Peace is the demand of the common people, but peace is the enemy of war mongers. He who seeks peace for his nation can fulfill the hopes of his people, while he who seeks war succeeds in achieving great benefits for a few at the expense of all.

This conflict — between a few powerful beneficiaries and the masses yearning for stability — began with the creation of man and will not end until mankind itself comes to an end. As with any conflict, each side raises its own slogans. But the slogans of war mongers are often the loudest, which is why the arms industry continues to grow and expand, including in the development of nuclear weapons.

The nuclear weapon serves as a deterrent force. It does not generate commercial profits, as it brings conflict to an end and halts the machinery of the arms industry. In contrast, conventional weapons fuel wars and deliver enormous profits — profits that some states rely on to sustain their economies. In the past, it was believed that weapons and wars were the path to strengthening national economies. But global experiences have overturned this idea. Countries like Switzerland and Japan have built thriving peaceful economies that rival — and in some cases surpass — those built on war, proving that peace is not merely a public ideal, but a viable national strategy.

In our Arab region, we must work to convince all parties that peace — not conflict — is the way forward. We must persuade armed groups and factions, which have jeopardized the future of their homelands, that weapons do not bring power, nor do they bring stability. Let them look to the Japanese example — an experience that has engaged an entire people with peace, construction, and science rather than war, destruction, and empty slogans.

The more we strengthen the power of peace and grow the number of organizations supporting it, the happier and more stable our societies will be. But the more war mongers — by all their names and disguises — rise, the more instability, injustice, misery, and poverty will spread among the people. The peace option is the real battle for the peoples of our region.

local@kuwaittimes.com