If he wasn’t, he’s be called an antisemitic jew hater for daring question the Israeli narrative. Anything less than full throated support is akin to supporting Hamas according to a very large amount of stupid and/or intellectually dishonest people.
Reagan was seriously pro-Israel and started the whole US-supported Israeli military funding. source
Jen Kirby -
You mentioned that the United States had a big investment in the Iron Dome. Why is that — what’s the US’s stake in this?
Jean-Loup Samaan -
Well, first, historically, the US started cooperating with Israel on air defense in the 1980s. So when missile defense became a significant component of defense investment in the US, Israel was very quickly involved. There’s a history of close ties between both countries in that field. So it would seem, in a sense, natural that a consequence of that is to support something like Iron Dome.
I think it was around the end of Obama’s first term, in 2012, that the US put a stronger emphasis on Iron Dome in terms of budgeting. I believe it was probably not just the politics behind it, but also the strategic assessment that the priority is to protect and to strengthen the defense of Israel vis-à-vis these types of rockets.
Started? How geopolitically ignorant are you? A considerable portion of the IDF’s armaments (including over 100 fighter jets) during the Yom Kippur War were flown in from the US. This was seven years before Reagan. The entirety of Israel’s existence has just been the US and France dumping weapons. (Israel didn’t indigenously make it’s nuclear weapons, they came from France’s nuclear projects, just like how the Kfir wasn’t built using Israel’s non-existent aerospace industry).
I can smash on a keyboard and then write a citation to whatever nonsense comes. An intelligent person cross-references it with well established facts, and then decides if it’s probably true.
The idea that US support for Israel started in the 80s is refuted by hundreds of data points in Israeli history.
“It’s rude and uncalled for”
It’s totally called for. You could literally have read the Wikipedia on history of modern Israel and seen that it was patently false.
What do you think would happen to Israel if Biden came out and said “we will no longer defend Israel, everybody go nuts”?
Lebanon and Iran and Qatar and Yemen and Iraq and Afghanistan and Turkey and Egypt and maybe even Russia would obliterate them. Israel is only able to exist because the US gives it unconditional support. Hence, the 51st state - an attack on Israel is an attack on the US.
Lebanon and Iran and Qatar and Yemen and Iraq and Afghanistan and Turkey and Egypt and maybe even Russia would obliterate them.
I have serious doubts as to the ability of some of these countries to be able to match up to Israel militarily, even aside from having other things to worry about at the moment - Russia in particular does not have the privilege of fighting two wars right now.
There’s also the fact that Israel is a nuclear power - they almost used their nukes in the Yom Kippur war, which is what prompted the US to actually start resupplying them. If an Arab coalition were to attack Israel now (especially with Netanyahu in power), there is zero chance that they wouldn’t actually do it this time, and everyone knows this. No one in their right mind would try and pressure Israel to that extent, and most foreign powers would be highly motivated to do whatever it took to make sure that didn’t happen.
Finally, if the US were to leave Israel alone, China would probably step right in to fill that void, and would be well-suited for it too, given that they have relatively good relations with most of the Arab nations (IIRC). So not only would the US lose a massive channel of influence in the region, they’d be allowing their largest geopolitical rival to consolidate their influence in the region as well - wouldn’t Biden be absolutely raked over the coals for that?
wouldn’t Biden be absolutely raked over the coals for that?
Ignoring all your speculation about Israel’s strength (I’m highly skeptical they could actually survive modern warfare - they have drone pilots, not infantry lol) he absolutely would. There’s a huge portion of the electorate that absolutely loves Israel and supports their genocide.
That’s not really a good reason to continue supporting them.
I’m highly skeptical they could actually survive modern warfare - they have drone pilots, not infantry lol
What gave you that impression? AFAIK the IDF is one of the best trained militaries in the world, and certainly better than most of their enemies - that’s one of the reasons why the casualty numbers during Yom Kippur were so lopsided in their favor despite being caught with their pants down. Plus, it’s not just drones (they don’t even use those for actual combat) - they have arguably the strongest Air Force in the region, rivaled only by Egypt, and Israel has a distinct technological advantage. The IDF haven’t done well as aggressors, but defensively they punch well above their weight class - you’d hope so, given that they spend over 5% of their annual GDP on defence.
That’s not really a good reason to continue supporting them.
If he loses the next election, do you think whoever the GOP gets in will be better for Palestine? As it stands, Biden has courted Israeli favor less than I expected (current events notwithstanding), probably because Democrats were majority pro-Palestine for the first time in 20 years. He’s already said that he wants Israel out of the West Bank (even before October 7th) and that, and it sounds like he’s been applying some pressure in that regard.
That said, I do think he’s been a bit too passive thus far, and while I have my speculations as to why that is, I don’t see how any of them could justify the apparent lack of push back. A complete ending of relations is out of the question, but he should be able to push for more restraint, and as far as I can see it would be in his best interest to do so. Unless of course what we’re seeing now is the restrained version, which doesn’t really bear thinking about.
The fact that Hamas keeps destroying their tanks because they aren’t accompanied by infantry. They’re all just desk jockies pretending to be a military.
This isn’t the military that fought Yom Kippur, that was 40 years ago. This is the age of the sons, they’re soft and untested. Basically just prison guards.
If he loses the next election, do you think whoever the GOP gets in will be better for Palestine?
