cubsfan

@Xerxes You're a good man and well respected around here. Consider the arguments carefully. I'd say MOST of us are opposed to RADICAL Islam - that is exactly the problem here. RADICAL. Don't forget it - and you are not being accused of anything. There are a lot of happy Muslims in Israel - why are they not radicalized? Because they have a good life. Who has destroyed Gaza - Hamas, the radicals that you, yourself acknowledge. So you hate the Israeli government and Bibi. Your call on that brother. The nation is in the fight of it's life. In addition to the massacre, there are 100,000 displaced Israelis from the north. There are still hostages. You expect Bibi to take his foot off the throat of Hamas? Seriously @Xerxes --- In North America - NO one celebrates the KKK, and you are not the type that celebrates RADICAL Islam. So take the criticism for what it is: the only chance for peace is for Muslims to disown Radical Islam. Racism is not the issue - Fanaticism is the issue.

^^ Exactly, there is no negotiation with radical Islam, there is only strength. That's why you target leadership and those foolish enough to follow. Currently, Israel is dealing from a position of strength in Gaza. The Palestinians, useful idiots for Iran, seriously miscalculated on Oct 7th. After their celebration of the massacre, they expected more allies to come to their rescue. Now those allies know what's in store for them. Meanwhile, the happiest Muslims in the region live in Israel - 2 million of them! They want NO part of this nonsense that their muslim "brothers" started.

The proposal is on the table basically: unless Gaza wants more of the same - stop fighting, give up the hostages, turn on your Oct 7th planners (what few are left). Nothing much has really changed with these demands, now it will be forced upon them unless they want to continue to live in a war zone. A war that they started.

Oh, I agree. They will just keep getting themselves killed now. Think how paranoid they must be at this point. A large portion of the population hates them - the leaders are being betrayed while the informants get paid off. Now with Gaza destroyed, Hezbollah has this to look forward too. Most of the Oct 7th planners are now dead - and the blowhards in Iran know this. You can be sure Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon is doing their own calculus on them ending up like Gaza.

Hamas rejects latest ceasefire, along with hostage release. Good news is that now that almost all Hamas leadership is dead - Sinwar, the current Hamas leader is a dead man walking. https://saraacarter.com/hamas-rejects-ceasefire-and-hostage-negotiations-amid-disputes-with-israel/ Next up: Hezbollah

For sure. Too bad the country is run by the Russian Mafia, who could give a shit about the population. It worked for Stalin, it'll work for Putin. I'm not even sure if Putin cares about all his oligarch buddies that are so much poorer now. Russia deserves to be a pariah just like North Korea.

^^^ Right. It's easy to see this is a stalemate, war of attrition - which Ukraine can not win. Ukraine needs to decide what lands to concede to Putin and sue for peace. It simply can not afford to lose a whole generation of young men - and survive as a nation.

It's really upsetting to see this in my hometown. But yeah, they insist on defunding and hamstringing the police, until it's their convention, then they call in reinforcements.

On a different note - Chicago getting ready for the DNC next week. Friends that are fireman, ex-marines, etc, getting called up from non-active duty for street patrol and riot duty. Putting people on rooftops, etc. 2 years ago Chicago screaming about defunding the police, today we look like Fallujah.

I love these posts! Ukraine gets attacked and has a right to defend themselves, but Israel does not. You guys kill me!

Ha! You need to get lucky after you drop them off - and hope they don't scream at you about why you are celebrating Thanksgiving and oppressing native populations. My alma mata does an apology to the local native peoples every convocation 3X per year. I graduated with a liberal arts degree but wouldn't waste my time today. The hard sciences and math are great places to be. But now a days all you have to do is watch TV all day long and you'll come out the same as these liberal arts or "studies" majors.

That is amazing you have never had covid being in a college environment. You must be bionic!

First 4 minutes reviews the elimination of Hamas leader, Mohammed Deif and another major Hamas figure. Hamas top leadership continues to be destroyed.

Hamas barely hanging on: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/10/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-agreement-within-reach/ Hamas, in “rough shape” in its underground lair, according to one U.S. official, is said to be low on ammunition and supplies. It’s also facing growing pressure from battered Palestinian civilians, who are increasingly vocal in demanding a truce.

I get it now. Could very well be and have not looked at it that way, and it makes sense. The EU formation was largely done to bring Europe together, however imperfect it works. I do think the criticism of Trump's actions is totally ridiculous considering what Europe stands to lose from a disbanded NATO.

