To think republicans pretend like aiding Ukraine is the real problem… yet They’ll blow Netanyoohoo any time he wants. If anyone in Washington had a damn lick of sense they’d cut Israel off entirely.
If anyone in Washington cared we wouldn’t spend a dollar on foreign war (as opposed to domestic defense) until domestic needs are 100% taken care of.
While I agree that we very much need to take care of domestic issues, it’s more complicated than that. It’s in the global best interest for us to help Ukraine steamroll Russia. We’re getting a bargain that way, rather than becoming directly involved in a conflict.
Yeah, that’s the same thing people say every time a war pops up. It was also the justification for the trillions we wasted in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The US supporting a country fighting a defensive war against an aggressive invader isn’t equivalent to it invading another country and attempting regime change.
You’re right. It’s more like 1983, when we poured money out for Saddam Hussein because his guys were going to fight Iraq for us.
That worked out well.
But, in the end, it doesn’t matter. There’s a blank check for war and I’d just love it if people cared about the extent to which we neglect our own people in service of it.
That’ll calm things down
Might as well get used to it. Things are not going to calm down for some time.
I was having this discussion worth my wife last night.
I’m hoping (but will not be shocked when it proves otherwise) that full-throated endorsement now will mean more effective censure latter when the Netayahu gvmnt begins a more obvious program of genocide.
If the US is reserved now, it weakens later admonishment. I don’t expect it to make a difference. Netanyahu’s brother was killed by Palestinian PFLP–EO militants, and he’s not exactly rational about them. He’s also a friend of Trump’s, and that’s definitely going to play into Biden’s responses.
Incidentally, I’ve heard some Israelis referring to the attack as “their 9/11.” I think that sums up how the current situation is being framed by the Netanyahu government pretty well.
Israel is such a small country that the percentage of population killed in these attacks is greater than the percentage of the US population killed in 9/11. Everyone knows someone who was killed, kidnapped or injured.
So yeah, 9/11 has some accuracy as a metaphor.
Proportionally, when the death toll was at 700, that was already EIGHT TIMES the percentage of population as 9/11. In US terms, the equivalent would be 25,000 deaths through terrorism in a single day. (Source: The News Agents podcast)
Six hours ago the death toll was reported as over 1000 in Israel.
Netanyahu is being blamed for the attack by Israelis. I think his self life has run out. But, before that happens Isreal will enter Gaza and it will be punitive.
Interesting. I hadn’t heard that. My wife manages an organization with a group in Israel; we’ve only heard the “9/11” comment, and some chatter about the reservists being called up.
Where are you hearing that Israelis are blaming Netanyahu?
I did see a snap poll that indicated that, but can’t find it. But, there is this editorial in Haaretz:
“>The disaster that befell Israel on the holiday of Simchat Torah is the clear responsibility of one person: Benjamin Netanyahu.”
“>The prime minister, who has prided himself on his vast political experience and irreplaceable wisdom in security matters, completely failed to identify the dangers he was consciously leading Israel into when establishing a government of annexation and dispossession, when appointing Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to key positions, while embracing a foreign policy that openly ignored the existence and rights of Palestinians.”
Haaretz, as you probably know, is the paper of record in Israel.
Buffer zones are a very trendy topic these days, that’s what I expect they’ll go for before the dust settles.
If US citizens want to be evacuated, they can count on Joe,
🤖 I’m a bot that provides automatic summaries for articles:
Click here to see the summary
Austin said Sunday afternoon that he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to go to the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We have also taken steps to augment U.S Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region,” he said.
“Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States’ ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people,” said Austin.
“My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks.”
U.S. Central Command said later Sunday afternoon that it had begun moving the strike group.
Nothing has been decided or ordered, but officials are working through options, including one that involves putting some Americans on the Navy ships to get them to safety.
Saved 51% of original text.
