Obama's Foreign Non-policy: a siren call to regional actors

Submitted by Michael S. (United States), Sep 1, 2014 at 04:44

I agree, NoSanta, that the war did not begin because of the hostage situation.  Preparations for this year have been made on both sides, for several years; and the HAMAS rocket barrage was entirely out of proportion to any proximate actions by Israel.  The war was most likely the result of cool calculation on the part of HAMAS, in response to several recent events:

1. The PLO-HAMAS union:  HAMAS needed to show Abbas that they really called the shots
2. The complete collapse of the Kerry mission, and
3. Mr. Obama's unbroken track record of an aimless, sporadic foreign policy

As Mr. Putin learned first in Crimea and now in the Donbass, there is everything to be gained and nothing to lose in opposing the US and its allies.  America clearly will not seriously intervene anywhere until 2017; so it's up to local players such as Russia, ISIS and HAMAS to make their own history.

Is this "bad" policy on anyone's part?  Probably not:  Politics is a lot like "acting for ugly people"; and in acting, there's no such thing as bad publicity.  People get killed?  Great, for generating international sympathy.  Beheadings?  A good recruitment tool:  It shows you're really tough, macho muchachos.  Retreats and cowardice?  It shows you love peace.  Pee in your pants in public, put the right spin on it, and you might get a contract and endorsements.  Meanwhile, defense technology -- from Gazan concrete to drones to gas masks -- continues to be a good place to park a retirement nestegg.  And what a wonderful time, for a scraggly, bearded psychopath to strut his stuff and become a calif or emir!

God sees it all; and He will judge mankind.  I expect a nuclear war in about ten years, maybe a little longer -- plus plagues to make ebola look like the common cold.  I gather that from reading the Bible, but also from simply reading the news.  This party will not go on forever.

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