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USA: Mind Your Own Business!

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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Do you find it ludicrous that the U.S. is giving Israel advice on how to handle its war with Hamas? After the way we handled Afghanistan, and our allowing Iran to run all over us in Syria, as we encourage our military to be a bunch of woke partisans—how dare this country tell Israel how to fight? Has anyone noticed how many wars the U.S. has won and how many Israel has won?

Let’s try to look at this reasonably, though, now that I’ve had my rant. First, the U.S. thinks it can cajole Israel into “humanitarian pauses” by subtly threatening to cut back on funds and armaments. In fact, I don’t have evidence of this threat, but it must be in the background. This is so hypocritical: where are all the demands on Ukraine for how they are conducting their war with Russia? Where are the requirements for accountability and transparency so that we have some inkling of how they are spending the billions of dollars we are sending them? Or do we assume they are putting the money into their own pockets and are just turning our heads away?

Then there are the dangers that could arise for those “pauses” in Gaza. It’s ridiculous to bargain with the lives of the hostages—are we honestly going to suggest that five people would be a “fair number” of people to release for a three-day cease-fire? What about the other 235 people? What if Hamas doesn’t release the small number? We already know that they will use whatever time is negotiated to re-arm and re-supply. We don’t even know if, and how many, hostages are alive.

And now the U.S. is getting all worked up about what will happen after the war. Do they truly believe that the Palestinian Authority, with a corrupt leader and questionable attitudes toward Israel should be involved with running Gaza? We already know that Mahmoud Abbas would be happy to have Israel disappear, and he will want something in exchange for “managing Gaza.” Fatah or the Palestinian Authority will also probably have to go through an election again; what if they lose? I am quite sure that Israel will not want to permanently control Gaza, and have already suggested an international coalition; they are concerned with preventing Hamas from rearming and being able to maintain security.

We also know that the U.S. has conflicting priorities. Biden still wants to pacify Iran, so he will continue to take hits from that country indefinitely. He also doesn’t want to take any steps that Iran would not approve of; even now, I wonder how Iran sees Israel’s wiping out Hamas. What will Iran do once the war is over? Will they activate Hezbollah to take over the fight?

As I’ve said before, the US can talk all they want, but it has to be regarded as just talk. Besides, they are pestering Israel in order to gain international approval and support from the radical Muslims in our own country, even though they are only a small part of our population. I wish the U.S. would find something better to do than lecture the Israelis.

How about managing our own borders?

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Discussion (206)

  • Misthiocracy has never@Misthiocracy
    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    Let’s try to look at this reasonably, though, now that I’ve had my rant. First, the U.S. thinks it can cajole Israel into “humanitarian pauses” by subtly threatening to cut back on funds and armaments. In fact, I don’t have evidence of this threat, but it must be in the background. This is so hypocritical: where are all the demands on Ukraine for how they are conducting their war with Russia? Where are the requirements for accountability and transparency so that we have some inkling of how they are spending the billions of dollars we are sending them? Or do we assume they are putting the money into their own pockets and are just turning our heads away?

    Ukraine isn't engaged in large-scale military action against Russian territory. I wager that is indeed one of the conditions it has agreed to in order to receive military aid.

  • Rodin@Rodin
    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    How about managing our own borders?

    Just so. Every nation has a right to secure its borders against invasion/terror. Let Israel do what they need to do. Heaven knows we are not doing what we need to do in the USA. Hopefully that will change, but in the meantime we have no standing to advise others -- much less impose our will.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoMisthiocracy has never

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    Let’s try to look at this reasonably, though, now that I’ve had my rant. First, the U.S. thinks it can cajole Israel into “humanitarian pauses” by subtly threatening to cut back on funds and armaments. In fact, I don’t have evidence of this threat, but it must be in the background. This is so hypocritical: where are all the demands on Ukraine for how they are conducting their war with Russia? Where are the requirements for accountability and transparency so that we have some inkling of how they are spending the billions of dollars we are sending them? Or do we assume they are putting the money into their own pockets and are just turning our heads away?

    Ukraine isn’t engaged in large-scale military action against Russian territory. I wager that is indeed one of the conditions it has agreed to in order to receive military aid.

    Okay. So what? What about how they are using the funds?

  • Locke On@LockeOn
    ReplyingtoSusan Quinn

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    Let’s try to look at this reasonably, though, now that I’ve had my rant. First, the U.S. thinks it can cajole Israel into “humanitarian pauses” by subtly threatening to cut back on funds and armaments. In fact, I don’t have evidence of this threat, but it must be in the background. This is so hypocritical: where are all the demands on Ukraine for how they are conducting their war with Russia? Where are the requirements for accountability and transparency so that we have some inkling of how they are spending the billions of dollars we are sending them? Or do we assume they are putting the money into their own pockets and are just turning our heads away?

    Ukraine isn’t engaged in large-scale military action against Russian territory. I wager that is indeed one of the conditions it has agreed to in order to receive military aid.

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Okay. So what? What about how they are using the funds?

    The vast majority of the 'funding' to Ukraine is in the form of either donated military hardware, where the Ukraine account is 'charged' some amount related to the depreciated or replacement cost of the gear, or credits to be spent with US or other Western arms vendors. Very little of the aid is cash.

    (I completely agree with your points re Israel, but you're off base on this assessment of Ukraine. What's actually in common is that US advice on strategy and tactics re Ukraine's summer offensive didn't work out so well. Maybe we should be more humble in telling Israel how to run its affairs.)

  • The Reticulator@TheReticulator
    ReplyingtoSusan Quinn

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    Let’s try to look at this reasonably, though, now that I’ve had my rant. First, the U.S. thinks it can cajole Israel into “humanitarian pauses” by subtly threatening to cut back on funds and armaments. In fact, I don’t have evidence of this threat, but it must be in the background. This is so hypocritical: where are all the demands on Ukraine for how they are conducting their war with Russia? Where are the requirements for accountability and transparency so that we have some inkling of how they are spending the billions of dollars we are sending them? Or do we assume they are putting the money into their own pockets and are just turning our heads away?

    Ukraine isn’t engaged in large-scale military action against Russian territory. I wager that is indeed one of the conditions it has agreed to in order to receive military aid.

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Okay. So what? What about how they are using the funds?

    Ukraine is not in a good position to criticize these demands publicly, but they are quite creative and do push the envelope. With their own weapons they are more aggressive. Recent success in attacking a shipyard near the Kerch Bridge shows they now have been given new weapons that could attack the bridge but have been given the weapons on condition that they not be used against the bridge itself. Most likely. This is not known for sure. But Biden seems to be playing the same double game in Ukraine as in Israel. We could use a better president.

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