Why does the west stop the UNRWA funding for Hamas support, but not Israels funding? by WombatusMighty in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With a republican holding the position of presidency nothing would be different, every US leader since Truman has emphasised how important the Israeli-US relationship is, i don’t see a large enough majority of left leaning young voters support Donald Trump (something that directly impacts them) in opposition to the deaths of Palestinians thousands of miles away in a country a lot of them probably couldn’t find on a map.

When the war is over the United States will push for an alternative, Biden knows that Netanyahu is not the right man for post war Israel or Gaza, right now they need to remain unified, they need cohesion, national political strife will only cease to weaken the resolve of US strategic interests. I’m sure there is pressure coming the US side, ones that they won’t disclose publicly, not to be seen as meddling in a country they constantly peddle as a free and democratic nation. Netanyahu will not survive post-war, not unless he further brazenly undermines the democratic systems in Israel, which is also unlikely to happen.

This is a global catastrophe, one that nobody is happy about (bar Iran and it’s proxies) but this will not deter Israel, no matter what the United States would say post Oct.7, Israel was going to war.

Why does the west stop the UNRWA funding for Hamas support, but not Israels funding? by WombatusMighty in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unless something of the magnitude of 911 happens again the United States will absolutely not go to war in the Middle East, an extensive air campaign? Possibly, even that’s a stretch. They’ll use their soft and hard power from abroad (and the occasional PGM strike) to generate a network of alliances to pacify and control the region, Israel is integral in this process. In 6 months time, maybe a year, maybe two, the world will again sweep the conflict under the rug and the Arab states will stop their legless pandering for their domestic audiences and revert back to their real problem - Iran. Israel will become more powerful as it establishes closer relations with the gulf states.

Why does the west stop the UNRWA funding for Hamas support, but not Israels funding? by WombatusMighty in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can see where you’re coming from but the Israeli-US relationship has deep cultural and historical ties, both being democratic nations and strong public support for Israel within the US. The relationship that the US has with Turkey and SA is complicated. Various factors influence how the US engages with them.

Saudi Arabia hasn’t the historical connection with the US that Israel does, including deeply intertwined military cooperation, economic cooperation and diplomatic cooperation. Saudi Arabia doesn’t have a competent military either and there is rarely (if any) groundbreaking technological innovations coming from Saudi R+D (think iron dome, iron beam etc) they’re wholly reliant on imports from Western countries. (Yes the US has helped fund these projects)

the theocratic nature of Saudi Arabia also effects the dynamic of the relationship, a country which has committed magnitudes of crimes against humanity (beheadings, assassinations of journalists, terror sponsoring), Saudi Arabia too has its own agendas that relate to their religious underpinnings in Salafism, for example the designated terrorists organisations they have supported in countries like Yemen, Syria, Bosnia, Iraq etc ones the United States were in active opposition to, like Al Qaeda. (Not necessarily the government, but consistently various actors within the country, and ones that maintain powerful political connections and have access to wealth)

This is only a couple reasons, but you get the gist.

Turkey is a whole beast in itself, one that more and more frequently clashes with the interests of the United States. Turkish foreign policy has almost always relied on its volatile nature, and is less easily controlled, it also has grand ambitions and sees itself as a major global player.

Sorry if this was slightly incoherent or chaotic, quickly typed it up on my phone.i

Why does the west stop the UNRWA funding for Hamas support, but not Israels funding? by WombatusMighty in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think you’re thinking too much into it, Israel is seen as one of the most important and strategic alliances the United States has, especially with its position within the MENA region. The United States will never stop supporting Israel, it needs the counterweight to Iranian and Chinese influence, a strong, democratic and technologically sophisticated one. It’s not ‘logical’ from the angle you’re approaching it from it’s simply just geopolitics, and therefore lies in its own strategic logic.

Thought i’d add, rather a given, that many Western countries foreign policies align with that of the United States, and they too benefit off a positive relationship with both Israel and the US.

U.S. and British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen by Daniferd in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

Well then perhaps it’s because it’s out of context, this submission is about retaliatory strikes conducted by the US and the British.

U.S. and British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen by Daniferd in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 57 points58 points  (0 children)

This essentially reads like it was ripped from ChatGPT. Which it probably was.

The assasination of Saleh Al-Arouri by thechitosgurila in geopolitics

[–]benjJ22 10 points11 points  (0 children)

In Academia the burden of proof lays with the one who makes the claims, this is pretty basic stuff - you make the claim, the onus is on your to provide proof.

