Iranâs decision to retaliate against an Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, by launching drone and missile strikes reveals just how badly the Biden administration has mishandled the Middle East. Having convinced itself on the eve of Hamasâs Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel that the region was âquieter than it has been for decades,â U.S. officials have since responded in ways that made a bad situation worse. The most one can say in their defense is that they have plenty of company; the Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton administrations mostly made a hash of things, too.
The administrationâs response to Hamasâs brutal attack on Oct. 7 has had three main objectives. First, it has sought to convey steadfast support for Israel: backing it rhetorically, conferring regularly with top Israeli officials, defending it against accusations of genocide, vetoing cease-fire resolutions in the United Nations Security Council, and providing it with a steady supply of lethal armaments. Second, Washington has tried to prevent the conflict in Gaza from escalating. Lastly, it has tried to convince Israel to act with restraint, both to limit harm to Palestinian civilians and to minimize the damage to the United Statesâ image and reputation.
This policy has failed because its aims were inherently contradictory. Giving Israel unconditional support gave its leaders little incentive to heed U.S. calls for restraint, so it is hardly surprising that they have ignored them. Gaza has been destroyed, at least 33,000 Palestinians (including more than 12,000 children) are now dead, and U.S. officials now admit that civilians there are facing conditions of famine. Houthi militias in Yemen, claiming to demand a cease-fire, continue to target shipping in the Red Sea; a low-level conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is still simmering; and violence has risen sharply in the occupied West Bank. And now Iran has retaliated against the April 1 bombing of its consulate by launching drone and missile strikes on Israel, raising the prospect of an even wider war.
Because Americans are accustomed to hearing that Iran is the embodiment of evil, some readers may be inclined to blame Tehran for all this trouble. Just last week, for example, the lead story in the New York Times announced that Iran was âfloodingâ the West Bank with weapons in the hopes of stirring up unrest there. (...)
Did not Gaza invade and attack Israel on October 7th ?
Or is the opinion that October 7th never happened now an established truth and fact ?
Which means that Israel is acting in Gaza without cause or instigation ?
Doesn't matter now that Iran has actually attacked Israel.
Israel is the one that is suffering from a genocidal attack now.
Or is Iran attacking Israel strictly for shits and giggles ? Asking for a friend.
Fair enough getting this back on topic. I was more replying to his general world-view that excuses Russia.
I can only reiterate my basic stance. The state of Israel is there and has the right to exist. The settlements in the West Bank are very destabilising for a peaceful solution. Israel could have done more to stabilise life in Gaza, even with Hamas in power. Hamas might be amenable to a peaceful resolution, depending on who you believe and whether you think the pre-1967 war or after the 1967 attack on Israel is the appropriate set of pencil marks on the map. But Hamas' official stance that Israel shouldn't exist is fundamentally at odds with a two state solution, as is the current Israeli government's position. And the October 7 attacks were horrifying and warranted a response. As I have said before, the fact that Hamas is weaker militarily doesn't somehow make their cause or actions just. Given that, the Palestinians have been shooting themselves in the foot for decades. I do believe Israel's response has been over the top and has not done enough to avoid harm to civilians. Yes, that is an understatement. The whole situation is fucking tragic.
Basically, I want to say to the Israelis and the Palestinians what I said, oh, 40 years ago, "Ok, we know what you are willing to sacrifice for war. What are you willing to sacrifice for peace?"
Pragmatism is a thing that keeps us from spiralling into world war. Remember when the Libyans murdered a British police woman from their embassy in London? The Brits didn't go attack Libya (although they did allow the US to use air bases in Britain for a later attack around a different issue). Tit-for-tat is a sure way to escalate into situations neither side really want. Cameron didn't say what strong action would entail, but I hope he would have the sense to find a solution where everyone can back down.
The best solution for everyone right now is restraint, which incidentally is what the US is pushing for, in spite of your insistence that they are the warmongers around the world.
Pragmatism is a thing that keeps us from spiralling into world war. Remember when the Libyans murdered a British police woman from their embassy in London? The Brits didn't go attack Libya (although they did allow the US to use air bases in Britain for a later attack around a different issue). Tit-for-tat is a sure way to escalate into situations neither side really want. Cameron didn't say what strong action would entail, but I hope he would have the sense to find a solution where everyone can back down.
The best solution for everyone right now is restraint, which incidentally is what the US is pushing for, in spite of your insistence that they are the warmongers around the world.
...
Israel is the one that is suffering from a genocidal attack now.
Or is Iran attacking Israel strictly for shits and giggles ? Asking for a friend.
I think not. Look at the numbers of dead. Allegedly 90+ % of missiles and drones were intercepted. I don't believe Netanyahu is actively committing genocide, but it's pretty close - closer than a launching bunch of arbitrary missiles and drones which are apparently easily intercepted.
Supporting a sovereign nation that was invaded by a larger more powerful imperialist state doesn't make anyone a war monger. Making excuses for the invader does.
This applies to Israel and Gaza how ?
Did not Gaza invade and attack Israel on October 7th ?
Or is the opinion that October 7th never happened now an established truth and fact ?
Which means that Israel is acting in Gaza without cause or instigation ?
Doesn't matter now that Iran has actually attacked Israel.
Israel is the one that is suffering from a genocidal attack now.
Or is Iran attacking Israel strictly for shits and giggles ? Asking for a friend.
Even by your short reply you signify you don't honestly mean what you say. - So. There you go - as a warmonger which you have always been on this forum.
...accusing others of not being honest.
...accusing others of being anti-american
... ... ... ...
Supporting a sovereign nation that was invaded by a larger more powerful imperialist state doesn't make anyone a war monger. Making excuses for the invader does.
Even by your short reply you signify you don't honestly mean what you say. - So. There you go - as a warmonger which you have always been on this forum.
