The aerial war against Gaza launched by Israel just after Christmas, and the ground offensive, with which it rang in the New Year, were shocking in their brutality, but should constitute no surprise, if viewed from the standpoint of long-term Israeli strategic aims. The Israelis have argued that the offensive was launched in response to eight years' of relentless attacks by Hamas rockets into Israel. But then, one asks: why now? Why should they wait eight years? The Target is Iran Throughout 2007 and 2008, the debate raged among concerned parties as to whether the war party would or could mount a military attack against Iran, using the pretext that questions regarding its nuclear program remained open, etc. Statements attributed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatening the existence of Israel, were hyped up, to justify a preemptive strike against Tehran. But certain military realities had to be taken into consideration, at least by those who knew something about warfare. The concern raised by competent military professionals, including those inside the U.S., was that, were Iran to be attacked (by the U.S. and/or Israel), the asymmetric response on the part of pro-Iranian factors in the region would unleash regional conflict with an immediate potential to become global. This was the thinking which led U.S. officials to tell Israel point blank that they would not endorse a military attack on Iran. Now, further confirming this report, the New York Times has released a timely article detailing Israel's bid and Washington rejection of permission to bomb Iran's plant at Natanz.
mikygr: The aerial war against Gaza launched by Israel just after Christmas, and the ground offensive, with which it rang in the New Year, were shocking in their brutality, but should constitute no surprise, if viewed from the standpoint of long-term Israeli strategic aims. The Israelis have argued that the offensive was launched in response to eight years' of relentless attacks by Hamas rockets into Israel. But then, one asks: why now? Why should they wait eight years? The Target is Iran Throughout 2007 and 2008, the debate raged among concerned parties as to whether the war party would or could mount a military attack against Iran, using the pretext that questions regarding its nuclear program remained open, etc. Statements attributed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatening the existence of Israel, were hyped up, to justify a preemptive strike against Tehran. But certain military realities had to be taken into consideration, at least by those who knew something about warfare. The concern raised by competent military professionals, including those inside the U.S., was that, were Iran to be attacked (by the U.S. and/or Israel), the asymmetric response on the part of pro-Iranian factors in the region would unleash regional conflict with an immediate potential to become global. This was the thinking which led U.S. officials to tell Israel point blank that they would not endorse a military attack on Iran. Now, further confirming this report, the New York Times has released a timely article detailing Israel's bid and Washington rejection of permission to bomb Iran's plant at Natanz.
More hyped Up Anti-Israel Rants from you! Now here in the EU-Forum too?
Well… my view on the subject is: Israel is supported by Western Europe and USA of only one reason: they want oil and by supporting Israel they destabilize the situation in the region. The method is as old as the world: divide and conquer. As things are now they can’t conquer but still they can rule by manipulating Israel against its nearest neighbours. And rule they will as long as Saudi want oil dollars and they want it.
Why Israel tolerates being part of this? Because its sheer existence depends on support from the West?
Tulefel: Well… my view on the subject is: Israel is supported by Western Europe and USA of only one reason: they want oil and by supporting Israel they destabilize the situation in the region. The method is as old as the world: divide and conquer. As things are now they can’t conquer but still they can rule by manipulating Israel against its nearest neighbours. And rule they will as long as Saudi want oil dollars and they want it.
Why Israel tolerates being part of this? Because its sheer existence depends on support from the West?
Certainly yes. I'm just not sure about who is rulling who today. Israel is obviously a country with boarders and welcome, if its only that today.
Here's a moot point...it is well known that Americans pay very little for gas (oil) and it has been said that any President knows that to remain President he must at all costs maintain low prices for gas.Any President who allows the price of filling the tank to go up will not be President for very long. To keep the price low they need an endless supply, hence the need to access other contries oil production.
Taking a wider perspective, America tries to rule the (productive) world because it is in their interest to do so in order to maintain its own at home lifestyle, good living at a low cost. To do this America has to be friends with other countries, countries who may well be,due to their own agenda, sworn enemies to each other. This is some conjuring trick America has to somehow perform, and not surprisingly they often get it wrong, sometimes to its own cost.I am not anti American, quite neutral in fact, although I do view America like lots of folks with mixed feelings.
However, I do feel that the main players in this situation,the middle east, really need to get their heads together and sort this out for themselves, without American influence. Those nations really do need to work together for the good of all.Their is a middle ground here, all they need is the desire to take it.
Tulefel: Well… my view on the subject is: Israel is supported by Western Europe and USA of only one reason: they want oil and by supporting Israel they destabilize the situation in the region. The method is as old as the world: divide and conquer. As things are now they can’t conquer but still they can rule by manipulating Israel against its nearest neighbours. And rule they will as long as Saudi want oil dollars and they want it.
Why Israel tolerates being part of this? Because its sheer existence depends on support from the West?
Elley: Here's a moot point...it is well known that Americans pay very little for gas (oil) and it has been said that any President knows that to remain President he must at all costs maintain low prices for gas.Any President who allows the price of filling the tank to go up will not be President for very long. To keep the price low they need an endless supply, hence the need to access other contries oil production.
Taking a wider perspective, America tries to rule the (productive) world because it is in their interest to do so in order to maintain its own at home lifestyle, good living at a low cost. To do this America has to be friends with other countries, countries who may well be,due to their own agenda, sworn enemies to each other. This is some conjuring trick America has to somehow perform, and not surprisingly they often get it wrong, sometimes to its own cost.I am not anti American, quite neutral in fact, although I do view America like lots of folks with mixed feelings.
However, I do feel that the main players in this situation,the middle east, really need to get their heads together and sort this out for themselves, without American influence. Those nations really do need to work together for the good of all.Their is a middle ground here, all they need is the desire to take it.
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The Target is Iran
Throughout 2007 and 2008, the debate raged among concerned parties as to whether the war party would or could mount a military attack against Iran, using the pretext that questions regarding its nuclear program remained open, etc. Statements attributed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatening the existence of Israel, were hyped up, to justify a preemptive strike against Tehran. But certain military realities had to be taken into consideration, at least by those who knew something about warfare.
The concern raised by competent military professionals, including those inside the U.S., was that, were Iran to be attacked (by the U.S. and/or Israel), the asymmetric response on the part of pro-Iranian factors in the region would unleash regional conflict with an immediate potential to become global. This was the thinking which led U.S. officials to tell Israel point blank that they would not endorse a military attack on Iran. Now, further confirming this report, the New York Times has released a timely article detailing Israel's bid and Washington rejection of permission to bomb Iran's plant at Natanz.