No. 88 of 108

September 9, 2025

Intending to control “false news”, Nepal shut down all major social media platforms. Large scale protests immediately followed, primarily led by Nepal’s Gen Z, calling the crackdown “the last straw”. Surprised and unprepared for civil unrest, the prime minister resigned. Israel’s bombing of residential units in Doha, Qatar brought immediate condemnation by countries in the region. Israel says they were targeting Hamas; an “unacceptable and unnecessary escalation” says others. Russia intensified bombing of civilian targets in Kyiv. Israel intensified bombing of civilian targets in Gaza. ICE and the National Guard prepare to occupy additional U.S. cities.

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Justification precedes and follows escalation. There are always reasons. Escalation is a reflexive strategy that, once begun, is extremely difficult to control or abate or de-escalate. Responses to escalations become the justification for further escalation, the circular nature obvious to observers but not to participants. Beginning a war is easy; ending a war is difficult. Therefore, do not begin a war until you know how to end it – whether win, lose, or endless draw. The sobering lesson never learned well enough to interrupt the cycle, as the most current of events demonstrate.