I've been keeping too busy. There are different events to comment on. The attack on Iran seems to be on the top of the list, though it shouldn't displace so many other things, like ICE and the Epstein files.
The video below is from a podcast/Youtube channel called the South African Jewish Report. After all the fatuous speculation in the US media, this is a refreshing change. It is a discussion from people who actually know something.
There's a lot missing. They treat the US and Trump as important allies in the attack on Iran. My sense is that like others have figured out, you need to stroke Trump's ego. They don't do that directly, but neither do they say anything negative about Trump.
The podcasters have two guests:
Col. Miri Eisin and Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi
Miri grew up in California and got her college education in Israel. She was part of the higher ranks of Israeli military and, she tells us, she now advises the military. She explains that the military brings her and others in to look at and critique their plans. Of the two, she seems to have a larger perspective, a more balanced and nuanced view of the world. At one point she tells us that as someone who grew up in the US and has many relatives there, and whose first language is English, she sees things a bit differently from other Israelis including the other guest.
She hopes that a new regime, made up of leaders of a new generation in Iran, will abandon the goal of eliminating Israel. She hopes there is a new Middle East focused more on economic development and peace. That's how it came across to me.
Amir talked about the golden age of Israel arriving now, it will become an economic giant, and Jews around the world should be ready for Aliya - return to Israel. (Ironically, I saw an article today that said more Israelis are emigrating than immigrating.
While Miri says a problem for Israel, with its dominant military power, has often been that they did not know when to stop and often went on too long. Amir disagreed and said too often they stopped too soon.
But basically, they see the goal of this war as regime change in Iran. They portray Iran as the many headed serpent which funds and arms groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations and they quote the Ayatollah as having declared the goal to destroy Israel.
My sense is that having the US as a partner in this war gives them cover as well has the fire power of the US. But they also make it sound like this is an Israeli operation, based on sophisticated intelligence gathering.
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Some context:
- The whole situation is not black and white. I made a series of posts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which you can see here.
- Israel is 20,770 square kilometers (8,019 square miles). The most similar sized US state is New Jersey at 22,591 square km or 8,722.58 square miles.
- When the the Twin Towers were destroyed in 9/11, the US went to war with Iraq and
The September 11 attacks were the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, causing the deaths of 2,996 people, including 19 hijackers who committed murder–suicide and 2,977 victims. (Wikipedia)
- That comes out to about 0.00087% of the US population. And the US immediately went to war against
- When Israel was attacked on October 7, they went to war to eliminate Hamas
In total, 1,195 people were killed by the attacks:[22][e][f] at least 828 civilians[22][23](including 36 children[24] and 71 foreign nationals)[24] and at least 367 members of the security forces. 364 civilians were killed while they were attending the Nova music festival and many more wounded.[39][40] At least 14 Israeli civilians were killed by the IDF's use of the Hannibal Directive.[41][42] About 250 Israeli and non-Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip. (Wikipedia)
- That comes out to 0.0124% of the Israeli population.
