Free ISIS

 

The world treats Israel differently.

There is no argument that is used against Israel that could not be used against Russia in the same way.

That said, I actually don’t have a problem with the world’s double standards. I am Jewish. I welcome the fact that we are held to a different standard. That we are supposed to strive to always improve and to grow.

Of course, from where I am sitting, I am deeply, deeply angry about this war. Israel refuses to win in a way that convinces the Arabs they have lost. Which perpetuates the war indefinitely – the story since 1948.

I am also mad at myself for failing to get my own suggestions followed by the Israeli government. I wrote on this topic several times – that the only sensible solution was to partition Gaza, announce that everyone who walks out of one half to the other gets to live, and then conduct a classic siege: cut off absolutely everything, and let dehydration/starvation/disease take the bad guys. No need to blow up buildings, try to get through booby traps, kill people… check it out here!

It is a crying shame that Israel decided instead on the much harder path.

Now we have a war that, even if Israel “wins” by destroying Hamas, will still have failed – because the Arabs will not be convinced that they have lost. Unless and until that happens, the war will continue.

Published in Foreign Policy
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  1. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Which play are we running here? The one where congress votes on $25B (first installment only) of unaccountable funds or the one where the president simply delivers pallets of cash? It helps to know how much “fire” will be coming from supportive rationalizers inside “our” perimeter. Thanks in advance. 

    • #1
  2. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    philo (View Comment):

    Which play are we running here? The one where congress votes on $25B (first installment only) of unaccountable funds or the one where the president simply delivers pallets of cash? It helps to know how much “fire” will be coming from supportive rationalizers inside “our” perimeter. Thanks in advance.

    Neither. I don’t think the US should subsidize Israel.

    As we know from Ukraine, even if the goal is noble, the result adds to corruption, embezzlement and kickbacks.

    The course of action I proposed would have been far less expensive in any case. Supplying arms means that arms are to be used… which is not the smart play. 

    • #2
  3. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot) Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot)
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support.  Perhaps that is finally changing.

    • #3
  4. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    How many helpless women and children do you estimate Russia has killed in the past 6 months.  I’ve seen some pretty wild estimates, but what is yours?

    And what do you think it will take for Russia to repeat the famine it instituted in the early 1930s, after which it replaced many of the dead millions with Russians, which then gave it an excuse to say that those regions of eastern Ukraine were Russians who needed to be protected, which therefore justified an invasion?    

    • #4
  5. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    iWe, your post is brilliant for it’s conception and clarity in describing the global hypocrisy and anti-Semitism prevalent in today’s culture. 

    Sad and tragic that it is so.

    I understand your  preferred prescribed method of eradicating the Hamas scourge.  However that is a path not taken.  I hope that Israel stays the course on her current path and fully defeats this terrorist cult and does not bow to the UN (and Biden/Obama/Kamala) terrorist sympathizers who demand, Demand they say, a cease fire. That is simply a guarantee of prolonged suffering and additional deaths for all. 

    • #5
  6. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    How many helpless women and children do you estimate Russia has killed in the past 6 months. I’ve seen some pretty wild estimates, but what is yours?

    And what do you think it will take for Russia to repeat the famine it instituted in the early 1930s, after which it replaced many of the dead millions with Russians, which then gave it an excuse to say that those regions of eastern Ukraine were Russians who needed to be protected, which therefore justified an invasion?

    Jerry ought to ask the people of Ukraine about Russia’s humanitarian work there. He should especially ask the refugees who are living in Poland now.

    Nothing like bombing to encourage the success of small farms.

    • #6
  7. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Hamas is a trustworthy source of death statistics. It would never fake deaths or count the same person multiple times.

    • #7
  8. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    How many helpless women and children do you estimate Russia has killed in the past 6 months. I’ve seen some pretty wild estimates, but what is yours?

    And what do you think it will take for Russia to repeat the famine it instituted in the early 1930s, after which it replaced many of the dead millions with Russians, which then gave it an excuse to say that those regions of eastern Ukraine were Russians who needed to be protected, which therefore justified an invasion?

