Sunday, March 01, 2009

[the crimean war] and the persistence of old issues

For a look at this conflict, try this site.


How much has really changed?

A glance through key elements of the wiki version of the Crimean War show that the old issues are still alive and well.

“The Crimean War lasted from 28 March 1854 to 1856. It was fought between Russia and an alliance of the United Kingdom, France, and the Ottoman Empire, joined somewhat tardily by Piedmont-Sardinia. The majority of the conflict took place on the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea.

The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1856).”

My exit from Russia, not fancifully I would suggest, had some of its antecedents in Britain’s traditional rivalry with Russia. The war also confirms continued support for the Muslims at governmental level and in many other sections of British society.

Basically, Russia wanted to solve its Eastern question and to score some much needed victories for home consumption. It had a vehicle for victory in Admiral Nakhimov or so it thought.

It was a fiasco and many things resulted from it, such as “the mass exodus of Crimean Tatars towards the Ottoman lands, resulting in massive depopulation in the peninsula. Crimean Tatars became a minority in their homeland.”

“The roots of the war's causes lay in the existing rivalry between the British and the Russians in other areas such as Afghanistan (The Great Game). Conflicts over control of holy places in Jerusalem led to aggressive actions in the Balkans, and around the Dardanelles.”

So what’s changed?

“Florence Nightingale came into prominence during the Crimean War for her contributions in the field of nursing during the war.”

A positive effect in the field of nursing.

In the light of coming events in our era, it’s interesting that Britain supported the side against the anti-Muslims in the Crimean War and subsequently in the Middle-East and North Africa. It’s interesting how, while Italy is vehemently anti-Muslim for the most part, to the extent of banning the proliferation of mosques and Islamic schools, Britain sees no need for such things.

The gates of Vienna clearly has had little effect on British foreign policy. Yes, it’s interesting but in the context of the forces really driving Europe and this island nation, it’s not at all puzzling.

3 comments:

  1. "In the light of coming events in our era, it’s interesting that Britain supported the side against the anti-Muslims in the Crimean War and subsequently in the Middle-East and North Africa. It’s interesting how, while Italy is vehemently anti-Muslim for the most part, to the extent of banning the proliferation of mosques and Islamic schools, Britain sees no need for such things.

    The gates of Vienna clearly has had little effect on British foreign policy. Yes, it’s interesting but in the context of the forces really driving Europe and this island nation, it’s not at all puzzling."

    It is indeed interesting - perhaps our Foreign Office's unspeakable arabism goes to something 'way back before its current near-universal Cultural Cringe.

    And look at our government's support for an Islamic government in Kosovo - here's a lovely cultural cringe piece from the FCO itself with a dhimmi mind-set evident amongst the commenters, though gratifyingly not universal:

    http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/oconnell/entry/islam_in_kosovo

    But here's a comment from someone who may very well come to lie in the next decade's mass graves or ash-fields has to say about it:

    http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=1157

    We really, really do need to be governed by people who've read the Koran.

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  2. James,

    Indeed.

    The Crimean War was on my mind yesterday, when listening to L/Cpl. Beharry VC's criticism of current forces medical care. Florence Nightingale, perhaps realistically painted by Lytton Strachey as a megalomaniac bully but a highly effective one nonetheless, would be turning in her grave.

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  3. NNWer - thanks for the links and thoughts - it is an interesting phenomenon.

    Martin - she would be.

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