this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2024
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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 91 points 5 months ago (32 children)

So why can't Israel support itself after decades of the US pumping weapons and money?

I'm 100% done with Israel, and that's coming from a middle-aged guy who was always a supporter. At this point, I honestly don't care if the Arab world stomps them flat. Who could I possibly give a shit any longer?!

So thanks for bringing the plight of the Palestinians into my worldview and trashing the country's reputation. I get it now. Clearly.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev -3 points 5 months ago (21 children)

I honestly don't care if the Arab world stomps them flat.

Standard disclaimer, this isn't an attempt to excuse Biden's support for Israel which is and has been unconscionable. But that being said:

I think the possibility of Israel being stomped flat is part of the calculus that underlies American support for them. They're surrounded by powerful enemies like Iran, and a whole unanimous coalition of nations full of military and political leaders who go to sleep at night dreaming of the lifelong stamp of heroism that would stem from being part of the holy alliance that finally wiped them out.

Whatever crimes against humanity their "defense" forces commit and are committing, the TV scenes of Arab soldiers gunning down fleeing Israeli civilians, ripping down the flags in Tel Aviv amid burning corpses, taking city after city, fighting a 20-on-1 dogpile of a war that would end with Israel erased from the map forever, guilty and the innocent alike, would get played on American TV in campaign commercials for 50 years. If it happened under Biden, the Democrats wouldn't win another election for at least a generation. Probably more.

And it could happen. The world is not a nice place. Part of running the State Department is dealing in horrifying outcomes like that, and it happens every year in a few places across the globe, to people we haven't taken pains to make friends and allies of (and sometimes even to people like the Kurds that we have).

We used to love like brothers and sisters various leaders all over the world who did genocidal things like Netanyahu, and I'm sure we still do, but it's not an everyday thing now like it was in the 80s and 90s. But there's some kind of crazy disconnect that fuels American support for Israel. There's a popular theory on Lemmy that it's simply because Biden is evil and loves genocide, and certainly AIPAC is a part and simple racism and lack of care for dying civilians in the Mideast is a part, but to me I think one of the powerful drivers is the fear of what might happen if the rest of the Middle East ever got the idea that they could try to fuck up Israel and the US might not be there to make sure it didn't happen.

Let the accusations commence. Like I say, I'm trying to explain, not to excuse, and besides nothing in any of that above would have stopped them having the CIA snatch Netanyahu three months ago and deliver him to the Hague in a rubber sack with a note that says "We still love Israel but this guy can get fucked."

[–] Baroness_Buttslut@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Surrounded by powerful armies like Iran

Take a good look at a map, buddy.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Okay done, I looked at a map

Now what?

[–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You should definitely color Lebanon.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You are correct. I wasn't trying to be super accurate about it, just trying to make the point, but Lebanon is an important omission.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Fascists make the world their enemy and then claim everyone is out to get them.

It's actually a pretty core aspect of the 40k universe btw, just throwing that out there because no one seems to bring it up.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's absolutely true. I'm just talking about how the US may be viewing the realpolitik of the situation and their interest in it, not saying anything about if it's just or unjust. If you want my judgement about it, Israel did it to themselves this situation, yes, 100%.

[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

https://www.axios.com/2023/10/31/american-troops-middle-east-israel-palestine

There are many bases in other countries willing to work with the US. Saudi Arabia appears a more conforming "ally" than Israel.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 1 points 4 months ago

Idk about that, between Yemen and Prince Bonesaws. They've killed a lot more people, is it really that much better if they weren't doing it as a genocide?

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 months ago

Some of the blue countries are in very good terms with Israel.

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