Israel in the shadow of American decline

A Ukrainian defeat in the form of a significant loss of territory and a long-term ceasefire would remind the rest of the world of Kissinger’s quip that it is dangerous to be an enemy of the United States, but fatal to be our friend.

Israel will have to deal with a less cooperative Russia that dallies with Iran, a China that seeks to exploit anti-colonial resentment in the Global South against Israel, a more assertive and better-armed Iran, and a vitiated American commitment to Western Asia. Its immediate problems are less dire than they appear: Except for Qatar and possibly some parts of the Turkish political spectrum, the rest of the world is happy to see Israel destroy Hamas.

The Sunni jihad to which Hamas declares its allegiance is a persistent security problem for both Russia and China. Iran has armed and funded Hamas, but it does not want a Sunni entity to emerge as the main opposition to Israel. Israel’s long-term problems, though, are worse than they appear, and will come to the surface when the dust settles in Ukraine.

The event most likely to mitigate Israel’s strategic predicament would be the election of Donald Trump to a second term in 2024. Unlike the neoconservatives and global liberals presently in charge, Trump has no interest in regime change in Russia and has no reason to perpetuate the blunders of others. He has pledged to end the war in Ukraine, which means cutting America’s losses.

He is likely to maintain strong American support for Israel while limiting damage to America’s position abroad by conflict avoidance with Russia and China. Unlike the Biden foreign policy team, Trump has little interest in how other countries manage their affairs: his concern is the best deal for the United States.

2 posted on 12/21/2023 7:57:20 PM PST by sauropod (The obedient always think of themselves as virtuous rather than cowardly.)

(in the shadow of American decline)

Destroying America for Satan's Antichrist and the New World Order of Daniel 7:23 /shiny side out

MSNBC and NBC News sponsored the Global Citizen Festival in 2014 - not sure about other years

The 2014 Global Citizen Festival was the one where the whole audience worshiped Obama when his image appeared on the screen in front of them (pre-recorded video)

Look at nearly every mindless idiot in that audience.

Appears that the cop, state trooper, security aren't doing it. Maybe a couple of others.

3 posted on 12/21/2023 10:02:47 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)

They should not have begun a war against a vastly more powerful neighbor. Now they have condemned their people to destruction.

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