Perhaps, the most unwisely thing to do is to begin with no knowledge of what the end would be. It is the end that encapsulates the beginning. The purpose. A good beginning is almost an assurance of a good ending. It is applicable inversely, too.
It is foolish and also absurd stupidity to start something or anything without the end in view. Every action must have an objective to achieve. It has to be specific and preferably measurable. There cannot be a random view about the end. It must remain definitive.
If the end is unlikely to be better than the beginning, basic common sense demands that such beginnings must not be made. The end must contain a promise – a hope, a positivity for the future. Such “end” would invariably be an arrival at the “beginning” of something, new and different. Talleyrand’s opinion about Napoleon Bonaparte’s adventures that those were the beginning of the end was prophetic: however, by an available choice all beginnings are made to arrive at an end, which is in itself is a pool of possible beginnings. As the dictum says every dark cloud has a silver lining, some are daunted by its darkness; while many are filled with zest and hope of better future or positive events and outcomes to follow.
If any were to start a war with no determinable end to it, such would become representative of being a superpower caught in the quagmire of its own mire of misperceptions, negative thinking, misdeeds and actions. For purposes of debates and elocution contests during university days, it wasn’t uncommon not to be a ‘socialist”. Hence, being one, I would pick up Mao Tse Tung’s sayings from the Red Book to add weight to one’s own arguments, one of which read, “To drop a gun, you have to pick up a gun; to stop a war, you have to start a war.” In this quote is a deeply obscured intention about the end: first is it is to drop the gun, and second, to stop the war. This current turmoil of war is self-inflicted by the powers that be; the countries of the region have had no say, apparently, at least, about its ‘beginning’ nor about its ‘end’.
The war in the Gulf/Middle East reminds of Lewis Carroll, Alice in the Wonderland, “Where shall I begin, please your majesty? He asked. “Begin at the beginning, the king said, gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop”. Hear the majesty has “some” end in mind, real or imaginary, but is obviously unsure in such kind of ‘beginning’ is the visible ‘end’.
The essence of war is violence. And moderation in war is perceived as a sign of imbecility. The continuation of war reflects the seizure of the thinking process by a thing called “ego”. War is nothing more than a formidable connotation of ‘intoxicated ego’; of either a single person or a group of people or it could be of a nation. Referring to the human suffering as a result of war, Franklin D Roosevelt had said, “I hate war”. His followers are hell-bent on altering human attitude and response towards war and its repercussions in terms of cost of human lives. Whenever history decides to write about the death and loss of innocent children it will dishonour the men who are responsible. The retribution for killing 165 innocent school going girls has to come from divinity. It is inevitable. Only a matter of time. Nature is not unjust.
War to wily politicians is an exciting adventure. As a consequence, ruthless killing fields are created, and the sadists watch the merciless killings of young and old; men, women and children, with a glee akin to the child, who plays upon his I-pad, the game named, ‘Call of Duty’. The difference between the war in the Gulf and the game ‘Call of Duty’ is one of understanding the distinction between reality and illusion; and also between truth and falsehood.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Narendra Modi connived to convince the Donald Trump to launch an attack upon Iran. They expected the engagement to be short and swift; the idea was that they could easily ‘ride off into the sunset.’ It is always invariably old men who start war to make the young fight and die, all within the facade of duty to the country. The Iran engagement by the US is based on their ill-conceived perception and not any reality that can be proven beyond reproach. Even the IAEA gave a clear chit to Iran.
The evil mind that resides in Tel Aviv entrapped the dweller in the White House to join him for striking at the Islamic Republic of Iran. Immediately, following the meeting of this evil minds, another devious and equally if not more devilish politician from our Eastern neighbourhood paid a visit to the capital city of the axis of villainy. What ‘end’ they had in mind is best known to them. From what has happened in almost a full month indicates that they together fooled the unwilling partner from across the Atlantic into buying their narrative –a war with no end. Iran has surprised the world that it is not a ‘walk through the park nation.’ The nation with an age exceeding 5000 years has in- built and inherent resilience. Their land has seen greater conquerors perish on their soil. Iran unrelentingly fought an eight-year battle with Iraq during the 1980s. They have remained independent.
Political disputes can never be solved through warfare. These are decided across rectangular/circular tables between those who matter; those who can influence or take a decisive decision have upon themselves a great amount of responsibility to see that human injustices are stopped forthwith. The current role Pakistan is playing and appears to be the influencer on the state of the outcome or the end of the war is a welcome aspect, and it is much to the chagrin of India.
War can cease only when men refuse to fight. Every statement made by the aggressors throws away the scabbard. “Whosoever draws his sword against the Prince must throw the scabbard away,” John F. Kennedy had profoundly stated. According to him, “Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind”. Wars are raged not to have peace but instead to have peace shattered. War is a revenge against humanity. Niccolò Machiavelli had rightfully remarked, “Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please”. The perpetrators are left at the mercy of the events as they unfold during war and hence the determination to end does not rest with the beginners.
Those who think they are ringing the bells must see inwardly where they would find that actually they are wringing their hands. The unexpected has hit them hard. That a war with Iran, will go beyond 30 days to them was inconceivable. The shock and awe treatment is too horrible to withstand and absorb.
War also offers opportunities– economic opportunities. Vulgar profits can only be made in volatile markets, not in stable conditions or markets. The daily fluctuation in the price of say, “Brent” is not entirely an outcome of the economic forces of demand and supply, but it is a consequence of the seesaw in statements made by responsible public office holders. We are negotiating, says one aggressor; we are not negotiating, says the oppressed –the timing space between these two remarks lies the possibility of Himalayan profits! In this environment the purpose of war is laced with suspicion.
Interestingly, the two other major players of the New World Order, Russia and China, are laughing all the way at the spectacle of mass suicide committed by the superpowers. NATO literally is breathing in its last moments– the leaders of NATO countries are now labelled as “cowards”.
The Gulf states have proven ably of how good and submissive pawns they are –all that glittered, alas, is not gold. They are the “theatre of war” – although they neither were the “beginners “nor can they “end” it.
The world order has changed. The dimensions of change are still in a state of metamorphosis. It shall emerge once the end happens. A superpower has a bruised nose. Its ego completely shattered.
Never enter into any venture which has no prominently marked exits. The trap has no exits and hence perilous to fall into. Nations learn the hard way as is being witnessed in this current Gulf/Middle East war.
Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art is ending. (H. W. Longfellow).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is Senior Banker & Freelance Contributor
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