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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2014 6 2014 in review CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 However, beyond hid- den agendas and the ability to process informa- tion, which is routinely presented as fact, 2014 could be unquestionably termed as the year of disruption. Unsurprisingly ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, the Taliban and al-Shabab were behind most of the turmoil and deaths in 2014, but this year will also be remembered for an increase in 'lone wolf' attacks in which individuals reacted to the West's battle against radical Islamist move- ments by launching attacks at home. This year alone there have been a series of at- tacks in Australia, Canada, Belgium and the US by Islamists responding to calls from ISIS to kill non-believers. But blaming terrorism on religion alone is short-sighted and hasty. The rise of ISIS and the turbulence in the Middle East were facilitated by the US and its former President George W. Bush's fixation with exporting democracy, a policy which to a certain extent was perpetuated by incumbent President Barack Obama. In addition violence and unrest stemming from political conflict, inequality and the struggle for economic dominance in Ukraine, the Middle East, North Africa, Honk Kong, and America highlighted the fragility of peace and the rule of law, including countries which we might have considered as immune to such strife. Europe In what must be the most turbulent year in Europe since the end of the Kosovo War, the clash between Ukraine and Russia has re- awakened the spectre of the Cold War. Months of protests in Ukraine climaxed when demonstrators clashed with police in February, killing more than 70 people and leading to the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych. Subsequently the Ukrainian government made way for a new administration but the nationwide violence and a heterogeneous op- position movement made up of democrats and extreme far-right parties were the prelude to the conflict with Russia. Early in the year, unidentified pro-Russian militias began popping up in Ukraine's Crimea region and in March, following a referendum which was not recognised by many, Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed the penin- sula and claimed it as part of Russia. In September, a Malaysia Airlines plane car- rying 298 passengers was shot down over east- ern Ukraine, killing all on board and kicking- off a pathetic blame game between Russia, Ukraine and the US. This was the final push for a country already on the brink of war, and fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels esca- lated in the region, prompting the US and the EU to impose economic sanctions on Russia, which has led to an economic slump in the country, now made much worse by the oil price slump. But with the biting winter closing in and Rus- sia and the Western allies engaged in a geopo- litical war over the control of resources and economic dominance in the region, a peaceful solution needs to be brokered before a humani- tarian disaster strikes. Middle East Unlike Europe, the Middle East is not known for the high levels of peace. The brutal civil war in Syria – now entering its fourth year – has spawned an equally ruthless conflict in Iraq and reminded the world of the long-lasting plight of invisible people such as the Kurds and the Yazidis. Although ISIS began its rise in early 2014, the world started to take notice of the ferocious militant group when it went on a bloody tirade through Iraq in June, toppling city after city and forcing more than 1.7 million to flee. In a matter of months ISIS has grown into one of the biggest threats in the world. The well-funded group led by the enigmatic Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi aims at creating a caliphate spanning across Iraq, Syria and beyond. In an unprecedented propaganda offensive, ISIS launched a massive online campaign aimed at spreading fear and recruiting Westerners. The cold blooded murder of American and British journalists and activists by hooded ji- hadists and the massacre of minorities in Iraq and Syria led to the US launching an airstrike campaign against ISIS fighters. Also, in December we were also given a stark reminder that the US's former sworn enemy, the Taliban, is alive and kicking following the slaughter of 132 schoolchildren in Pakistan. However, with allegiances in the region changing on a daily basis and with Saudi Ara- bia, Qatar and other Gulf countries playing a dangerous game in clandestinely funding ter- rorist groups in Syria, Iraq, Libya and other countries while participating in the US led at- tacks against ISIS it's nigh to impossible to tell how peace will be achieved. The same can be said of the eternal conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Once again the Israeli aggression confirmed that the fertile lands which previously provided people with olives, zaatar and an identity have turned into fertile land for inequality, violence and death. Palestinian leaders and politicians – like their World, stability disrupted Former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych with Russian President Vladimir Putin Below: The killing of a black youth in Fergusaon sparked nationwide protests in the US Apocalypse Now: Smoke and fire from the explosion of an Israeli strike rise over Gaza City in July