War Day #262 Under the bus again

Monday, June 24 * Snarky daily war updates from Jerusalem

There seems to be some confusion.

If the US team would like some negotiating tutelage, I would be happy to assist. Here is what you say if you DO want Lebanon to attack (your ally) Israel:

“In the the event of war, Brown (General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military) said the US would NOT provide the same assistance as it did when Iran carried out a missile and drone attack on Israel earlier this year.”

https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-807449

(See, that is what you say if you DO want Lebanon to attack (your ally) Israel. It encourages the other side to think you’re NOT going to provide much backup for that ally of yours, and that it is therefore safe to strike said ally. It also may make other US allies wonder about the value of those alliances.)

If you DON’T want Lebanon to attack (your ally) Israel, you bellow some kind of saber-rattling machismo threat. A really good statement would include expletives, but here’s a milder version to preserve our G-rating: “If Lebanon and Iran think they can bombard our ally Israel, they have a painful lesson in store.”

See? That is a threat that dissuades the enemy. As opposed to what you actually just said, which gives them carte blanche, open season on Israel.

Brown also warned that “in the event of a widespread war against Hezbollah, it is likely that Iran will act to help the Lebanese terrorist organization if it feels that it is threatened by Israel.”

In case there is any doubt about US culpability after the fact, with the US somehow not understanding that Iran would jump in too: No! The US obviously knows that Israel will be fighting Iran too, and guess what?! Israel will apparently be fighting alone! No US involvement! (And son of a gun - those weapons that the White House was so annoyed that PM Netanyahu called attention to, that somehow went missing? The White House doesn’t know anything about that, but the weapons still haven’t been delivered. Blame it on the Israeli post.)

In fact, the only reason for these kinds of jettisoning statements is if your words are aimed at (your ally) Israel, whom you’re trying to prevent from responding in Lebanon. Because a wider war would be bad for the US elections. #Priorities

Even though Lebanon attacked Israel unprovoked on October 7 in solidarity with Hamas, and has been bombing Israel ever since, for 9 months, forcing 100,000 northerners to flee their homes. Somehow, despite the US’ acknowledged failed diplomatic attempts, they’re expecting Israel to just sit tight and continue to be clobbered. (Tom Friedman’s ‘time out’.)

I feel like the phrase ‘thrown under the bus’ is losing all meaning because of overuse; anyone have better words?

Also, I feel like the White House is unhappy with current Prime Minister Netanyahu, so they’re just stepping back from this whole messy war thing, and waiting to work with the next guy.

Can someone please explain to them that there might not be a next guy?

That if Israel is jumped on by Lebanon and Iran simultaneously, the White House may soon be looking for a new, replacement ‘only democratic ally with shared values’ in the MidEast.

Better start now, we hear they’re in short supply.

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