“I’m surprised to observe the level of support Israel is receiving from Middle Eastern leaders. The support is more in the form of actions, despite some sharp rhetoric.”
I’m not surprised. The Sunni gulf states view Iran and its proxies as a larger threat than Israel. In fact, Israel isn’t a threat to them at all.
However, organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad are a threat to Egypt, Jordan and the other Sunni gulf states since they want to create a single caliphate as one pan-Arab nation in the mold of Nasser and Saddam. And Hamas originated as an offshoot to the Muslim Brotherhood which was responsible for assassinating Sadat after he made peace with Israel in 1977.
Israel has had behind the scenes relationships with the Sunni Gulf states for decades. The Saudi’s have even allowed the Israeli’s to stage bombing campaigns into Iran, from their airspace.
That’s why the Abraham Accords is nothing more than a political stunt. It accomplished nothing since most of these countries, including many North African states, Egypt and Jordan have had relationships going back to the 1970’s.
On a side note, a lot of the issues when it comes to misinformation and lies has more to do with the biases and partisanship of some of the mass media, as opposed to generational biases. Where you get your information matters.
Furthermore, Right-wing billionaires are buying big media conglomerates and re-programming to be more pro-Trump and pro Russia.
Case in point: Univision, a large Spanish media conglomerate was recently purchased by a friend of Kushner and has reprogrammed their network to be better pro-Trump, and it’s having a huge impact on Trump’s support by Latinos.
Your final three observations about "biases and partisanship," "Right -wing billionaires," and the retooling of "Univision" are accurate, significant, and and of truly unrealized importance with regards to domestic issues. While I am unfamiliar with the finer points of Middle Eastern political interrelations what you present certainly seems like an accurate assessment of the situation.
“If it were simple, I could make a TikTok video but geopolitics are more complex than that.”
This closing sentence speaks volumes to many of the problems we face in domestic issues too. Vast numbers of people simply do not grasp let alone understand the true complexities and nuances behind the current rebellion taking place within government at all levels. These problems have Putin’s support in innumerable covert ways; hence the importance of your previous post focusing on active measures.
Gosh. These complexities in the Ukraine and Middle East have been going on for generations! So has the complexities of misinformation. Information has been used to manipulate the “masses” since forever.
If Russia and others have been repeatedly using various media channels- as tools to stir up and influence chaos- to reap opportunities- shouldn’t those who care about democracy and who know, educated the masses through the media those masses find most accessible?
People just want to know the truth. And they need to be educated on how to find the truth.
How can that be achieved? How is misinformation to be thwarted?
There are so many conflicting loud voices speaking at the same time. It’s no wonder many people have turned off their critical thinking and gone with the “group think”.
They are struggling to pay for groceries and rent- let alone have the energy to delve into educating themselves.
When they see fellow humans being bombed and losing their families and children. They aren’t thinking strategically- they are thinking “What if that happened to me?”
During WW 2- the British utilized pamphlets and signs and radio and came up with a plan to get the average Joe helping with the war effort. This included telling the British people the truth- and asking them to work for a bigger cause. And everyone made sacrifices.
Churchill was brilliant at presenting a doable plan in simple terms.
Imagine if the West could do something similar to fortify democracy? To channel people in the right direction.
Seems to me that people’s passions for what they believe aren’t being utilized to the benefit of Americans.
Nobody wants “state tv” and propaganda as the Russians and North Korea use.
The western media traditionally has acted like a democratic state tv. Presenting the facts and letting the people vote.
But media channels are being manipulated by the super rich now (as already said).
While I agree we should have done more, I also understand that if pushed the congress we have would never had given more. As you see now, ukraine will lose this war because of our congress. The American people seem to have said they do not want boots on the ground. I personally feel that is the way to win just as I feel pulling out of Afghanistan was the wrong choice. But given what biden was given it was hard to turn that around after the orange man pulled most everything out. Logistics. I feel the problem is Netanyahu and while we didn't have a choice but to defend Israel, I think defending that puke, Netanyahu, is a disaster but I don't believe biden has much choice here.
I don't see what else we could have done in Afghanistan, as the ones we were fighting were supported by, and hidden within, the populace. Whether they supported them willingly or not is immaterial. Fighting against guerillas inside their home turf is not reasonably possible. This is the situation with Hamas as well. For there to be any success at eliminating Hamas, the people there have to want it and actively cooperate, and I don't see that happening, sadly.
Thank you! Your analysis is very helpful. Proof of your skills and why you were so valuable to the US foreign service in providing facts and analysis. I understand yet nothing is dumbed down. Thank you Alex, for providing this to your subscribers!
In a world where Property Rights are 'Universally' respected, (well almost --), - Nazi thefts often reversed -, many are looking at 1948 expropriations in Israel and finding a reason for the terrible actions of Hamas.
