Useful readings on the conflict in the Middle East | 3 | 4.11.23

The previous post in this series - Useful readings on the conflict in the Middle East | 2 | 31.10.23 - intentionally took a few steps back by featuring readings looking at the geo-politics of what's going on in Gaza, the West Bank and the tensions on the border with Lebanon. All of which could well fuel a much wider regional war...and possibly worse than that.

I make no apology for featuring two more readings looking not just at the geo-politics, but also at the possibility that things could spin out of control as we head towards a World War 3 situation. I refuse to get distracted by the culture war that's being sparked off at the moment.

At the moment, with the Palestinian solidarity protests that are taking place across the globe, the supporters of Israel and their friends on the right of the political spectrum are stoking what can only be described as a toxic culture war. One that some elements of the support for Palestinian solidarity are unwittingly falling into because of the protests that are scheduled for Saturday 11^th November which is Armistice Day. Needless to say, there are shit stirring elements having a f**king field day ramping up tensions ahead of next weekend. I could list those responsible but I don't want to give these shit stirrers a single breath of the oxygen of publicity.

Now, I could feature readings dealing with this culture war and the growing tensions over what may or may not happen on Armistice Day. However, that would mean following someone else's agenda. I'm not following the agenda of anyone promoting a toxic culture war that has the potential to seriously damage community relations, not just in the UK, but also in a number of other Western countries as well. Not when there are considerably more serious implications of this crisis to consider...

Nope, unless the shit really does hit the fan in terms of community tensions, I'm sticking to featuring posts about the geo-politics of the situation and the possibility of a wider regional conflict eventually leading to a world war. No one in their right minds wants a world war. However, the last four years have shown us that there are a lot of people in this world who are not in their right minds. Too many of them are those who presume to rule over us. Given what these f**king psychopaths did to their populations during the Covid 'crisis', would you seriously trust them to not bounce us into a world war situation through a combination of hubris, arrogance and sheer ineptitude? Anyway, here are a couple of readings looking at that possibility:

Will Israel-Hamas cause a world war? - Thomas Fazi | Unherd | 1.11.23

As Israel continues to mourn and Gaza continues to be turned into rubble, many in the Middle East are coming to a grim realisation: that things could soon become much, much worse. Huge tectonic shifts now threaten to rupture the status quo — and even spark a global war.

Already, Israel is engaged in daily clashes with the Iran-linked armed group Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese border and has launched several air raids on Syria, which is backed by Russia and Iran. Elsewhere, a US warship recently intercepted three missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen which may have been aimed at Israel. American forces in the region have also suffered a series of drone and rocket attacks, to which they retaliated by carrying out air strikes on two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in Syria.

Weingarten: Why Israel-Hamas war leading to World War III is not an alarmist view - Caleb Weingarten | Iowa State Daily | 24.10.23

In my last article, I made a case that the war between Israel-Hamas could potentially spur a greater conflict (World War III). This article is in response to those who may feel that this is an alarmist view. I must note that I never stated this war will inevitably fall into a greater catastrophe. I stated that it could, which is plausible given how intertwined the world is in the region.

A commenter on my last article stated that the current war between Israel and Hamas is “nothing” compared to the Yom Kippur War of 1973. This is an incredibly bold claim when we simply compare the death tolls. For example, Israel lost 2,688 soldiers in the entire Yom Kippur War. Compare that to the roughly 1,400 killed by Hamas in just a few hours Oct. 7, 2023. We also need to keep in mind this war has not yet ended, so any sort of comparative judgments should be held until we can make a better assessment.

There's this as well... While I don't fully agree with the depths of despair expressed in this article, I can understand why the author feels the way they do. Not least because it really does feel like we're all getting played by forces with malevolent intentions. Anyway, have a read and see what you think:

Violins in a Musty Attic - Sylvia Shawcross | OffGuardian | 3.11.23

You can hear the violins play sometimes. The pathos everywhere blinds the heart, as Ghandi said I think, “An eye for an eye and the world goes blind.” It is after all far better to laugh to the bitter end than weep and wail. Isn’t it? Well… if you can manage it.

But let’s not think about that. We’re the mad after all for this particular piece anyway—the stark-raving mad like hatters at tea parties or sinister old women locked in attics in musty old storylines. And in that spirit let us look at the ludicrous conundrum everyone seems to have found themselves in now.

It is “pick your side” time again in Derangementville. We all now know if we’re black or white, trans or cis, oppressed or oppressor, green or anti-green, minority or majority, indigenous or colonialist, trusting the science or trusting in God, pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, liberal-which-is-now-conservative or conservative-which-is-now-liberal, pro-truckers or anti-truckers, pro-immigration or anti-immigration, freedom-loving or communist, toilet-paper under or toilet-paper over.

Right, that's it for the moment. As to when I'll post another compilation of readings on this ongoing shitshow, I've no idea. While I'm doing my level best to not follow other people's agendas, I am nevertheless somewhat at the mercy of events as they unfold. It may well be that at some point, if tensions really erupt on the streets here in the UK, I'll be obliged to write about the toxic, divisive culture war that's being stirred up. If that's the case, I won't be at all happy into being forced into that situation.

To conclude, if at all possible, I would advise people to take a deep breath, take a few steps back and ask themselves this question - are we being played?