• Tinidril@midwest.social
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    11 months ago

    US diplomatic efforts have been consistently pressuring Israel to restrain their actions. What people don’t get, and what makes that statement seem insane to you, is that our ability to influence Israel is entirely dependent on our public support and, even so, is severely limited.

    Let’s say we go hard against Israel, cut off their access to US weapons manufacturing, and cut off their aid. Suddenly one of the three great regional powers in the Middle East is up for grabs and Russia eagerly steps into the void. Now Russia has two of the three in their orbit, the other being Iran. Iran happens to be the best regional ally of the Palestinians, but Russia will put an immediate end to that. Now the situation for the Palestinians is even worse, unless you think the US is going to threaten military intervention against Israel.

    Biden has said some braindead shit on the topic, like taking this moment to call himself a Zionist, but the actions his administration have actually taken have been the best available in a very bad situation. The current government of Israel is basically their version of MAGA. They are going to do what they are going to do, and there is nothing we can do to stop it, short of putting boots on the ground ourselves. (Even if we wanted to, we are historically shit at these kinds of actions.). The best we can do is advise restraint and try to keep the conflict from becoming regional. We did manage to keep Israel from doing a major strike on Lebanon that could easily have sparked a much broader conflict.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      America let itself get to this point, putting your hands up complaining that you don’t have many options isn’t acceptable when you publicly defend and prop up a genocidal regime.

      • Tinidril@midwest.social
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        11 months ago

        No fucking kidding, but I wasn’t complaining. You clearly think virtue signaling about how much you care about the Palestinians is more important than being the adult in the room and actually doing what’s in their best interests and the interests of a region that could very easily fall into a much bigger conflict.

        Biden is POTUS, not a social media talking head. If he were to verbally condemn Israel, it would make the situation worse, not better. As Israel’s friend, we have a seat at the table and a chance to influence things. As Israel’s critic, we are left with terrible to no options. I’m glad we don’t have a president who craves social media likes over all else.

        • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Your influence isn’t doing shit, typical American shite pompous bullshit leader of the free world but shies away from the difficult conversation because even if you recognize it is the right thing you don’t want to the consequences.

          America put all these pieces on the board and is now acting like they can’t do anything but give stern commentary.

          I don’t crave social media likes, I’d love to see less dead children even if it means POTUS has to answer some tough questions. Where does the buck stop again?

          • Tinidril@midwest.social
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            11 months ago

            Your influence isn’t doing shit,

            The fact that Israel and Lebanon aren’t at war right now says you are wrong.

            American shite pompous bullshit leader of the free world but shies away from the difficult conversation

            It’s been widely reported that Biden and netanyahu have had the difficult conversations, but maybe you are talking to me. I’m certainly trying, but you sure do make it difficult.

            America put all these pieces on the board

            LOL. These pieces were on the board long before America even existed as a country. Even so, this isn’t a “America bad” conversation, we are discussing the Biden administration’s handling of the current crisis. I give America a large part of the blame too BTW, I just don’t need to signal it in every conversation.

            I’d love to see less dead children even if it means POTUS has to answer some tough questions.

            What questions? All I see from you are rants. I’m all for tough questions, and I’m hardly a fan of Biden.

            Where does the buck stop again?

            Which buck? If we are talking about the genocide, then I’d send the bill to the government perpetrating it and Hamas. Hamas’s attack on Israel was intended to provoke exactly the response it’s getting from the far right wing government that Israel elected. Even now, Hamas is continuing to provoke Israel to ensure that it keeps happening. Israel isn’t going to back off, and Hamas will continue using their response to drive recruitment. Is the US supposed to talk them out of it, or are we supposed to put boots on the ground to stop it? Either one would have about the same level of success.