    Exactly. Very well put.

    • #8
  9. Charles Mark Member
    Charles Mark
    @CharlesMark

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Hamas is a trustworthy source of death statistics. It would never fake deaths or count the same person multiple times.

    To listen to many critics of Israel, one would think that no terrorists have been killed or injured, only innocent civilians ( the death of every one of whom is regrettable but  is entirely on Hamas and its paymasters). 

    • #9
  10. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    Hamas is a trustworthy source of death statistics. It would never fake deaths or count the same person multiple times.

    We should ask them to monitor US elections!

    • #10
  11. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Hamas is a trustworthy source of death statistics. It would never fake deaths or count the same person multiple times.

    Of course Hamas would never count teenagers killed while carrying AK-47s, planting IEDs, or transporting munitions to “resistance fighters” as combatants.  

    • #11
  12. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    True.   Russia killed more than that in their war in Chechnya.   Remind me how incensed you were then.

    • #12
  13. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Aren’t the same major powers and players that are into NATO involvement also behind the creation of ISIS?

    So no need to ask for an ISIS state to be created next to Russia – American military bases and NATO military bases already surround Russia.

    • #13
  14. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    Just from wiki, but:

    Russia incurred much international criticism for its conduct during the Second Chechen War, which started in 1999. The governments of the United States and other countries condemned deaths and expulsions among civilians. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) passed two resolutions in 2000 and 2001 condemning human rights violations in Chechnya and requiring Russia to set up an independent national commission of inquiry to investigate the matter. However, a third resolution on these lines failed in 2004. The Council of Europe in multiple resolutions and statements between 2003 and 2007 called on Russia (a member of the Council) to cease human rights violations. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) between 2005 and 2007 conducted legal cases brought by Chechens against the Russian government, and in many of these cases held Russia responsible for deaths, disappearances and torture.

    And they’re currently being sanctioned for Ukraine.

     

    • #14
  15. Not Jennifer Coolidge
    Not Jennifer
    @JayneEsse

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Oh good Lord. Your “stats”are statistically impossible. Refuted by reputable profs, e.g., “…

    From Oct. 26 until Nov. 10, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry released daily casualty figures that include both a total number and a specific number of women and children.

    The first place to look is the reported “total” number of deaths. The graph of total deaths by date is increasing with almost metronomical linearity.” National Review. Prof Wyner.

    please educate yourself on metronomical linearity in this instance.

    And, you have GOT to have your head stuck in the sand if you’re not aware hamas refused and refuses to let Palestinians flee,  and use donations for themselves. Also noteworthy – no Arab nation wants Palestinian refugees. None. A few have tried it and regretted it. Buck up, Jerry. 

    • #15
  16. Not Jennifer Coolidge
    Not Jennifer
    @JayneEsse

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    True. Russia killed more than that in their war in Chechnya. Remind me how incensed you were then.

    AMEN, 

    • #16
  17. Not Jennifer Coolidge
    Not Jennifer
    @JayneEsse

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    True. Russia killed more than that in their war in Chechnya. Remind me how incensed you were then.

    Amen, Ekosj!

    • #17
  18. Eugene Kriegsmann Member
    Eugene Kriegsmann
    @EugeneKriegsmann

    Reading Jerry Giordano’s comment my initial reaction was a shot of anger. Then I remembered that he does this kind of thing, posts absurdly controversial comments and then disappears from the scene. It reminded me of a quote credited to the Buddha, If a man creates a great meal and nobody comes, what happens? The answer is that he eats it himself. 

    Mr Giordano may or may not believe what he says in his posts of this type. In either case, these posts aren’t worth responding to. If he believes what he wrote he is obviously unconvertible. He has views which most of us, obviously, feel are absurd and ill-informed in which case it is very likely he won’t gain anything from what we write. If it is the latter case, responding to the comment is simply giving him what he wants, attention and the satisfaction of having gotten a bunch of people upset. There is a term for people who do that on the web, a troll, and this site is decidely free from them due to the code of conduct. I don’t know which Mr. Giordano is, and I don’t really care. If he wants to troll for angry responses, let’s just follow Buddha’s advice and allow him to eat the meal himself.

