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Never-ending, isn't it?

Reader comment on item: Lessons of the War in Gaza

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Aug 9, 2014 at 18:01

Hello, Daniel

It is delightful to see an article here about the conduct of the war. Normally, the last place to look for news of what's going on in a war, is news outlets of the participants; but in this case, I guess world-citizen-Jews could be considered an outside source.

Tunnels: not really news, as you say

Consensus in Israel: it is as you say

Middle Eastern response: Here I would digress. It is true that the only governmental support for HAMAS comes from Turkey and Qatar (significantly not Tunisia, which used to be the third Musketeer of the Islamist group). Popular support for violence against Israel is, however, still widespread in the Middle East. This dichotomy has made it difficult for me to follow events there. I divide the Middle East power blocs into

1. Iran, with clients Syria, Iraq, Hizbullah, the Houtis, Eritrea and Sudan

2. Saudi Arabia, with clients Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon central govt, Libya, the rump "Free Syrian Army", the Moroccan king, and half Tunisia

3. Turkey, with partner Qatar, overt client HAMAS, and under-the-table clients Al Qaeda, Al Nusra, IS, Muslim Brotherhood and all the other Islamist groups, most of which are fighting each other as well as outsiders.

The Iranian group, of course, consists of religious Shi'ites and anyone else they can buy. The Sunni camp (which at the moment also includes the Omani Ibadis) is split between, on the one hand, autocratic rulers who see the Turkish group as dangerous to life and limb (the lynching of Gaddafi being a poignant reminder); and on the other hand by the absolute crazies, the Qataris who want influence to match their wealth, and the Turks -- whose delusions of grandeur are personified in Recep Tayyi Erdogan.

It is this split among the Sunnis (as you know), that is responsible for the Saudis et al to equivocate -- continuing to label the Jews as barbaric sub-humans, while at the same time giving no material help to HAMAS. That is such a delicate balancing game, I have to check the news in these countries day-to-day, to see how it currently stands. In Jordan, for instance, I would not be surprised at any time to read in the headlines that King Abdullah had been overthrown by a radical islamist coup.

Rising antisemitism: Is this really news? The frog in the kettle is being slowly heated until it cooks. Jews, frogs... it works the same for both.

Dead babies: Pallywood has a habit of using sleeping babies as "corpses", of continually recycling photos of real dead babies, and of using photos of dead babies from Syria when there aren't enough Pally ones. Nearly all Pally casualties are, as far as I've been able to pick out, young men of military age; though the few that are otherwise form the bulk of propaganda photos. I don't see how anyone with any awareness of the facts can be taken in by this stuff anymore -- which explains why the Europeans are generally so taken in.

I don't see any resolve on the part of anyone, to truly end this conflict. Everyone involved does well, to keep the BS down to a low roar, so as not to disturb my dinner.

Shalom shalom :-)

Submitting....

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Reader comments (59) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Again Palestinian Islamists kill their own- now kids in Gaza, Jabaliya Aug.6.22 [296 words]Jack D HAug 6, 2022 21:25284775
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
LudvikusAug 23, 2014 10:08217349
Israel has already lost the war [162 words]Michael SAug 22, 2014 16:09217327
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
mythAug 18, 2014 07:33217230
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
LudvikusAug 14, 2014 12:58217145
I support this... well, not. [343 words]Michael S.Aug 19, 2014 17:29217145
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1The Divided Islamist and Arab World [68 words]LudvikusAug 12, 2014 12:33217104
1Lessons of Gaza will be Taught at the World's Expense [240 words]M. ToveyAug 12, 2014 12:02217102
3"THE GATES OF HELL HAVE OPENED" [110 words]LudvikusAug 12, 2014 11:19217101
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2Whose blockade? [288 words]JeffAug 12, 2014 13:31217072
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexAug 10, 2014 00:36217050
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2We need to take a lesson from Israel [125 words]JACQUES HADIDAAug 9, 2014 18:58217045
4"More Western anti-Semitism" (in relation to Hamas vs. Israel) by Walter B. Williams [81 words]LudvikusAug 9, 2014 18:50217044
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1Israel/Hamas conflict [115 words]Steve V GureAug 9, 2014 17:03217042
1Star Wars objections still stand [91 words]One of the peopleAug 9, 2014 16:03217034
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
EricAug 9, 2014 14:00217025
well said Daniel- as usual [19 words]JeromeAug 9, 2014 13:37217024
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
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w/response from Daniel Pipes
AndrewAug 9, 2014 13:22217021
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Ed HelsethAug 9, 2014 11:54217018
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