The pieces of war - returning to Israel for another look [PART 3], as Ukraine's civil unrest and the Kremlin's Crimea land-grab begs our attention, Forces within the Middle East haven't stopped their maneuverings. They never do...
“Never has there been a good war or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Once and for all the idea of glorious victories won by the glorious army must be wiped out. Neither side is glorious. On either side they're just frightened men messing their pants and they all want the same thing - not to lie under the earth, but to walk upon it - without crutches.” – Peter Weiss
An Objective look at Israel Part 3:
Israel have tempered the foul winds of conflict, and the threat thereof, since the country was born, or reborn. If there is one thing they must have learnt by now, it is how NOT to pull the trigger. The professionals are exceedingly good at doing just that, and killing in every way known and/or discovered. There are people dedicated to studying the ‘art’ of killing – simply finding new and devious ways of taking a human life, and hiding any trace of outside interference. This, is the machine that the region and a warring history has created.
With enemies pronouncing their intentions outright, and being such a small country, and the only Jewish state in the Middle East, they have been, and have needed to be ever prepared for the summons of war. Shortly (as in 24 hrs later) after David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s Independence in 1948, they were under siege by 5 countries. One could go as far as to say, Israel lives with war as a house guest, or even a spouse.
So, in walking this hard path, the nation has learned what it takes to survive, and what’s needed to keep ones enemies at bay. The Israelis are experts at manipulating global warring politics to suite their agenda. The fact is, that many believe this to be the region where a possible (some believe it to be inevitable) World War 3 will be launched. The pieces are certainly in place, or the foundations have been laid, and as most of us know, we are closer to the brink than it looks; actually most times many men and women are hard at work to steer the world away from ruin, and Israel are at the centre of all this, playing both protagonist and antagonist as it suits them.
They are no saints. I would say that looking at things within their borders that, though they are God’s chosen nation, they have strayed very far from his will, from his commandments – in the simple treatment of your fellow man – “do unto others”.
Israel have tempered the foul winds of conflict, and the threat thereof, since the country was born, or reborn. If there is one thing they must have learnt by now, it is how NOT to pull the trigger. The professionals are exceedingly good at doing just that, and killing in every way known and/or discovered. There are people dedicated to studying the ‘art’ of killing – simply finding new and devious ways of taking a human life, and hiding any trace of outside interference. This, is the machine that the region and a warring history has created.
With enemies pronouncing their intentions outright, and being such a small country, and the only Jewish state in the Middle East, they have been, and have needed to be ever prepared for the summons of war. Shortly (as in 24 hrs later) after David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s Independence in 1948, they were under siege by 5 countries. One could go as far as to say, Israel lives with war as a house guest, or even a spouse.
So, in walking this hard path, the nation has learned what it takes to survive, and what’s needed to keep ones enemies at bay. The Israelis are experts at manipulating global warring politics to suite their agenda. The fact is, that many believe this to be the region where a possible (some believe it to be inevitable) World War 3 will be launched. The pieces are certainly in place, or the foundations have been laid, and as most of us know, we are closer to the brink than it looks; actually most times many men and women are hard at work to steer the world away from ruin, and Israel are at the centre of all this, playing both protagonist and antagonist as it suits them.
They are no saints. I would say that looking at things within their borders that, though they are God’s chosen nation, they have strayed very far from his will, from his commandments – in the simple treatment of your fellow man – “do unto others”.
That being said, the IDF is one of the most ruthless, and equally accurate armies in the world. Proficiency is everything; and they, more than most, are mindful of the consequences of their actions, or inactions.
“Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent.” – Isaac Asimov
The world is quick to pick out their shortcomings and trespasses (not that the Knesset seems to care) due in part to their uncompromising nature, but how big of a role has Israel played in preventing war? This of course is not something that can be measured easily (and then one could say that they’re already engaged in a ‘passive’ war with Palestine), but the strange complex of the matter is, how much human life has been spared by a state which has forgotten the very value of it?
So this then is a brief look at that first weathered and scorched domino which remains standing, and Israel, the nation which has worked hard not to topple it, because to do so, would not benefit anyone. Perhaps the reason it has not proverbially fallen, is because the Knesset’s index finger hovers over it, poised to set it all in motion on its own.
Am I overestimating Israel’s role? I doubt it, though I do acknowledge the larger players at hand, players that are hard (if not impossible) to control or manipulate, just casting my thoughts to the recently voted Forbes’ ‘World’s most powerful man of 2013’, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. It is thus quite amazing that such a small nation like Israel can punch well above their weight and exact so much power globally, by guile and simply shadow tactics.
What if their stance toward Palestine were only a grand distraction?
I have always asked myself when trying to consider both sides of conflict: What do they know that I, or we, don’t? What are we NOT told? Hence, it is easy to judge (and Israel does make it easy to be seen as the bad guys), but in this crazy world, who are the good guys really?
Should we be content, just so long as that domino remains standing? – Well I suppose we have to be. On the one hand we have dirt and shame, and on the other we have only blood and pain. Or have I been looking at this all wrong; could Israel, the state, be that first domino? And who would benefit from WW3?
There’s no honour left in war (perhaps a topic for another day).