I have no idea where you are going with this argument, but feel free. I really don't get it. I must be dense. It's not some tremendous act of kindness that the Marshall Plan was offered to Europe - it's because the US (and Canada too), were the only superpowers left standing and not totally destroyed by WWII. In retrospect, the "isolationist" policy of the pre-WWII USA was a mistake. It only encouraged Germany & Japan. Of course, for Europe & Japan to be rebuilt physically and economically without the excessive penalties of WW1 , the Marshall Plan was offered once the "right" leadership was in place for the defeated nations (and our own allies). So if you are questioning the motives of the USA - fine by me - I don't really care. The avoidance of a WW3 is well worth the price to BOTH the USA and Europe. Did the USA, or for that matter, Western Europe , want an ascendant military power like Germany or Japan militarized again? Of course not. Economically - yes. You'd think that France & England, after 3 wars with Germany since 1880 - would want a "lid" on Germany once and for all, regardless if required that the USA have a lead or a support role. Certainly, Russia is a threat to Western Europe, especially if you live in the Baltic States, Finland, Poland or Western Ukraine. The only thing that matters is what Putin THINKS he can do, regardless of the diminished capabilities of his military. Much like the situation with Hilter - whereby a despot with a WEAKER military THINKS he can defeat a far STRONGER combined Russian, English, French and USA military in a 2 front war. All that mattered in the end - is what Hitler THOUGHT he could do it - because 25 million Europeans had to die to actually prove him wrong.

That's quite the ultra-cynical view of NATO. My first thought is that the Western European/US alliance has allowed both entities to survive both WWI & WWII - and may help all to survive WW3. Obviously, you see it another way. This alliance is a powerful offset against the Russians - and may be of some value in the case of an aggressive China. I doubt the Europeans want to go it "alone" against a nuclear Russia, although they would probably win anyway - why take the chance and temp the Russians? But adding the USA to the mix certainly seals the chances of a Russian defeat and Western European victory. But you seem to see a much more devious deep-seated motive that the USA has.. I think eventually, there will be a showdown with China - hopefully many, many years into the future - and certainly the USA will want Western Europe as our "partner" or ally. Who knows? Unless you want every country in the world "nuking up" against aggressive neighbors - I'd suggest serious alliances like NATO serve a very useful purpose for the continuation of peace, trade and economic prosperity. Obviously, you have a much more cynical viewpoint.

Some people just can't handle that it took the courage of Trump to put NATO on the right track again. Love him or hate him - he changed NATO in very positive ways for Europe. Unfortunately, he had to make a number of leaders look like the wallflowers they were.

Fascinating article, thanks for posting. In the years since the 2018 summit, aggregated defence spending by Nato members, excluding the US, has risen by 55 per cent, to around $430bn. At the time of the summit, just three nations besides the US met the 2 per cent of GDP benchmark. This year, 22 will.

Smart move.

Heck - at least you took the time to read it! Cheers!

@Xerxes Thanks for the clarification. Seriously, I had more problems with the interviewer not being impartial than anything.

Here is what I heard on this great podcast: -- They mentioned 2 state solution and ceasefire about 30 times -- They never mentioned once - what about the hostages? Really? - how disingenuous -- They mentioned that EVERYONE wants a ceasefire. And reviewed country by country why a ceasefire was desired. Of course, they NEVER asked what Israel required FOR a cease fire. Totally avoided Israeli interests. Seriously? Good luck with that. Israel holds all the cards. -- They talked about what does the United States have to do to force a ceasefire, and how they have failed. No shit - it's Israel's war for survival. Imagine Canada dictating to the US what/when we should stop a war if we are being attacked. -- They talk about why Iran wants "assurances" not to be attacked by Israel in Damascus or Iran. Of course they avoid the key issue: Why did Hezbollah (Iran's proxy) attack Israel, before Israel had even attacked Gaza? Why did Hezbollah involve itself? Why does Iran continue to ship arms to Hezbollah and supply military advisors? -- The clincher at the end was - when he asked the Iranian - Why does Iran want a ceasefire? His answer: So that Hamas is NOT destroyed, and Israel will not be able to turn their attention to Hezbollah. -- Not one mention about Hamas being a terrorist organization and what they perpetrated on Oct 7th. Not one question from the interviewer about terrorism. So it's a totally disingenous interview - where I fault the interviewer for avoiding the OBVIOUS questions: Why is Iran involved when it was not attacked? and What does Israel want?

At some point, when Hamas is defeated, the reality will sink in for the Gaza Palestinians: that Hamas alone destroyed their country. The 66% that expect Hamas to win are not dealing in reality. It's understandable for them to feel that way, given the 70% approval Hamas was given for the Oct 7th attack - but now they are seeing there homeland leveled - and they did not expect that reaction from Israel. Defeat will be a very tough pill to swallow, but it's virtually assured for Gaza. When the Palestinians realize the truth - that THEY alone violated a long standing ceasefire in place before Oct 7th, and therefore, they are not in any position to demand any ceasefire from Israel - perhaps they will jettison Hamas for good. Until then, there will be no peace, and public opinion polls won't matter.

It will be essential for the Military to continue reading Dr Ibram X Kendi and his most famous quote: "The only remedy for past discrimination is future discrimination" That will do wonders for unit cohesion, a key tenet of the armed forces.