...accusing others of not being honest.
...accusing others of being anti-american
... ... ... ...
alright.. there is a lot to unpick here and I am not going to do it tonight. I'll get back to you when I have time. This deserves a longer response.
Even by your short reply you signify you don't honestly mean what you say. - So. There you go - as a warmonger which you have always been on this forum.
...accusing others of not being honest.
...accusing others of being anti-american
... ... ... ...
There could be many things to say about imperialistic ambitions......
In my opinion it is false to blame these on Russia & Iran, but not on the US. Just count the US military bases around the world. The US are the No 1 top hegemon on Earth these days, and not Russia, and not China! ...just simply because CAPITALISM... I think the major conflict lies right there:
The USA began selling their belongings to private investors in the 1970s. Land, gold, and everything. The rest of the West followed suit. Now we have a mess of capitalist exploitation where roads, bridges, rails, hospitals, doctors, and even food (restaurants) can't be paid for anymore. The publice has sold all their silver and gold and even the price for rice or wheat is depending on the stock market with terrible consequences for entire nations.
The promised "democracy" in many cases has been bringing famine and diseases instead. This goes on even today, as the trade for basic goods (such as rice - the world's no. 1 food) on the stock markets goes on without any hindrance, in some cases leading to famines for whole peoples.
I end here for now, as we can lube the world-axis together...
alright.. there is a lot to unpick here and I am not going to do it tonight. I'll get back to you when I have time. This deserves a longer response.
I honour your ambitions, if that is what your true ambitions are. I even share them, in the form you stated above. But these ambitions are categorically opposed to the imperialistic ambitions of Russia and the arch-conservative religious doctrine of Iran.
All I expect of people is intellectual honesty. I am not entirely convinced you are bringing it to the discussion.
There could be many things to say about imperialistic ambitions......
In my opinion it is false to blame these on Russia & Iran, but not on the US. Just count the US military bases around the world. The US are the No 1 top hegemon on Earth these days, and not Russia, and not China! ...just simply because CAPITALISM... I think the major conflict lies right there:
The USA began selling their belongings to private investors in the 1970s. Land, gold, and everything. The rest of the West followed suit. Now we have a mess of capitalist exploitation where roads, bridges, rails, hospitals, doctors, and even food (restaurants) can't be paid for anymore. The publice has sold all their silver and gold and even the price for rice or wheat is depending on the stock market with terrible consequences for entire nations.
The promised "democracy" in many cases has been bringing famine and diseases instead. This goes on even today, as the trade for basic goods (such as rice - the world's no. 1 food) on the stock markets goes on without any hindrance, in some cases leading to famines for whole peoples.
I end here for now, as I think we can (should) lube the world-axis together...
The one who trained you in political arguing deserves intellectual praise in an intellectual Olymp (and only in a this'ya ivory tower). My rationale is much simpler. Not siding with Russia, nor Iran, I plead for peace. A peace where no-one is hungry for more money, and more power. A peace, where all people of the earth are content with what they have. Because there is enough to share among us, and no-one needs to go hungry.
All people are equal. No-one is above another. Equality. Fraternity. World brotherhood.
This is what motivates me.
Call me an idiot, call me demented, whatever you like. This is what motivates me.
But don't try to fight me, in your best interest, as I don't start a fight but usually end it, and at war, I don't take prisoners. This is what I can tell you about me and my motivation, Bruce.
I honour your ambitions, if that is what your true ambitions are. I even share them, in the form you stated above. But these ambitions are categorically opposed to the imperialistic ambitions of Russia and the arch-conservative religious doctrine of Iran.
All I expect of people is intellectual honesty. I am not entirely convinced you are bringing it to the discussion.
1. Russia is the aggressor in the Ukrainian war. It even broke the treaties that itself signed. And you can't blame it on the US anymore, because the U.S. has been doing sweet FA for the last six months, and even before that it set more red lines on Ukraine than it ever did on Russia. Obviously NONE of this is the fault of the U.S. If it were, this war would have been well and truly won by now.
2. The Iranian regime is currently trying to keep its grip on power against a groundswell of political opposition (notably led by women who have a guts-full of aging religious fanatics telling them how to live.
You can twist it all you like, but by supporting Russia and Iran, you're on the side of the misogynist reactionaries who don't want us to have any freedoms.
The one who trained you in political arguing deserves intellectual praise in an intellectual Olymp (and only in a this'ya ivory tower). My rationale is much simpler. Not siding with Russia, nor Iran, I plead for peace. A peace where no-one is hungry for more money, and more power. A peace, where all people of the earth are content with what they have. Because there is enough to share among us, and no-one needs to go hungry.
All people are equal. No-one is above another. Equality. Fraternity. World brotherhood.
This is what motivates me.
Call me an idiot, call me demented, whatever you like. This is what motivates me.
But don't try to fight me, in your best interest, as I don't start a fight but usually end it, and at war, I don't take prisoners. This is what I can tell you about me and my motivation, Bruce.
If you wouldn't advise for bombing the hell out of the rest of the world (the parts in which you apparently don't live) this could actually be a plan, Bruce!
Sigh, again Täter-Opfer-Umkehr..
1. Russia is the aggressor in the Ukrainian war. It even broke the treaties that itself signed. And you can't blame it on the US anymore, because the U.S. has been doing sweet FA for the last six months, and even before that it set more red lines on Ukraine than it ever did on Russia. Obviously NONE of this is the fault of the U.S. If it were, this war would have been well and truly won by now.
2. The Iranian regime is currently trying to keep its grip on power against a groundswell of political opposition (notably led by women who have a guts-full of aging religious fanatics telling them how to live.
You can twist it all you like, but by supporting Russia and Iran, you're on the side of the misogynist reactionaries who don't want us to have any freedoms.
