Summerinsiam

Israel has a right to defend itself proportionately. It does not have a right to do what it is doing now and is finally being held belatedly to account. The Hamas attack on Israel does not justify genocide and a war on women and children. You can argue about the semantics of genocide ad infinitum but that is what it is. The Hamas attack on Israel, on the watch of 'Mr security Netanyahu' has left Israel in serious trouble, with Iran being the geopolitical winner. Firstly, they are stuck in an uninhabitable Gaza with no exit strategy. Ariel Sharon withdrew in 2004 because he recognized that the occupation was militarily unsustainable. They will never achieve total victory against an ideology. Secondly, since the incident with Iran their central strategy of escalation deterrence no longer holds true. Hezbollah have forced tens of thousands of Israelis in the north to leave their homes. Israel is surrounded by hostile states and non-state actors who can now hit Israel with cheap technologically advanced drones and rockets. Hezbollah alone has one hundred and fifty thousand at their disposal. As the carefully telegraphed Iranian missile attack proved Iron Dome is insufficient. Thirdly, the Israelis have trashed their reputation and global standing, notably with the global south and the younger generation in the western world. They have the blood of tens of thousands of innocents on their hands and have created a famine. Bibi refuses to stop, because his government, which is dominated by religious zealots would collapse and he would be prosecuted for corruption. And still, flying in the face of global opinion and doing irreparable damage to his re-election chances the hapless Biden stands by his man. Pathetic.

There is no anti-Israeli narrative. The constant attempt to conflate criticism of the most right-wing government in Israel's history with anti-semitism is one that has being seen through for what it is. Sadly, facts are facts that even a pro-Israeli like Biden is waking up to. It is getting increasingly harder to justify the indefensible: that Netanyahu is prolonging the war for purely selfish reasons. The Israelis have fallen into the trap that Hamas set them and succeeded in trashing their own reputation and global standing for at least a generation. Well done Bibi.

This abrupt change of policy has Thaksin's dirty fingerprints all over it. He is clearly in charge now behind the scenes and what he says goes. He now appears to have carte-blanche. This uncomfortable truth was confirmed by the recent cabinet reshuffle which he presided over. The Prime Minister is just a mouthpiece. Despite the human cost, back in the day his 'war on drugs' was a vote winner and received the backing of the majority of Thais. It looks like he has ordered his party to reintroduce his hardline anti-drug stance and incorporate this into policy. Those who opened businesses in the industry knew that they were doing so in a grey area and were operating courtesy of a legal loophole that they were able to exploit. Contrary to popular opinion, it has never been legal in the full sense of the word to use cannabis recreationally. Thaksin does not care about them or the scientific evidence regarding cannabis. They are not even a consideration in his calculations. He cares only for his popularity and political gain.

Money is not really the main factor. Its more about using his perceived popularity as a bulwark against the progessive movement and the threat that it represents to the established status quo. They will do anything to keep him sweet.

It is very telling that even its most ardent supporters are unable to name one thing that has improved since Brexit, even the ideoloically driven idiots that were responsible for it.

One mans hero is another ones freedom fighter.

I know, yet they are not the people assassinating people with impunity. Bibi wanted a war and now he has got one. As usual Biden will talk with him. Same same. What a prick.

When half the cabinet there thinks the earth is only 4000 years old and Noahs Ark is not literal. And these idiots hold sway? Tell me I am wrong.

Two states. I know its a mess but thats ii . The major problem is of course religion.

The whole world knows the solution yet nothing happens. I dont like Trump but Biden and his wacky college days are all contributory to this <deleted> up.

Generally of course. The Iranians have long exercised 'Strategic patience', yet 'bibi' wants a war to save his own skin. I guess he is still hung up about Entebbe

Why should the world have to undergo yet another war just so 'bibi' doesnt get prosecuted? Dont deflect and please answer my question.

No, it began with an illegal land grab. What you have is called confirmation bias.

Lets all be honest. The world would have been so much better without the creation of Israel. From a worldview it has been a disaster.

As usual started by the Israelis! All because 'bibi' needs to keep his job and avoid his well deserved reckoning. Good on the Iranians.

Keep on drinking that kool aid.

There is no real evidence that Russia would attack another country. It is mostly hyperbole and propaganda pushed by the likes of Zelenskey, the baltic states, and those Nato generals who want more money for defence. Putin rightly fears Nato and despite the western narrative, is not a madman. The danger lies in miscalulation, the rest is smoke and mirrors. The conflict has reached a stalemate and with the Russian economy unexpectedly resilient and on a war footing, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Ukrainians can regain their territory, let alone win. Reality is dawning, despite the Ukrainian and western mantra, and something will have to give.

The elites are terrified of him, and the potential upheaval of the status quo that the policies of his progressive party represent. Its not just section 112, which is something of a smokescreen. Think, genuine reform of the military and police, eradication of corruption, reducing centralisation and the power of the conservative civil service, educational reform and the breaking up of big business monopolies. The vested interests; who benefit enormously from the current semi-feudal, authoritarian, corrupt system, that are lined up against him are daunting.

Yet more scaremongering. Earlier we had NATO preparing for war with Russia, when in fact the key word is deterrence. Both sides are well aware that a war can never be fought between two nuclear armed sides. In this case, neither the US or Iran want a direct confrontation. Iran is content to use its proxies and the Biden administration will do anything to avoid one. While the situation is volatile, most analysts concur that it remains unlikely.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Ask Nelson Mandela. Even Ariel Sharon admitted that if he was a Palestininian he would take up armed resistance.

According to some estimates more civilians have been killed than during the entire duration of the Russian Ukrainian conflict. But that's ok? The double standards and hypocrisy are off the scale.

Blinken is wasting his time. He may have good intentions but Netanyahu is clearly not listening. Indeed, the war criminal daren't stop in case he is removed from his position by the Israeli people, with whom he is now deeply unpopular, or faces a corruption trial. He is blinded by self-interest, and doesn't care if he sets the whole region on fire. Until the Americans back up their rhetoric with actions, or the war criminal is replaced, nothing sadly will change. Blinken can visit every week if it takes his fancy.

One of his many eclectic views. He also thinks covid was largely a hoax, and pushes a number of other conspiracy theories.

Kennedy is a Democrat, but analysts believe that with some of his bizarre views, he could appeal equally to or more to the Republican voters.

Can you imagine the outrage of the west if this was in Ukraine? It would be off the scale. In Ukraine, its genocide and requires an immediate investigation from the International Court. In Gaza, no. In Ukraine, civilian deaths are an outrage. In Gaza, collateral damage. When the Russians target critical infrastructure, its a war crime. In Gaza, no. When the Russians remove children, Putin is a war criminal. In Gaza, the Israelis just murder them. I could go on. The double standards and hypocrisy of the west are staggering, and speak volumes about their true motivations.