckall. Haven't even worked out that war breeds hatred that breeds war that breeds hatred.
Having cheered you all up immensely.....
T.R.E.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>