"Fools learn from experience, and wises learn from history" was Bismarck's maxim; however,

"I wonder if the wise can no longer learn from history."

I come to think so.

The two that immediately come to mind are "Corona" and "Ukraine."

unpredictable events that are not within the scope of prediction of even so-called experts, let alone laypeople like myself, have occurred and continue to happen.

For example -- "My historical perception of the war with the United States in the Pacific War, that 'Our country should have just raised the white flag and surrendered,' is now ongoing, leading me to wonder, 'Was that the case?'"

If I were to learn from history, such questions would not arise.

(The military superpower doesn't always win, as evidenced by the U.S. in Vietnam and Afghanistan.)

The situation in Ukraine today is too different from that in Japan. Still, including that situation, I think 'the right answer cannot be derived from experience or history.

Or rather, 'Is there a right answer to begin with?'

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I'll leave you with a few keywords in case you reread this diary next year and wonder, "Why am I talking in such an abstract and philosophical way?" so I will leave some keywords here case there will be a question mark in your mind.

"The Wagner Rebellion."

" Does International Law Apply to Civil War?" (*1)

(*)https://www.cao.go.jp/pko/pko_j/organization/researcher/atpkonow/article063.html

Apparently, "At present, no entity transcends national sovereignty" (*2).

(*2)https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/irrc-873-vite.pdf