— Feature, Musings —04.17.2024 02:22 PM
My latest: 10 reasons to be optimistic
It’s easy to get depressed these days.
Whether you are Jewish or not, we live in a depressing, difficult time. Tuesday night‘s outrage was yet more of the same: foul-mouthed Hamasniks blocking a major road and railway crossing in Toronto’s West end – pushing at police officers and likening them to Nazis.
We all are living through history. And the anti-Semitism and hatred we see everywhere these days – in the streets, in classrooms, on computer and TV screens – represents a shameful time in our history.
But not everything is bad. Not all is lost. There are things to encourage us all. Here’s ten.
1. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates: Those nations didn’t just refuse to support Iran in its attack on Israel on Saturday night. They actively – and militarily – intervened to protect Israel. They helped shoot down more than 300 missiles and drones aimed at Israeli citizens.
2. That’s not all: Fifty years ago, most of those Arab states attacked Israel in what would be called the Yom Kippur War. Fifty years later, they are fighting at Israel’s side. That is great news for Israel, and for democracy.
3. There were no fatalities, despite the potential for mass casualties. While one child was hurt, she is still clinging to life. Otherwise, there was no loss of life. Considering the immensity of Iran’s barrage, that is extraordinary.
4. Israel’s allies helped out, too. Despite the premature calls for ceasefire, and despite the absurd legislative votes for arms embargoes against the Jewish state, Israel’s allies – the United States, Britain, France, others – stepped up. They rushed to Israel’s aid. Canada, sadly, was not among them.
5. When compared to Hamas, Hezbollah possesses superior military hardware, and is more of a strategic threat to Israel. But, so far, Hezbollah has not been able to engage in the sort of horrifying carnage committed by Hamas on October 7.
6. Hamas has admitted it has been lying about casualties! Last week, the Foundation for Defence of Democracies reported that the Hamas-run Gaza health authority had admitted it had published “incomplete data” about Palestinian casualties. Without explanation, Hamas quietly issued new casualty figures, significantly lower than their previous claims.
7. Gazans are getting aid – lots of it. Via land crossings and the Ashdod Port, US and Israeli forces are getting tons of food and medical supplies into Gaza. Hundreds of aid trucks are now crossing daily through Kerem Shalom and Nitzana border points.
8. Benjamin Netanyahu’s days in power are numbered. Even the Israeli Prime Minister’s most ardent supporters admit that he failed to deliver on the one promise that counts the most: security for Israelis. He was woefully unprepared for the attack by Hamas on October 7.When the war ends, Netanyahu’s tenure will be very short indeed.
9. The vast majority in the West support Israel, and support its right to defend itself and its people. While Generation Z and Millennials remain a problem, the majority – too often silent – remain on Israel’s side.
10. Hamas is losing. As of last week, the IDF estimates that more than 13,000 Hamas terrorists have been eliminated. Meanwhile, Israel has only lost around 300 troops to fighting with Hamas. You don’t have to be a military strategist to recognize that the bad guys are losing.
There. Not all of the news is bad. In fact, a lot of it is good. This point, in particular:
Israel will win this war.
Warren,
“But, so far, Hezbollah has not been able to engage in the sort of horrifying carnage committed by Hamas on October 7.”
It’s not so much that. Nasrallah is a shrewd and seasoned cleric-politician. They’re biding their time and are reasonably committed to the concept of proportionality.
Warren,
There we were collectively on an upbeat and then…
From Metro:
“At least 50 people ‘have killed themselves after’ surviving Nova festival attack.”
My God, how tragic. One would have thought that psychological counselling would have been both immediate and strenuously ongoing.
And then there’s this:
From: The Daily Mail
“Fury as US and Chinese lab creating deadly viruses is revealed”
Just fucking great. The COVID-19 original variant wasn’t enough?
And that lab would be in … Wuhan?
Douglas,
I’m more in favour of Robert’s theory: the Trump CIA breaking the glass vial in the Wuhan Animal/Fish Market. If accurate, that stays classified for at least 100 years. Sort of like LBJ and the white-socked CIA agents offing JFK in Dallas after failing previously in Chicago. Then they offed RFK in LA. (E. Howard Hunt, Gordon Liddy, etc.)
Reasonable
Douglas,
A lot of people dismiss Liddy because he was FBI and not CIA. IMHO, Liddy was the most dangerous person in the United States, so he’s right up there at the centre of the assassination casting.
(Remember in Watergate when he told the Nixon White House that he would be at such and such a location at such and such a day and time so that an assassin could take him out in the wake of the Plumbers Operation blowing up and becoming a political disaster for Nixon.)
Claiming that the body count is a lie based on incomplete data is a stretch. Les Roberts wrote a great piece for Time last month outlining the reasons why the 30,000+ number is valid, incorporating studies from multiple medical organizations.
Of course, Les Roberts knows more than anyone on the planet that the real and estimated numbers make no difference once the politicians get involved. After decades of being lauded for his statistical approach to tabulating the victims of African and European conflicts, he reported the disastrous results of the Iraq War (potentially 650,000+ excess fatalities), to which the US government of the day claimed was false without supplying any evidence to contradict Roberts.
There are just far too many credible sources backing up that death toll for me to accept blanket claims of dishonesty with kittle to support them.
If Hamas didn’t attack on Oct 7 there would be no casualties.
If Hamas didn’t hide in hospitals or residential buildings there’d be no civilian casualties.
Hamas can end this by surrendering.
but Ukraine sure looks like it is toast. Hard to fight, let alone win, a war without any ammo.
Nice to see that Israel has real allies in the region. Nice to see aid in abundance too.
Point #8 is interesting. Does that give Netanyahu incentive to prolong the war?
Given that Netanyahu and his far-right buddies had more of an incentive than Hamas did to allow October 7th to happen in the first place, I guarantee they will press Israel further and further into war for their own benefit. The alternative is losing power, because the people are onto their game – but for mow, Israelis are still more afraid of Hamas and Hezbollah than they are of their own self-righteous incompetent government that loves poking the bear at any cost.
Jason,
Absolutely, Netanyahu wants war on as many fronts as possible. That will keep the national unity government thoroughly engaged over a protracted period. And THAT is a tremendous political advantage for Netanyahu. Gantz and Gallant have been royally played and politically outmanoeuvred. What a crafty SOB he is.
Warren,
My prediction: no inquiry, ever.
Because…guess what comes out in one? It’s called deliberately looking the other way and using Israelis and Jews as quite deliberate political pawns. What an asshole. (Check your gut, Warren.)
Warren,
Ukraine passes!
311- 112, 1 present.
Yay: 210 Democrats, 101 Republicans
Nay: 112 Republicans
Warren,
Israel passes!
366- 58
Yay: 173 Democrats, 193 Republicans
Nay: 37 Democrats, 21 Republicans