    This is not a condemnation of Mr. Giordano, simply an observation and a hope that the truly wonderful post that started the thread can be responded to as it deserves with high praise for the author @iwe.

    • #18
  19. Not Jennifer Coolidge
    Not Jennifer
    @JayneEsse

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):

    Reading Jerry Giordano’s comment my initial reaction was a shot of anger. Then I remembered that he does this kind of thing, posts absurdly controversial comments and then disappears from the scene. It reminded me of a quote credited to the Buddha, If a man creates a great meal and nobody comes, what happens? The answer is that he eats it himself.

    Mr Giordano may or may not believe what he says in his posts of this type. In either case, these posts aren’t worth responding to. If he believes what he wrote he is obviously unconvertible. He has views which most of us, obviously, feel are absurd and ill-informed in which case it is very likely he won’t gain anything from what we write. If it is the latter case, responding to the comment is simply giving him what he wants, attention and the satisfaction of having gotten a bunch of people upset. There is a term for people who do that on the web, a troll, and this site is decidely free from them due to the code of conduct. I don’t know which Mr. Giordano is, and I don’t really care. If he wants to troll for angry responses, let’s just follow Buddha’s advice and allow him to eat the meal himself.

    This is not a condemnation of Mr. Giordano, simply an observation and a hope that the truly wonderful post that started the thread can be responded to as it deserves with high praise for the author @ iwe.

    I’m not Buddhist – I’ll condemn him.  #stopjewhatred

    • #19
  20. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):
    Reading Jerry Giordano’s comment my initial reaction was a shot of anger. Then I remembered that he does this kind of thing, posts absurdly controversial comments and then disappears from the scene.

    Early in the Ukraine War I posted some pictures of apartment buildings and residential areas around Kiev destroyed by the invading force, and he said we just didn’t know if they weren’t really military targets. It’s different in Gaza now because (reasons). Or maybe (((reasons.)))

    As for the original post, you do wonder what the reaction among the anti-Israel / anti-West  cohort would be if ISIS had adopted “anti-colonial” rhetoric from the start. They must be kicking themselves. All that good will, left on the table. 

     

    • #20
  21. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):
    Reading Jerry Giordano’s comment my initial reaction was a shot of anger. Then I remembered that he does this kind of thing, posts absurdly controversial comments and then disappears from the scene.

    Early in the Ukraine War I posted some pictures of apartment buildings and residential areas around Kiev destroyed by the invading force, and he said we just didn’t know if they weren’t really military targets. It’s different in Gaza now because (reasons). Or maybe (((reasons.)))

    Also rape, torture, and killing of civilians. Forced deportation (including children). Conscription of civilians. Targeting of medical facilities and personnel.

    • #21
  22. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):
    Mr Giordano may or may not believe what he says in his posts of this type. In either case, these posts aren’t worth responding to.

    Response is worthwhile in order to put the facts before those who are persuadable.

    • #22
  23. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Neither has Israel. 

    • #23
  24. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Zafar (View Comment):

    Just from wiki, but:

    Russia incurred much international criticism for its conduct during the Second Chechen War, which started in 1999. The governments of the United States and other countries condemned deaths and expulsions among civilians. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) passed two resolutions in 2000 and 2001 condemning human rights violations in Chechnya and requiring Russia to set up an independent national commission of inquiry to investigate the matter. However, a third resolution on these lines failed in 2004. The Council of Europe in multiple resolutions and statements between 2003 and 2007 called on Russia (a member of the Council) to cease human rights violations. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) between 2005 and 2007 conducted legal cases brought by Chechens against the Russian government, and in many of these cases held Russia responsible for deaths, disappearances and torture.

