10 Comments
User's avatar
nonalt's avatar

Tangential: After WWI, I believe many Arabs much preferred an American mandate over British, given Wilson's vision of self-determination for some (though not all) ethnicities.

Expand full comment
Alex Potts's avatar

If we're being really cynical - Dubya's approval ratings hit like 90% in the wake of 9/11. For such a vain narcissist as Trump, that could plausibly be worth sacrificing other peoples’ lives.

Expand full comment
Western Shout's avatar

But you see, he DOES want another 9/11. No messy trying to push for a 3rd term the old fashioned way, you secure indefinite control via emergency executive powers. Coupled with dismantling the CIA, seems like it’s practically an invitation!

Expand full comment
DeepLeftAnalysis🔸's avatar

My assumption was that the current ceasefire was fake, that it would inevitably fall apart, and the war would resume, perhaps in 6 months to 2 years. At that point, Trump would supply Netanyahu with infinite aid, and Israel would double their efforts in Gaza, cutting off electricity and water, leading to total annihilation of the population.

From a humanitarian perspective, mass expulsions are less egregious than cutting off the water and electricity. But from a political perspective, putting American troops on the ground to fight Hamas could be much worse, and lead to the terrorist activities you describe.

Given the nature of these tariffs, declaring them boldly then walking them back with minor concessions granted on border security, I hope that Trump is taking the same strategy with the Arabs. First, he promises to genocide Palestinians; then, he forces the Saudis to accept some kind of minor concessions. But I'm not exactly sure what those would be.

Expand full comment
Gengar_Chi's avatar

No need to take over Gaza. Just to legitimate the transfer of undesired populations. That is the key to the safety of Europe, Israel, America, and civilization.

Expand full comment
blank's avatar

The assumption here is that moving the Palestinians out of Gaza must be a bloody affair. It is also possible that if the Trump admin can cut the various foreign aid that gets funneled to Hamas (this occurring while Turkey has cut off Syria as an easy logistics route for Hezbollah), then Hamas might find itself out of any useful supplies and forced to capitulate. Thus making it possible to move all the people like how it recently occurred in Armenia, without much violence or big occupying armies.

Expand full comment
PatrickB's avatar

This post is fair but also I feel like it makes the case for Trump’s Gaza plan. If Muslims think they can take on America, then bring it. For every 9/11, give them 100 9/11s back. To be sure, I would rationally rather Trump cut a deal with the HAMAS and be done with them.

Expand full comment
Glenn's avatar

I don’t understand the reasoning here. Hamas doesn’t attack the US. If anyone’s looking for trouble it’s Trump.

Expand full comment
Theodore Yohalem Shouse 🔸's avatar

Why can’t the US just stop funding Israel and force it to make peace and end this conflict once and for all?

Expand full comment
Peter Defeel's avatar

The time to stop what was happening in Gaza was a year ago. 90% of buildings are destroyed. Israel and the US are hardly going to rebuild what they destroyed so the place will remain unliveable.

Expand full comment