Timely and well written Ken. I lean towards pure happenstance. Now is a good time to say "Mission accomplished, let's move towards a diplomatic end to all of this conflict." The odds of that happening are pretty much zero.
There is not a doubt in my mind that US special forces and so-called CIA assets; probably involving retired military at a pretty penny for their services. Have been deeply involved with Israel and the IDF since the very beginning of the assault on Gaza. This also would include the huge amounts of sensors the US maintains in its space military architecture and on high-flying drones. The same type of situation exists for Ukraine just as well. The depth of the help in Ukraine could be different. Never lose sight of the fact that the US maintains "plausible deniability" in whatever and however they meddle in other country's affairs. Even though Biden is extremely weak. The military architecture of the US is by far and away the greatest on and above our planet.
Really makes you wonder what other intelligence they’re providing, say about Hamas hiding in shelters, schools, hospitals, etc. In the name of hostage recovery, of course…
Well, what can one expect of a man who's a creature of the credit-card industry as well as being quoted telling rich people "Nothing will fundamentally change" wrt his regime?
Seems like Our genius government is putting a bigger target on the backs of our servicemen & women in the area, just so that “we” can act like the toughest guys on the block. If there is any advantage in making this announcement now, I cannot see it. Maybe they think it will help Kamala to win the election, could they actually think it is worth endangering our military people over there for a couple of very unlikely votes
“Still, it must be added, Sinwar was not killed as a result of the work of this apparatus, not after a year of intense work. Washington exaggerates the effect of the enormous effort as a way of not only continuing perpetual war in the Middle East but also to create the aura of success, an outcome that eludes both countries.”
This was the money quote. Whatever expertise the US and Israeli IC groups have it has availed them nothing tangible so far.
The hits on the leaders were not great intelligence coups because the targets were meeting to discuss accepting the cease fire proposals the US advanced and claimed that Israel accepted. These were lies. It allowed the targets to think that they could move more freely because they were on the same page as the big dog in the region, the US. They miscalculated to their detriment. When the guard was down because they were pursuing peace the US/Israeli ICs killed them (along with bunches of other people who just happened to be in the way). Nothing amazing here. And Sinwar, well, it seems it was a lucky accident. He was not hiding in his tunnels (unlike Netanyahu who has been hiding in his) but fighting. The Israelis killed him not knowing who he was with a gun in his hand and all of this will only redound to his everlasting credit. The IC mystiques, which this post sadly buys into, is largely BS. It is unfortunate that it is constantly invoked even by the unsympathetic for it does little more than enhance reputations for competence where what we really have is a savage group of sociopaths who could care less about who they annihilate.
I was in a Zoom virtual vigil last night for two executions scheduled for Texas and Alabama. It was a moving, powerful, and motivating experience.
I decided we need a non-stop virtual vigil for all the victims of Gaza, for what has happened on and since October 7, 2023. (Full well knowing it didn’t start then.)
There could be religious leaders sharing their rituals honoring the dead. We could read the name of everyone killed.
Invite musicians, poets, and others to share their artistry.
It could have people from all over the world, all religious faiths, and leaders, all us atheists too.
I’m unaware of any American administration that has not used deception and “plausible deniability” in foreign affairs, including wars. As a citizen, I am not thrilled about the fact that I don’t know what the government and military are up to, with any specificity. However, I also recognize the fact that I’m not privileged to receive intelligence or security briefings, and therefore, like most people, I’m not informed enough to do more than speculate about motives, plans or reasoning behind the actions it takes. There is a balance that must be struck between what is divulged in real time and what is kept confidential. I’m not sure what you expect from an administration as to the level of disclosure needed, but I’m also not sure I agree with your characterization that we’ve been “lied to” any more than usual.
It’s obvious that Biden has followed the traditional playbook for US involvement in foreign conflicts. I don’t expect that to change. I am hopeful that Harris will bring a more evolved perspective to her administration, as our society is transitioning into a vastly different set of parameters for our continued existence and identity as a nation. I have some evidence for my optimism, but I won’t get into it now. She has to straddle both sides of the fence between the past and the future to gain office. Once in, she will have the ability to be more creative and responsive. I can see already that she will move faster than Biden. This shift is bigger than the Gaza war, though the reporting is helping to spur it along.
Why is it a lie to not admit involvement until after the fact? I’m sorry, whatever you may think but the citizens do not have the right to know about every little classified detail of government. Let’s be realistic here.
Hamas likely knew the US was after them, even if it was just by reflex and not through counter-intelligence. What harm would it have done (just) the American public to acknowledge the obvious? It's not as though this fact is some "little classified detail" that lives depend on; any clown with a good history book could figure it out.
Surgical 2,000lb strikes, AI beta tested drone killings, blowup pagers, American subsidized arms flying out faster than Trump tweets, everything but diplomacy. Support of Kahanist Israel will blowback on us.
