• CritFail@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Anyone else think Biden and Sunak are incentivised to take US and UK put boots on the ground over Israel-Hamas-Houthi conflicts? Tories face wipe-out, and Biden faces a close call with Trump, and nothing helps guarantee re-election like being at war.

    • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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      10 months ago

      You mean it’s all political and that Houthi missle that just hit a container ship means nothing?

      • CritFail@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        But it is all political. Houthis are funded by SA and Iran. They are attacking because of Israel’s genocidal treatment of 2 million people in Gaza. I mean the Houthis are awful, as are Hamas, but there are lots of other awful groups doing awful stuff around the globe 24/7 that impact UK and US interests but don’t prompt severe military retaliation. Russia tried to shoot down a RAF jet last year - nothing happened, diplomacy won out. So why the sudden need to approve these strikes on a weekend? Attacks have been happening for months. Why didn’t they do an emergency recall to put the decision before Congress and HoC? They are playing with fire and they know it.

        I’m just saying that a war declaration against a much less well-armed militia in Yemen for a prolonged military campaign and something they can claim to be in aid of a ‘good’ cause could be convenient to both Biden and Sunak for a boost in the polls. It also comes with fewer risks as they arent a nuclear power like Russia, Iran, SA, or Israel (yay proxy war). Sadly, I wouldn’t put it past either leader to have considered this.

        • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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          10 months ago

          but there are lots of other awful groups doing awful stuff around the globe 24/7 that impact UK and US interests but don’t prompt severe military retaliation

          Name one that is blocking a major transport lane by firing missles at ships. We took action when a US Navy ship was attacked by 24 Houthi drones. You don’t attack US ships in international waters and not expect blowback. To parapharse Godfather, it’s not political, it’s business.

    • SkepticalButOpenMinded@lemmy.ca
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      10 months ago

      That theory doesn’t make much sense to me. The military conflicts have been political losers for Biden. Polling consistently shows that Americans believe (for some insane reason) that the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts wouldn’t have happened under Trump. Gaza in particular has split Biden’s base. The best thing that could happen for Biden is if all the conflicts end before the election.