    And they’re currently being sanctioned for Ukraine.

     

    Yes, punished with words. 

    • #24
  25. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):
    Reading Jerry Giordano’s comment my initial reaction was a shot of anger. Then I remembered that he does this kind of thing, posts absurdly controversial comments and then disappears from the scene.

    Early in the Ukraine War I posted some pictures of apartment buildings and residential areas around Kiev destroyed by the invading force, and he said we just didn’t know if they weren’t really military targets. It’s different in Gaza now because (reasons). Or maybe (((reasons.)))

    As for the original post, you do wonder what the reaction among the anti-Israel / anti-West cohort would be if ISIS had adopted “anti-colonial” rhetoric from the start. They must be kicking themselves. All that good will, left on the table.

     

    Who do you believe to be ISIS, James?

    Who was it that created that org of terrorists? (And I am not suggesting the members of ISIS are not terrorists.)

    How is it that after Russia destroyed ISIS in Syria back at the time that our president, one Donald Trump, issued the order for our military to stand down and let Russia move in on ISIS, with Russian troops taking ISIS out, that it has now been resurrected.

    • #25
  26. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Zafar (View Comment):

    Just from wiki, but:

    Russia incurred much international criticism for its conduct during the Second Chechen War, which started in 1999. The governments of the United States and other countries condemned deaths and expulsions among civilians. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) passed two resolutions in 2000 and 2001 condemning human rights violations in Chechnya and requiring Russia to set up an independent national commission of inquiry to investigate the matter. However, a third resolution on these lines failed in 2004. The Council of Europe in multiple resolutions and statements between 2003 and 2007 called on Russia (a member of the Council) to cease human rights violations. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) between 2005 and 2007 conducted legal cases brought by Chechens against the Russian government, and in many of these cases held Russia responsible for deaths, disappearances and torture.

    And they’re currently being sanctioned for Ukraine.

     

    Yes, punished with words.

    Like Israel is.  What’s another Security Council resolution to ignore?

    The Russians are being sanctioned, not sent more than $3 billion..

    • #26
  27. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    Paul Stinchfield (View Comment):

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):
    Mr Giordano may or may not believe what he says in his posts of this type. In either case, these posts aren’t worth responding to.

    Response is worthwhile in order to put the facts before those who are persuadable.

    Yeah, but it just encourages him. He just seems to crave attention.

    • #27
  28. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Neither has Israel.

    Really? Israel has not killed off over 20,000 people, half of whom are children? (Some say that as malnutrition and disease are now on the upswing and carrying off so many babies and children, the death toll is over 100,00.)

    So those empty lots that are all over the “safe zone in Gaza”  were already blown up prior to Oct 7th?

    The fact that Israel has used more armaments in the past 6 months against its traditional enemies than the USA has used in all of its involvement in Afghanistan doesn’t mean it has turned Gaza into a wasteland?

    The US Congressional attack on TikTok has nothing a all to do with the many 100’s if not 1,000’s of uploaded videos produced by people in Gaza as they show their neighborhoods that have been decimated?

    And then there is the huge problem that so many of us have seen the face of the IDF through the posted videos of IDF members themselves as they laugh and giggle and blow people away. If Israel wants to be able to keep a decent reputation, its service people really should have been forbidden to film themselves doing the “necessary killing.”

    On edit: This morning’s  yahoo news feed, hardly an anti-semitic org, republished the AP’s top story regarding the effects of war on the Palestinians:

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/lifestyle/doctors-visiting-gaza-hospital-stunned-041607034.html

    • #28
  29. Not Jennifer Coolidge
    Not Jennifer
    @JayneEsse

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Russia hasn’t killed 20,000 to 25,000 helpless women and children in the past 6 months.

    Russia isn’t using famine as a weapon of war against 2 million people.

    The only double standard is that Israel has been allowed to continue its atrocities, principally due to American support. Perhaps that is finally changing.

    Neither has Israel.

    Touche ~

    • #29
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