Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel is an atrocity that has justifiably been compared to 9-11. By deliberately targeting and rounding up civilians for rape, kidnapping and murder, including at a music festival (where there is no conceivable military target), Hamas has put itself in the Al Qaeda category. Israel is within its rights to dismantle and destroy the organization.
That said, one of the purposes of a terrorist outrage is to provoke an escalatory response that ultimately backfires. After 9-11, the U.S. plunged into two decades of wars in the Middle East that cost untold blood and treasure, unleashed staggering murder and mayhem, changed the geopolitical map in unfavorable ways for the U.S., and squandered the sympathy of the world. Bin Laden must be smiling in Hell.
Now many of the same U.S. figures who miscalculated so badly after 9-11 are screeching for Israel to “finish them” or braying for a larger war with Iran. This is exactly the wrong advice. Our leaders should be encouraging a cool-headed response that finds the right balance between achieving a just and legitimate military objective, minimizing civilian casualties, and avoiding the risk of a wider war. Let us hope and pray that the Israeli government finds that balance.
The biggest con man since Madoff just admitted that woke is a virtue-signaling game “where we say all the right shibboleths and so everyone likes us.” How stupid does the NYT feel now?
1. Despite an estimated 300 killed and 14,000 arrests, university students in Tehran continue agitating for freedom on day 45 of Iran’s nationwide uprising. https://t.co/I1MfuTIClQ
female university students in iran wave their headscarves in the air shouting ‘freedom, freedom, freedom!’
this genie is never going back in the bottle..
There are lots of children in my constituency and beyond who will see someone who looks like them walk into No. 10 today. This is a wonderful thing.
We will take on Rishi Sunak on the basis of his record, his policies and the chaos his party has caused.
Fed Chair Powell says the September rate action will depend on the totality of incoming data
After 5 minutes of two-way price action, we are exactly back to where we started. 50/75bps is still an even call
https://t.co/dpJnz54y0S