Am I overestimating Israel’s role? I doubt it, though I do acknowledge the larger players at hand, players that are hard (if not impossible) to control or manipulate, just casting my thoughts to the recently voted Forbes’ ‘World’s most powerful man of 2013’, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. It is thus quite amazing that such a small nation like Israel can punch well above their weight and exact so much power globally, by guile and simply shadow tactics.
What if their stance toward Palestine were only a grand distraction?
I have always asked myself when trying to consider both sides of conflict: What do they know that I, or we, don’t? What are we NOT told? Hence, it is easy to judge (and Israel does make it easy to be seen as the bad guys), but in this crazy world, who are the good guys really?
Should we be content, just so long as that domino remains standing? – Well I suppose we have to be. On the one hand we have dirt and shame, and on the other we have only blood and pain. Or have I been looking at this all wrong; could Israel, the state, be that first domino? And who would benefit from WW3?
There’s no honour left in war (perhaps a topic for another day).
“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.” – Ernest Hemmingway
Another domino - different country…
With Russia taking back Crimea in the wake of the Ukrainian riots and unseated president, we’ve once again been witness to another close shave with war. It is only that a number of parties have NOT involved themselves that we’ve avoided a fallout because at the moment Russia, or the Kremlin, or rather Vladimir Putin (the former FSB spook) is doing what he wants. The sanctions that western powers have imposed on selective Russian politicians, many part of Putin's inner circle, are superficial – it’s the least they can do, and at the very least makes them look like they’re not doing nothing about it.
This is one arena wherein America cannot get involved because the history just runs too deep, though mostly they just fear Russia, and they should.
So whilst all this goes on, we’ve yet to mention the other Far East ‘elephant’ in the arena -so far as danger and unpredictability goes – North Korea.
As we can see, with the world powers, some random jihadists or an ill judged trigger pulled, all ever ready to take the shape of the catalyst, all forming elements dancing around that one domino, which does seem to shift toward any two parties concerned who get a little too close... we’re that far from disaster. What has been highlighted by at least one news broadcaster, is the immense discipline displayed by the Russian Forces in Crimea - yes there was a few exchanges of gunfire, but by all accounts, it was a peaceful takeover, avoiding mass bloodshed. Knowing full well the path that no one wants to take seems to have everyone, including the west, tiptoeing around, because just as bad as all out war is, the threat thereof is an ancient tool of intimidation.
- Lets not forget that many Russian's have family in both Crimea and Ukraine (especially in the Russian speaking/dominated Eastern half), so war will benefit no one...
This is one arena wherein America cannot get involved because the history just runs too deep, though mostly they just fear Russia, and they should.
So whilst all this goes on, we’ve yet to mention the other Far East ‘elephant’ in the arena -so far as danger and unpredictability goes – North Korea.
As we can see, with the world powers, some random jihadists or an ill judged trigger pulled, all ever ready to take the shape of the catalyst, all forming elements dancing around that one domino, which does seem to shift toward any two parties concerned who get a little too close... we’re that far from disaster. What has been highlighted by at least one news broadcaster, is the immense discipline displayed by the Russian Forces in Crimea - yes there was a few exchanges of gunfire, but by all accounts, it was a peaceful takeover, avoiding mass bloodshed. Knowing full well the path that no one wants to take seems to have everyone, including the west, tiptoeing around, because just as bad as all out war is, the threat thereof is an ancient tool of intimidation.
- Lets not forget that many Russian's have family in both Crimea and Ukraine (especially in the Russian speaking/dominated Eastern half), so war will benefit no one...
Kyrgyzstan is set to name a mountain after Vladimir Putin - whilst he has warned Russians against forming a personality cult around him.
Some recent Vladimir Putin quotes:
“Some Western politicians are already threatening us with not just sanctions, but also the prospect of increasingly serious problems on the domestic front. I would like to know what it is they have in mind exactly: action by a fifth column, this disparate bunch of ‘national traitors’, or are they hoping to put us in a worsening social and economic situation so as to provoke public discontent? We consider such statements irresponsible and clearly aggressive in tone, and we will respond to them accordingly.”
When Putin called out the West for hypocrisy over Kosovo: “We keep hearing from the United States and Western Europe that Kosovo is some special case. What makes it so special in the eyes of our colleagues? It turns out that it is the fact that the conflict in Kosovo resulted in so many human casualties. Is this a legal argument? The ruling of the International Court says nothing about this. This is not even double standards; this is amazing, primitive, blunt cynicism. One should not try so crudely to make everything suit their interests, calling the same thing white today and black tomorrow. According to this logic, we have to make sure every conflict leads to human losses.”
Putin alluding to the West and their disregard for International law - if they can do it, so can he...
"Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains." -- Vladimir Putin
[Image credits: theglaringfacts.com, euangelizomai.blogspot.com, desertpeace.wordpress.com, obeygiant.com, rt.com, telegraph.co.uk, businessinsider.com, cnn.com, cbsnews.com, washingtonpost.com]
Related articles on this blog:
An Objective look at Apartheid Israel
Israel: An Objective look, Part 2
5 Reasons Ukraine is Rioting
Protests of the world in Pictures
Picture quotes above from: Top 10 Powerful quotes from Putin's historic Crimea address
Related articles on this blog:
An Objective look at Apartheid Israel
Israel: An Objective look, Part 2
5 Reasons Ukraine is Rioting
Protests of the world in Pictures
Picture quotes above from: Top 10 Powerful quotes from Putin's historic Crimea address
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