War what is it good for-nothing. So goes the song. Unfortunately, wars are good for something. Winning the war against Japan and Germany saved the free world. The same is true with regards to Hamas and Hizbollah. The problem here is that the west, including the Obama/Biden/Harris administrations have not allowed Israel to win thus insuring an endless conflict.
"President Joe Biden and French president Emanuel Macron later urged Israel to accede to a “settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes.” Meanwhile, British prime minister Keir Starmer called on “Israel and Hezbollah to stop the violence, step back from the brink.” An immediate ceasefire, he said, was necessary to “provide space for a diplomatic settlement.” Are you leaders totally crazy and divorced from reality? THERE WAS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION SIGNED IN 2006! The Hezbollah totally ignored it. So what is there to negotiated now? "Let's negotiate on the fact that you spit on negotiations"? Israel already acceded to "a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border" and the UN signed off on it! What the hell are you fools (the leaders of these nations) talking about?
I think it will. I believe what is about to unfold is a radical reshaping in the landscape of the Middle East if the US do not try as usual to totally paralyze Israel in doing the hard and dirty work in their place and actually in the place of all the Western world. I hope the Lebanese will be intelligent and courageous enough to catch this major opportunity to save their country from the deadly grips of Hezbollah since decades. I hope the Iranian regime will be weakened to the point that domestic forces might have the guts to throw the detested regime of the mollahs out of the windows
Eli, please do a deep dive article on those in advisors in the state department working with and under Blinken. It's not hard to understand where the US policy of appeasement comes from once you see the players involved.
I don't understand why Obama thought it would be a good idea to shift to negotiate with Iran rather than putting the squeeze on it but it seems pretty clear to me that it was wrongheaded.
If I remember correctly, there's a saying on the left that goes, "When people tell you who they are, believe them." Well, Iran and its proxies continually state "Death to Israel, death to America." Why should we not believe them? Why should we consider it just "sabre rattling"?
"Even after Hezbollah confirmed that Nasrallah had left this mortal coil, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock warned that the strikes “weren’t in Israel’s security interests.”"
That seems about as bassackwards as it possibly could be.
Whatever happened to the unambiguous term ‘Surrender’? Did it disappear into the politically-incorrect graveyard?
For instance, shouldn’t the peace-loving International community thrive for an unambiguous declaration of surrender by the aggressor - government of Gaza (Hamas)? Because, let’s face it, ceasefire is just a sugar-coated appeasement that is left to fester and erupt. Example: did the last ceasefire with Lebanon prevent the spread of the conflict?
The Israeli armed forces seem to be following a sensible strategy. First destroy Hamas as an operational organization. Then do the same to Hezbollah. (In a rational world there would be an American force landing in Lebanon to help finish off Hezbollah, but it looks as though the Israelis will have to do the work by themselves.) Then it will be time for someone (maybe us in a few months) to fix things so that Iran cannot build an atomic bomb. After that the appeasers could be given their ceasefire, while always leaving open the option to get really tough if the Iranians act up.
Great article...not only poignant but quite educational.
I do have one complaint. At the end of your article when I read "if Biden and Harris were wise…". I haven't stopped laughing since breakfast when I finished your article and I'm getting ready for dinner. 😂😂😂
You don’t think it’s more like he throws spaghetti against the wall and sometimes it sticks? I’d love to see some strength from the US and not the cowardly, ineffective foreign policy we’ve seen since Obama onwards under the democrats. But of course I’m not missing GW bush on the opposite side of the spectrum either, ripping a new one in the middle east and then just letting it bleed out. Hard to really imagine what strength in US foreign policy really looks like anymore…
Interesting POV. As far as I know, Trump is strictly transactional, has no attention to span to speak of (not to speak of self-control), and doesn't know how to play actual chess, much less chess in foreign policy. You may not like the Democrats -- actually, that encompasses a pretty wide swath -- but I'd apply George W. Bush's advice not to "misunderestimate" them.
Bravo Eli. Such a good analysis of what is at stake
An excelllent article . Bravo Eli
War what is it good for-nothing. So goes the song. Unfortunately, wars are good for something. Winning the war against Japan and Germany saved the free world. The same is true with regards to Hamas and Hizbollah. The problem here is that the west, including the Obama/Biden/Harris administrations have not allowed Israel to win thus insuring an endless conflict.
I guess Iran didn't get the Biden/Harris/Blinken/Austin memo about not escalating.