I think Democrats will unify against Trump and call for a ceasefire, and if they control the Legislature they can keep him from making anything worse.
Biden is ride-or-die for Israel, basically.
If he wasn’t, he’s be called an antisemitic jew hater for daring question the Israeli narrative. Anything less than full throated support is akin to supporting Hamas according to a very large amount of stupid and/or intellectually dishonest people.
You aren’t wrong, but he’s been ride-or-die for Israel for his entire career. He’s the most pro-Israel president we’ve ever had.
Reagan was seriously pro-Israel and started the whole US-supported Israeli military funding. source
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You should read the OT. His track record is about as good as your average cop, if that.
Started? How geopolitically ignorant are you? A considerable portion of the IDF’s armaments (including over 100 fighter jets) during the Yom Kippur War were flown in from the US. This was seven years before Reagan. The entirety of Israel’s existence has just been the US and France dumping weapons. (Israel didn’t indigenously make it’s nuclear weapons, they came from France’s nuclear projects, just like how the Kfir wasn’t built using Israel’s non-existent aerospace industry).
I quoted a source. If you don’t agree with it, quote another.
And please don’t call me ignorant. It’s rude and uncalled for.
“I quoted a source”
I can smash on a keyboard and then write a citation to whatever nonsense comes. An intelligent person cross-references it with well established facts, and then decides if it’s probably true.
The idea that US support for Israel started in the 80s is refuted by hundreds of data points in Israeli history.
“It’s rude and uncalled for”
It’s totally called for. You could literally have read the Wikipedia on history of modern Israel and seen that it was patently false.
Okay, so Biden is the most pro-Israel president since Reagan lol
My point stands.
Since when is Biden the President of Israel?
Israel is the 51st state, Biden could end this war tomorrow if he wanted.
What fantasy land are you living in? Shapirostan?
What do you think would happen to Israel if Biden came out and said “we will no longer defend Israel, everybody go nuts”?
Lebanon and Iran and Qatar and Yemen and Iraq and Afghanistan and Turkey and Egypt and maybe even Russia would obliterate them. Israel is only able to exist because the US gives it unconditional support. Hence, the 51st state - an attack on Israel is an attack on the US.
I have serious doubts as to the ability of some of these countries to be able to match up to Israel militarily, even aside from having other things to worry about at the moment - Russia in particular does not have the privilege of fighting two wars right now.
There’s also the fact that Israel is a nuclear power - they almost used their nukes in the Yom Kippur war, which is what prompted the US to actually start resupplying them. If an Arab coalition were to attack Israel now (especially with Netanyahu in power), there is zero chance that they wouldn’t actually do it this time, and everyone knows this. No one in their right mind would try and pressure Israel to that extent, and most foreign powers would be highly motivated to do whatever it took to make sure that didn’t happen.
Finally, if the US were to leave Israel alone, China would probably step right in to fill that void, and would be well-suited for it too, given that they have relatively good relations with most of the Arab nations (IIRC). So not only would the US lose a massive channel of influence in the region, they’d be allowing their largest geopolitical rival to consolidate their influence in the region as well - wouldn’t Biden be absolutely raked over the coals for that?
it’d be political suicide.
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It’s still clearly an option. You’d think an ancient men would care more about stopping genocide than his own career…
Ignoring all your speculation about Israel’s strength (I’m highly skeptical they could actually survive modern warfare - they have drone pilots, not infantry lol) he absolutely would. There’s a huge portion of the electorate that absolutely loves Israel and supports their genocide.
That’s not really a good reason to continue supporting them.
What gave you that impression? AFAIK the IDF is one of the best trained militaries in the world, and certainly better than most of their enemies - that’s one of the reasons why the casualty numbers during Yom Kippur were so lopsided in their favor despite being caught with their pants down. Plus, it’s not just drones (they don’t even use those for actual combat) - they have arguably the strongest Air Force in the region, rivaled only by Egypt, and Israel has a distinct technological advantage. The IDF haven’t done well as aggressors, but defensively they punch well above their weight class - you’d hope so, given that they spend over 5% of their annual GDP on defence.
If he loses the next election, do you think whoever the GOP gets in will be better for Palestine? As it stands, Biden has courted Israeli favor less than I expected (current events notwithstanding), probably because Democrats were majority pro-Palestine for the first time in 20 years. He’s already said that he wants Israel out of the West Bank (even before October 7th) and that, and it sounds like he’s been applying some pressure in that regard.
That said, I do think he’s been a bit too passive thus far, and while I have my speculations as to why that is, I don’t see how any of them could justify the apparent lack of push back. A complete ending of relations is out of the question, but he should be able to push for more restraint, and as far as I can see it would be in his best interest to do so. Unless of course what we’re seeing now is the restrained version, which doesn’t really bear thinking about.
The fact that Hamas keeps destroying their tanks because they aren’t accompanied by infantry. They’re all just desk jockies pretending to be a military.
This isn’t the military that fought Yom Kippur, that was 40 years ago. This is the age of the sons, they’re soft and untested. Basically just prison guards.
I think Democrats will unify against Trump and call for a ceasefire, and if they control the Legislature they can keep him from making anything worse.
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Yup, but because daddy has aircraft carriers in the gulf it’s fine. The 51st state is safe.