True, and I'm not offering excuses but it's always been that way—read my second post to Zetobal.
Putin can't step down from his role, the people who put him there will make sure it ends badly for him. The people in these conflicts all want to make sure their reserves stay safe, it only takes one Houthi rebel to ignite the tinderbox.
No matter what age that rebel is.
I didn't offer a solution but an opinion based on centuries of historical evidence and of my personal experience. If I had a workable solution no doubt I'd be offered a Nobel Peace Prize.
What then is your solution that's guaranteed to work? Then you'll receive the Gong instead.
I would hope saying the truth about the tensions would encourage people to back down.. or at least isolate the most aggressive player out from the herd of peaceful participants.
The 'pretty picture' is that everyone defends their own trade lanes and we get on with life.
You're right I do enjoy thinking about war, it makes relationships clearer. I don't want war.
That's the problem no matter how you rationalize it.