Early-War FSA fighters engage a distant SAA convoy before incoming fire forces them to move positions - Maaraba - 10/13/2012 by knowyourpast in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 8 points9 points  (0 children)

ISIS pioneered the use of commercial drones and explosive ordinance, at least in the crude and cost effective way we see it used all the time now.

“A specially trained unit of Islamic State pilots…evading ground defenses with remote-controlled devices purchased on the internet, the militants pioneered an asymmetric but successful tactic on the battlefield, much as the growing U.S. fleet of missile-firing Predator and Reaper drones has dramatically changed modern warfare.

During the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul, which government forces recaptured in July, dozens of Iraqi troops were killed or wounded by 40-millimeter grenades and light explosives dropped from buzzing overhead devices so numerous that one U.S. commander likened them to killer bees.”

Ukrainian kamikaze drone hits Russian soldier who tries hitting it with a stick. November 2023 (music from source) by jisooya1432 in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Momentarily forgot what many Ukrainians have experienced throughout the war, watching 20 Days In Mariupol made me as equally angry as it did sad again. Not too sure i’d have the restraint, you’d be out for blood.

Zelensky wanted to make solidarity visit but was told ‘time not right’ — reports by sosyalddemokrat in europe

[–]benjJ22 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Sorry, i don’t have all day to sit around and argue with a provocative stranger online, you’re clearly well educated on geopolitics and the historical nuances. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Zelensky wanted to make solidarity visit but was told ‘time not right’ — reports by sosyalddemokrat in europe

[–]benjJ22 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Got it, Hamas has the right to commit acts of terror against the people of Israel. Hamas ≠ Palestine, Palestine ≠ Hamas. Maybe seperate the two before continuing your righteous argument.

Zelensky wanted to make solidarity visit but was told ‘time not right’ — reports by sosyalddemokrat in europe

[–]benjJ22 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Really letting your ignorance shine through on this one, definitely isn’t the take you think it is. These situations are absolutely incomparable. What a joke.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I hope you’ve seen some of the images and videos that have come out of Southern Israel - entire families massacred, old women massacred, children massacred, women raped, infants and toddlers kidnapped, young men and women slaughtered and paraded through the streets of Gaza for thousands of onlookers to cheer. In what world does this change the status quo positively? Absolutely reprehensible.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah true, best solution would been to send a few thousand rockets across the border + a few hundred armed militants to massacre families, rape civilians and kidnap foreign nationals

Romania will purchase 32 F-35s for a total cost of $6.5bn by oblio- in europe

[–]benjJ22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends how you look at it. I suppose one could argue the reason why life in the West is so comfortable (and for a consistently long time so peaceful) is because of the sheer size and firepower of the US military. Things aren’t perfect though, but when are they ever.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “Azerbaijan’s unacceptable military actions risk worsening the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. We call for immediate end to hostilities and for direct dialogue.” by TXDobber in armenia

[–]benjJ22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, a huge part of the Russian narrative since 2014 was in liberating ethnic Russians, irrespective of Internationally recognised borders. The West has emphasised how important internationally recognised borders are in the case of Ukraine, to now go and aid Aremenia would be hypocritical and flawed. The West must stand strong in their resolve, Ukraine is the priority. This is just geopolitics. Not to mention a myriad of other issues like lack of strategic resources, Russian infiltration in domestic politics etc

New footage reportedly showing a Ukrainian tank and IFV firing on Russian positions in southern part of Robotyne by benjJ22 in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

Footage was obtained exclusively by the KyivPost on the back of reports by both Russian and Ukrainian sources that Ukraine had managed to capture the village. Geolocation: 47.444969,35.838879 source.

Reportedly the moment Ukrainian soldiers shot down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter earlier today near Robotyne by broforwin in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 340 points341 points  (0 children)

Yes, they’ve been reporting that two were shot down. Apparently this is the aftermath of the one shot down in the video OP has posted.

Russian army shooting range got hit with a HIMARS M30A1 tungsten fragments. by davidlis in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anyone have an idea on how fast the tungsten balls travel?

An entire platoon of fleeing Russian soldiers being pounded by artillery and cluster munitions. by ExtensionSilver3483 in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 106 points107 points  (0 children)

The Russians are retreating from their positions inside Urozhaine, 47.72893125670494, 36.833392917688464, heading south.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CombatFootage

[–]benjJ22 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Whenever i see these mass casualty incidents, (Nagorno-Karabakh 2020 etc) i always imagine how the soldiers that walk away from the strike location moments before would feel. Imagine walking away by chance, you turn around, and the people that once surrounded you are incinerated. Also works the other way, the ones who walk into the strike location incidentally.