I consulted my Trump magic 8 ball on which path, 1 or 2 will happen. The answer was “cannot predict now”. My guess is path 1. No ground swell to enter Gaza with boots on the ground.
Just a reminder that a coalition (and normalization of relations with the coalition members) was on the table back in 2023/early 2024 - but Netanyahu rejected it as it involved having to set up a real Palestinian state.
Israel will always reject a Palestinian state because it is their land. Furthermore, calling them Palestinians is a misnomer because they have zero claim to any part of what is called Palestine.
No, it is a land that has been shared by Levantine peoples of many religious backgrounds - and some of those were converts from Judaism. And if some of those Levantine peoples wanted their own state separate from the State of Israel - which as a reminder was agreed to by Israel dating back to before the founding - then they should be able to have it, and ideally live peacefully with their neighbors.
But you are leaving God out of the equation. God gave the land to Israel for what He called "an everlasting possession." In the end, Israel will possess the land, and no other entity.
If we don't leave God out of the equation, then we have to ask the question of why He's apparently fine with Hamas remaining armed, and not instead visiting some Egypt-style plagues upon them until they disarm and forswear violence. How the murdered children, raped women, and traumatized survivors fit into His Plan, and all that...
Yes, because religion is a terrible way to organize states or to create a basis for claims - because religious belief is equally valid and invalid. It will only lead to more conflict and death - which is why the US and the post-WWII order are built on legal foundations instead of religious beliefs.
The war we fought in Afghanistan wasn't a war at all, it was more of an occupation. Trying to keep a peace that wasn't worth any of our blood and treasure. Once we found and killed Bin Laden, we should have gotten out, but we were too worried about the politics of the whole thing, which is always the calculation. If we sent 10,000 marines in to fight along side the IDF, Hamas could be wiped out within weeks, and that would be that. But no, we are too worried about MTG. Who is she, anyway? No, we need to do this, like Trump said, and do it quickly.
I consulted my Trump magic 8 ball on which path, 1 or 2 will happen. The answer was “cannot predict now”. My guess is path 1. No ground swell to enter Gaza with boots on the ground.
Great take, Steve. Insightful.
Just a reminder that a coalition (and normalization of relations with the coalition members) was on the table back in 2023/early 2024 - but Netanyahu rejected it as it involved having to set up a real Palestinian state.
Israel will always reject a Palestinian state because it is their land. Furthermore, calling them Palestinians is a misnomer because they have zero claim to any part of what is called Palestine.
No, it is a land that has been shared by Levantine peoples of many religious backgrounds - and some of those were converts from Judaism. And if some of those Levantine peoples wanted their own state separate from the State of Israel - which as a reminder was agreed to by Israel dating back to before the founding - then they should be able to have it, and ideally live peacefully with their neighbors.
But you are leaving God out of the equation. God gave the land to Israel for what He called "an everlasting possession." In the end, Israel will possess the land, and no other entity.
If we don't leave God out of the equation, then we have to ask the question of why He's apparently fine with Hamas remaining armed, and not instead visiting some Egypt-style plagues upon them until they disarm and forswear violence. How the murdered children, raped women, and traumatized survivors fit into His Plan, and all that...
Yes, because religion is a terrible way to organize states or to create a basis for claims - because religious belief is equally valid and invalid. It will only lead to more conflict and death - which is why the US and the post-WWII order are built on legal foundations instead of religious beliefs.
The war we fought in Afghanistan wasn't a war at all, it was more of an occupation. Trying to keep a peace that wasn't worth any of our blood and treasure. Once we found and killed Bin Laden, we should have gotten out, but we were too worried about the politics of the whole thing, which is always the calculation. If we sent 10,000 marines in to fight along side the IDF, Hamas could be wiped out within weeks, and that would be that. But no, we are too worried about MTG. Who is she, anyway? No, we need to do this, like Trump said, and do it quickly.