“I’m surprised to observe the level of support Israel is receiving from Middle Eastern leaders. The support is more in the form of actions, despite some sharp rhetoric.”
I’m not surprised. The Sunni gulf states view Iran and its proxies as a larger threat than Israel. In fact, Israel isn’t a threat to them at all.
However, organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad are a threat to Egypt, Jordan and the other Sunni gulf states since they want to create a single caliphate as one pan-Arab nation in the mold of Nasser and Saddam. And Hamas originated as an offshoot to the Muslim Brotherhood which was responsible for assassinating Sadat after he made peace with Israel in 1977.
Israel has had behind the scenes relationships with the Sunni Gulf states for decades. The Saudi’s have even allowed the Israeli’s to stage bombing campaigns into Iran, from their airspace.
That’s why the Abraham Accords is nothing more than a political stunt. It accomplished nothing since most of these countries, including many North African states, Egypt and Jordan have had relationships going back to the 1970’s.
On a side note, a lot of the issues when it comes to misinformation and lies has more to do with the biases and partisanship of some of the mass media, as opposed to generational biases. Where you get your information matters.
Furthermore, Right-wing billionaires are buying big media conglomerates and re-programming to be more pro-Trump and pro Russia.
Case in point: Univision, a large Spanish media conglomerate was recently purchased by a friend of Kushner and has reprogrammed their network to be better pro-Trump, and it’s having a huge impact on Trump’s support by Latinos.
Just some thoughts...:)
Your final three observations about "biases and partisanship," "Right -wing billionaires," and the retooling of "Univision" are accurate, significant, and and of truly unrealized importance with regards to domestic issues. While I am unfamiliar with the finer points of Middle Eastern political interrelations what you present certainly seems like an accurate assessment of the situation.
“If it were simple, I could make a TikTok video but geopolitics are more complex than that.”
This closing sentence speaks volumes to many of the problems we face in domestic issues too. Vast numbers of people simply do not grasp let alone understand the true complexities and nuances behind the current rebellion taking place within government at all levels. These problems have Putin’s support in innumerable covert ways; hence the importance of your previous post focusing on active measures.
Thank you...:)
Gosh. These complexities in the Ukraine and Middle East have been going on for generations! So has the complexities of misinformation. Information has been used to manipulate the “masses” since forever.
If Russia and others have been repeatedly using various media channels- as tools to stir up and influence chaos- to reap opportunities- shouldn’t those who care about democracy and who know, educated the masses through the media those masses find most accessible?
People just want to know the truth. And they need to be educated on how to find the truth.
How can that be achieved? How is misinformation to be thwarted?
There are so many conflicting loud voices speaking at the same time. It’s no wonder many people have turned off their critical thinking and gone with the “group think”.
They are struggling to pay for groceries and rent- let alone have the energy to delve into educating themselves.
When they see fellow humans being bombed and losing their families and children. They aren’t thinking strategically- they are thinking “What if that happened to me?”
During WW 2- the British utilized pamphlets and signs and radio and came up with a plan to get the average Joe helping with the war effort. This included telling the British people the truth- and asking them to work for a bigger cause. And everyone made sacrifices.
Churchill was brilliant at presenting a doable plan in simple terms.
Imagine if the West could do something similar to fortify democracy? To channel people in the right direction.
Seems to me that people’s passions for what they believe aren’t being utilized to the benefit of Americans.
Nobody wants “state tv” and propaganda as the Russians and North Korea use.
The western media traditionally has acted like a democratic state tv. Presenting the facts and letting the people vote.
But media channels are being manipulated by the super rich now (as already said).
Question. If ukraine is rushed through for NATO membership doesn't that mean that we must fully engage?
While I agree we should have done more, I also understand that if pushed the congress we have would never had given more. As you see now, ukraine will lose this war because of our congress. The American people seem to have said they do not want boots on the ground. I personally feel that is the way to win just as I feel pulling out of Afghanistan was the wrong choice. But given what biden was given it was hard to turn that around after the orange man pulled most everything out. Logistics. I feel the problem is Netanyahu and while we didn't have a choice but to defend Israel, I think defending that puke, Netanyahu, is a disaster but I don't believe biden has much choice here.
I don't see what else we could have done in Afghanistan, as the ones we were fighting were supported by, and hidden within, the populace. Whether they supported them willingly or not is immaterial. Fighting against guerillas inside their home turf is not reasonably possible. This is the situation with Hamas as well. For there to be any success at eliminating Hamas, the people there have to want it and actively cooperate, and I don't see that happening, sadly.
Thank you! Your analysis is very helpful. Proof of your skills and why you were so valuable to the US foreign service in providing facts and analysis. I understand yet nothing is dumbed down. Thank you Alex, for providing this to your subscribers!
In a world where Property Rights are 'Universally' respected, (well almost --), - Nazi thefts often reversed -, many are looking at 1948 expropriations in Israel and finding a reason for the terrible actions of Hamas.