Our investments are extremely vulnerable to international affairs, and the world is changing extremely rapidly radically. Here is Mearsheimer, a solid rational Realist, on Israel’s catastrophe, and the implications:
I always pay attention to Mersheimer as a brilliant Realist in internatikonal affairs, even though I almost always disagree with him as to policy choices.
Whatcha all think?
d fb
I’d like to hear what he says without having to actually hear him say it for an hour and a half and change. Is there a 25-words-or-less gist of it available?
All I listened to was the opening sound bite. That is the same thing a lot of other people are saying “ethnic cleansing”, because it’s happening on the West Bank too.
Steve
The gist is that Israel clearly chose to attempt ethnic cleansing of Gaza in response to the kidnapping murder attack on its citizens, has failed to pull it off, and is now a deep mess.
d fb
For an insight that might be completely unexpected, I would recommend Naomi Klein’s recent book Doppelganger. I reviewed it on my blog.
It’s a long “think-piece” review (what other kind would I write?) of the book. If rushed for time, scroll down to the section entitled Doppelgangers as States.
WTH
Are we sure they failed?
I really don’t think they had any other option. Once they set up the Gaza strip the way it was there was really only one way out.
So the real question: have they failed, or is that they just taking their time finishing up.
No cheers for such a grim situation
Qazulight
Some people don’t get “Never again!”
The Captain
I am in a public place at this moment and can not listen to him at the moment.
I will hazard things look bleak on the world stage for Israel. People are angry at Israel. Propaganda has gone to Hamas.
This is reversing fast. Any conclusions from two weeks ago and prior are wrong. Perceptions are quickly changing.
For instance my demand for freedom of religion has silenced huge numbers of people on Social Media.
Most wars are over religion. The Western solution of freedom of religion is sought by all parties but the most radical. It is a beacon of light in our darkness.
I cover a lot of ground on SM. Jewish voices are rising up. Christians and others who support a change in the Muslim world from the forces of Islam only are overwhelming.
The entire playing field has been leveled in the last week.
There is a journey in public opinion. The most important principle may be stated last but will rule.
Think of it this way, Israel is killing on a larger scale. People want Israel to be reasonable. Fighting for the principle of freedom of religion is a greater principle than the lives lost.
I was once being selected for jury duty. The judge backed a perception of mine during my selection. The judge said, “In my court room a reasonable doubt means I want to hear the reason”. Five minutes later there was a settlement where the defendant went to prison.
I want a guarantee from Hamas supporting freedom of religion.
adding, during my jury duty selection, I was asked if I could find someone innocent because of a reasonable doubt. I asked what the reason was? The judge went after the defense counsel. It was over.
Are we sure that the 10/7 attack was the cause, or was 10/7 the excuse for doing what they wanted to do for a long time, starting with the evacuation of Israeli settlements in Gaza, so the strip could become a free fire zone?
There were those who had read “PNAC” for USian military domination of the world. “PNAC” said that a “Pearl Harbor” scale event would be needed to get the mob behind such a campaign of military conquest. Then 9/11 provided the excuse.
In open letters to (some folks) the next year, the group called for “the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime from power” and a shift toward a more assertive U.S. policy in the Middle East, including the use of force if necessary to unseat Saddam.
And in a report just before the 2000 election … the group predicted that the shift would come about slowly, unless there were “some catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor.”
Hamas has been at war with Israel since 2007. The people who would drive the Gazans out have gathered more and more momentum since 2007.
This is about freedom of religion. Hamas is refusing to allow Jews to have a place.
I get Israel is powerful. For the last 20 years strong is wrong and weak is right.
The problem with that argument wars are fought over religion. Freedom of religion is central to peace.