Timely and well written Ken. I lean towards pure happenstance. Now is a good time to say "Mission accomplished, let's move towards a diplomatic end to all of this conflict." The odds of that happening are pretty much zero.
There is not a doubt in my mind that US special forces and so-called CIA assets; probably involving retired military at a pretty penny for their services. Have been deeply involved with Israel and the IDF since the very beginning of the assault on Gaza. This also would include the huge amounts of sensors the US maintains in its space military architecture and on high-flying drones. The same type of situation exists for Ukraine just as well. The depth of the help in Ukraine could be different. Never lose sight of the fact that the US maintains "plausible deniability" in whatever and however they meddle in other country's affairs. Even though Biden is extremely weak. The military architecture of the US is by far and away the greatest on and above our planet.
Good piece. They just cannot stop lying!
Really makes you wonder what other intelligence they’re providing, say about Hamas hiding in shelters, schools, hospitals, etc. In the name of hostage recovery, of course…
Well, what can one expect of a man who's a creature of the credit-card industry as well as being quoted telling rich people "Nothing will fundamentally change" wrt his regime?
Seems like Our genius government is putting a bigger target on the backs of our servicemen & women in the area, just so that “we” can act like the toughest guys on the block. If there is any advantage in making this announcement now, I cannot see it. Maybe they think it will help Kamala to win the election, could they actually think it is worth endangering our military people over there for a couple of very unlikely votes
“Still, it must be added, Sinwar was not killed as a result of the work of this apparatus, not after a year of intense work. Washington exaggerates the effect of the enormous effort as a way of not only continuing perpetual war in the Middle East but also to create the aura of success, an outcome that eludes both countries.”
This was the money quote. Whatever expertise the US and Israeli IC groups have it has availed them nothing tangible so far.
The hits on the leaders were not great intelligence coups because the targets were meeting to discuss accepting the cease fire proposals the US advanced and claimed that Israel accepted. These were lies. It allowed the targets to think that they could move more freely because they were on the same page as the big dog in the region, the US. They miscalculated to their detriment. When the guard was down because they were pursuing peace the US/Israeli ICs killed them (along with bunches of other people who just happened to be in the way). Nothing amazing here. And Sinwar, well, it seems it was a lucky accident. He was not hiding in his tunnels (unlike Netanyahu who has been hiding in his) but fighting. The Israelis killed him not knowing who he was with a gun in his hand and all of this will only redound to his everlasting credit. The IC mystiques, which this post sadly buys into, is largely BS. It is unfortunate that it is constantly invoked even by the unsympathetic for it does little more than enhance reputations for competence where what we really have is a savage group of sociopaths who could care less about who they annihilate.
I was in a Zoom virtual vigil last night for two executions scheduled for Texas and Alabama. It was a moving, powerful, and motivating experience.
I decided we need a non-stop virtual vigil for all the victims of Gaza, for what has happened on and since October 7, 2023. (Full well knowing it didn’t start then.)
There could be religious leaders sharing their rituals honoring the dead. We could read the name of everyone killed.
Invite musicians, poets, and others to share their artistry.
It could have people from all over the world, all religious faiths, and leaders, all us atheists too.
How can we make this happen?
I’m unaware of any American administration that has not used deception and “plausible deniability” in foreign affairs, including wars. As a citizen, I am not thrilled about the fact that I don’t know what the government and military are up to, with any specificity. However, I also recognize the fact that I’m not privileged to receive intelligence or security briefings, and therefore, like most people, I’m not informed enough to do more than speculate about motives, plans or reasoning behind the actions it takes. There is a balance that must be struck between what is divulged in real time and what is kept confidential. I’m not sure what you expect from an administration as to the level of disclosure needed, but I’m also not sure I agree with your characterization that we’ve been “lied to” any more than usual.
It’s obvious that Biden has followed the traditional playbook for US involvement in foreign conflicts. I don’t expect that to change. I am hopeful that Harris will bring a more evolved perspective to her administration, as our society is transitioning into a vastly different set of parameters for our continued existence and identity as a nation. I have some evidence for my optimism, but I won’t get into it now. She has to straddle both sides of the fence between the past and the future to gain office. Once in, she will have the ability to be more creative and responsive. I can see already that she will move faster than Biden. This shift is bigger than the Gaza war, though the reporting is helping to spur it along.
Why is it a lie to not admit involvement until after the fact? I’m sorry, whatever you may think but the citizens do not have the right to know about every little classified detail of government. Let’s be realistic here.
Hamas likely knew the US was after them, even if it was just by reflex and not through counter-intelligence. What harm would it have done (just) the American public to acknowledge the obvious? It's not as though this fact is some "little classified detail" that lives depend on; any clown with a good history book could figure it out.
Surgical 2,000lb strikes, AI beta tested drone killings, blowup pagers, American subsidized arms flying out faster than Trump tweets, everything but diplomacy. Support of Kahanist Israel will blowback on us.
I don't know how much she's actually straddling. She flip-flopped *hard* on Medicare4All.