"President Joe Biden and French president Emanuel Macron later urged Israel to accede to a “settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes.” Meanwhile, British prime minister Keir Starmer called on “Israel and Hezbollah to stop the violence, step back from the brink.” An immediate ceasefire, he said, was necessary to “provide space for a diplomatic settlement.” Are you leaders totally crazy and divorced from reality? THERE WAS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION SIGNED IN 2006! The Hezbollah totally ignored it. So what is there to negotiated now? "Let's negotiate on the fact that you spit on negotiations"? Israel already acceded to "a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border" and the UN signed off on it! What the hell are you fools (the leaders of these nations) talking about?
I wonder if this article supporting "de-escalation through escalation" will age well.
I think it will. I believe what is about to unfold is a radical reshaping in the landscape of the Middle East if the US do not try as usual to totally paralyze Israel in doing the hard and dirty work in their place and actually in the place of all the Western world. I hope the Lebanese will be intelligent and courageous enough to catch this major opportunity to save their country from the deadly grips of Hezbollah since decades. I hope the Iranian regime will be weakened to the point that domestic forces might have the guts to throw the detested regime of the mollahs out of the windows
Really? How is the U.S. "paralyzing" Israel? Multiple bombings of other countries, "preemptive slef-defense," impending invasion of Lebanon, etc.
Anthony Blinken blocked/covered up reports of strategic starvation campaigns in Gaza. U.S. Government banned reporting of deaths in Gaza, etc.
What's the problem? Are the checks not big enough?
Yes.....the sudden concern for the Lebanese and Iranian people all of the sudden/post Oct. 7th.
Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and the democrat party are Iran's greatest advocates and allies.
Eli, please do a deep dive article on those in advisors in the state department working with and under Blinken. It's not hard to understand where the US policy of appeasement comes from once you see the players involved.
Blinken covered up the fact that Israel was blocking aid.
He's 100% pro-Zionist.
A bit late, but better late than never.
100%
Eli, another great piece. Thank you. V.
I don't understand why Obama thought it would be a good idea to shift to negotiate with Iran rather than putting the squeeze on it but it seems pretty clear to me that it was wrongheaded.
If I remember correctly, there's a saying on the left that goes, "When people tell you who they are, believe them." Well, Iran and its proxies continually state "Death to Israel, death to America." Why should we not believe them? Why should we consider it just "sabre rattling"?
"Even after Hezbollah confirmed that Nasrallah had left this mortal coil, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock warned that the strikes “weren’t in Israel’s security interests.”"
That seems about as bassackwards as it possibly could be.
Whatever happened to the unambiguous term ‘Surrender’? Did it disappear into the politically-incorrect graveyard?
For instance, shouldn’t the peace-loving International community thrive for an unambiguous declaration of surrender by the aggressor - government of Gaza (Hamas)? Because, let’s face it, ceasefire is just a sugar-coated appeasement that is left to fester and erupt. Example: did the last ceasefire with Lebanon prevent the spread of the conflict?
The Israeli armed forces seem to be following a sensible strategy. First destroy Hamas as an operational organization. Then do the same to Hezbollah. (In a rational world there would be an American force landing in Lebanon to help finish off Hezbollah, but it looks as though the Israelis will have to do the work by themselves.) Then it will be time for someone (maybe us in a few months) to fix things so that Iran cannot build an atomic bomb. After that the appeasers could be given their ceasefire, while always leaving open the option to get really tough if the Iranians act up.
Great article...not only poignant but quite educational.
I do have one complaint. At the end of your article when I read "if Biden and Harris were wise…". I haven't stopped laughing since breakfast when I finished your article and I'm getting ready for dinner. 😂😂😂
As our feckless President says
"Are you kidding me?"
Just curious what people think Trump might do in this situation, if he were in Biden’s shoes?
Impossible to know.
In foreign policy Trump plays chess.
The Democrats play checkers…
You don’t think it’s more like he throws spaghetti against the wall and sometimes it sticks? I’d love to see some strength from the US and not the cowardly, ineffective foreign policy we’ve seen since Obama onwards under the democrats. But of course I’m not missing GW bush on the opposite side of the spectrum either, ripping a new one in the middle east and then just letting it bleed out. Hard to really imagine what strength in US foreign policy really looks like anymore…
Interesting POV. As far as I know, Trump is strictly transactional, has no attention to span to speak of (not to speak of self-control), and doesn't know how to play actual chess, much less chess in foreign policy. You may not like the Democrats -- actually, that encompasses a pretty wide swath -- but I'd apply George W. Bush's advice not to "misunderestimate" them.