Peace Retreats as the Dogs of War Run Free, By Chris Knight (Florida)

The world stands at a precipice, teetering between fragile hopes for peace and the relentless drumbeat of war. Just a week ago, optimism flickered as leaders discussed pathways to end conflicts that have scarred nations and displaced millions. Yet, as August 2025 unfolds, that hope is fading, replaced by a resurgent "war fever" that threatens to engulf Ukraine, the Middle East, and even the Americas. The dogs of war, it seems, are running free, and the consequences could be catastrophic.

On the night of August 21, 2025, Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults of the year on Ukraine, launching 574 drones and 40 missiles, striking as far west as Lviv and targeting a U.S.-owned electronics plant operated by Flex Ltd. in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia. The attack, which injured at least 19 people and caused significant damage, was no accident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a "deliberate strike" on American investment, noting that Flex, a civilian manufacturer of household goods like coffee machines, had no military ties. "The Russians knew exactly where they lobbed the missiles," Zelenskyy said, a sentiment echoed by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who described the attack as a direct assault on U.S. interests.

This strike, occurring just days after diplomatic efforts involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelenskyy, signals a troubling rejection of peace talks. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the attacks targeted Ukraine's military-industrial complex, but the choice of a civilian U.S. facility suggests a provocative escalation, possibly aimed at derailing negotiations. Zelenskyy's frustration is palpable: "They delivered this strike as if nothing had changed at all. As if there were no efforts by the world to stop this war."

The timing is critical. Trump's recent meetings with Putin in Alaska and Zelenskyy in Washington hinted at progress toward a ceasefire, yet Russia's actions and Ukraine's insistence on robust security guarantees, including European troops on its soil, have hardened positions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called such deployments "absolutely unacceptable," dismissing European-led security arrangements as a "road to nowhere." Meanwhile, Putin's demand for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region is a non-starter for Kyiv, with Zelenskyy emphasising that the region is a "fortress" critical to Ukraine's survival.

President Trump's response on Truth Social was ominous: "It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader's country… There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia." His words raise the spectre of authorising Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range missiles against Russian territory, a move that could escalate the conflict to unprecedented levels. If missiles start striking Moscow, Russia's response could push the world closer to a broader, potentially nuclear, confrontation.

While Ukraine burns, the U.S. is poised to open new fronts in Mexico and Venezuela. Reports indicate that U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) is preparing for "direct action" against Mexican drug cartels, specifically the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, through special operations and potential airstrikes. This follows a directive attributed to President Trump, despite Mexico's government explicitly rejecting U.S. military intervention on its soil. Mexican President Sheinbaum has called such actions an "invasion," setting the stage for a diplomatic crisis.

Simultaneously, the U.S. has deployed three warships and 4,000 Marines toward Venezuela, with the White House labelling the Maduro regime a "narco-terror cartel." The stated goal is to curb drug trafficking, but the deployment risks igniting a regional conflict. The absence of clear authorisation from either Mexico or Venezuela raises questions about the legality and strategic wisdom of these moves. Escalation here could destabilise Latin America, diverting resources and attention from other global crises.

The U.S.'s potential military actions in Latin America and the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict, paints a grim picture of a world sliding toward chaos. Each move seems to provoke a counter-move, creating a vicious cycle that drowns out calls for de-escalation.

The global landscape is a tinderbox, with nuclear-armed powers and volatile regions inching closer to catastrophe. The attack on Flex Ltd. was not just a strike on a factory; it was a blow to the fragile trust underpinning peace efforts. Russia's actions suggest either a deliberate sabotage of diplomacy or a reckless miscalculation, both of which imperil global stability. Similarly, U.S. plans for military operations in Mexico and Venezuela, without host nation consent, risk alienating allies and escalating tensions in a region already fraught with challenges.

The world is not short on warnings. For years, voices outside the corridors of power have cautioned against the path to war, yet leaders persist in decisions that flirt with apocalypse. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical, and biological,makes this dance on the brink all the more perilous. A single misstep, whether a missile strike in Moscow, a botched operation in Mexico, or an uncontrolled escalation in Gaza, could push humanity over the edge.

If there is to be hope, all parties must step back and adopt diplomacy over destruction. Russia must cease targeting civilian infrastructure and signal genuine intent for peace. Ukraine, while understandably defensive, must weigh the long-term costs of escalation. The U.S. should reconsider unilateral military actions in Latin America, seeking cooperative solutions with regional partners.

The alternative is unthinkable. As weapons of mass destruction loom over every conflict, the stakes are no longer just regional, they are existential. The dogs of war may be running free, but it is not too late to leash them. World leaders must listen, not to the clamour of war, but to the quiet voices urging peace before it's too late.

https://michaeltsnyder.substack.com/p/come-on-man-it-seemed-like-peace