[News] how comfortable are you with UK airforce defending Israel?

[SeagullinExile]

I wish we could just chill out, float about on our little island and not get involved in anything rather than doing the whole 'World Police' act with the yanks. Unfortunately, there are obviously too many geopolitical issues we've contributed to or created for that to be an option.

Indeed. It seems we just hang onto the coat tails of the US, with our government still believing that we’re still a global power. We’re not anymore.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I wish we could just chill out, float about on our little island and not get involved in anything rather than doing the whole 'World Police' act with the yanks. Unfortunately, there are obviously too many geopolitical issues we've contributed to or created for that to be an option.

Are you sure?

I really don't see what is compelling our involvement here. I don't see that the Balfour Declaration or the Iraq war or all the other interventions are directly compelling us to send military assets to the gulf to intervene right here, right now.

Perceived political expediency seems more probable? The education and world view of the Prime Minister? A desire to distance himself from previous leaders? I'm not discounting influence from his wife. I'm not trying to sound like an asshole. I genuinely don't know what we're doing getting involved in this.

 

[Questions]

Where’s Steve Foster when you want some unbiased input ?

 

[Diablo]

Almost bizarre in the fact that the Royal Navy aren't allowed to defend the English Channel.

They have done so since 1066 ......... Until now !!!

 

[armchairclubber]

Almost bizarre in the fact that the Royal Navy aren't allowed to defend the English Channel.

But in answer to your original question, if it maintains world peace then its has to be a good thing.

Yep, so grateful that our forces are maintaining world peace in the Middle East.

The sooner you wake up the better. Anyone would think you've spent your life in a morgue.

 

[Audax]

Over reaction from Iran? Really?

I think Israel has over reaction down to an art! Oct 7 saw Hamas massacre around 1200 people, since then Israel have killed a figure approaching 50,000 in Gaza.

Yes. Iran are not directly involved. Why ignore the part of my post that also points out I think Israel have also been "heavy handed"?

Neither side is in the right over there. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have valid complaints against each other. Equally, both sides have committed acts against the other that should never have happened.

Further, I find the US' unconditional support for Israel unhelpful. Just as I find Iran getting involved unhelpful.

The whole situation is a fracking mess that needs some sensible adults in the room.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Yes. Iran are not directly involved. Why ignore the part of my post that also points out I think Israel have also been "heavy handed"?

Neither side is in the right over there. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have valid complaints against each other. Equally, both sides have committed acts against the other that should never have happened.

Further, I find the US' unconditional support for Israel unhelpful. Just as I find Iran getting involved unhelpful.

The whole situation is a fracking mess that needs some sensible adults in the room.

Not much chance of that. All the more reason for us to stay as far out of it as we can. With China talking about supporting its 'Arab brothers' (do me a favour) and Russia unquestionably backing Iran in exchange for weapons to be used against Ukraine, this is very much one to watch from the sidelines.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Yes. Iran are not directly involved. Why ignore the part of my post that also points out I think Israel have also been "heavy handed"?

Neither side is in the right over there. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have valid complaints against each other. Equally, both sides have committed acts against the other that should never have happened.

Further, I find the US' unconditional support for Israel unhelpful. Just as I find Iran getting involved unhelpful.

The whole situation is a fracking mess that needs some sensible adults in the room.

On the whole I agree with you. But all the while the Israeli position is driven by the self centred, facist and corrupt Netanyahu then we have to put up with entrenched positions on all sides.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Where’s Steve Foster when you want some unbiased input ?

Stop it.

 

[armchairclubber]

Of course. But it is an interesting thought experiment to wonder what would have happened if Israel was not located in Palestine but somewhere else in the world. Would there have been a chain of events that still led Islamic terrorists to commit terrorist attacks in the US, UK and elsewhere?

Would your interesting thought experiment stretch to would the US, UK and elsewhere still commit terrorist attacks on Palestine if Israel was not located there?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Would your interesting thought experiment stretch to would the US, UK and elsewhere still commit terrorist attacks on Palestine if Israel was not located there?

One would assume not. It would be part of the Commonwealth, maybe a very popular Mediterranean holiday destination. Elsewhere in the middle east an overarching hatred of the US and Israel has not developed which means the fundamentalist wing don't have a unifying enemy enabling them to take power, and many of these countries remain quite moderate.

Hey, it's a thought. But for every ying there's a yang and a different part of the world would be a clusterfuck. Got to keep the military industrial complex rolling somehow.

 

[armchairclubber]

One would assume not. It would be part of the Commonwealth, maybe a very popular Mediterranean holiday destination. Elsewhere in the middle east an overarching hatred of the US and Israel has not developed which means the fundamentalist wing don't have a unifying enemy enabling them to take power, and many of these countries remain quite moderate.

Hey, it's a thought. But for every ying there's a yang and a different part of the world would be a clusterfuck. Got to keep the military industrial complex rolling somehow.

So, continuing your thought experiment, do you think Palestinians (I'm not talking about Hamas here just to make it clear to you, but the innocent Palestinians caught up in this horrific and Genocidal campaign by Israel / US / UK) should or would need to accept being part of any supposed Commonwealth?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

So, continuing your thought experiment, do you think Palestinians (I'm not talking about Hamas here just to make it clear to you, but the innocent Palestinians caught up in this horrific and Genocidal campaign by Israel / US / UK) should or would need to accept being part of any supposed Commonwealth?

Well, they would never have been caught up in it in the first place, and you wouldn't need to make the distinction between hamas and everyone else in Palesrine. Just call them Palestinians. I suppose they might have rejected the Commonwealth but history suggests that pretty much all of our 20th century colonies remain happy members of the Commonwealth today. And in the real world Palestine has already requested to join, and been rejected.

 

[Molango's visa]

ATTENTION: thousand word response incoming from @Zeberdi incl. half a dozen links from his extensive database of links. Sound the alarm!

With all the right answers for people too lazy or stupid to find them. And your problem with that us? #team@zeberdi

 

[Seat Stealer]

More than happy. We should be defending democracy. where it happens to be needed. Happy to see terrorists get what's coming. Israel falls, next it's Europe. It's already beginning and I'm glad I shall be dead, or just about, before we become controlled by Sharia Law.

 

[Molango's visa]

I didn't say that at all, I do have many Jewish fritends who have said otherwise. I have strong Jewish links myself, so please don't make this about you, I'm questioning UK govt policy when I never knew we had one in this direction, that's all. Chill please

@Tom Hark Preston Park made it all about zeb in post 2, with countless wanky thumbs up for doing so

 

[armchairclubber]

With all the right answers for people too lazy or stupid to find them. And your problem with that us? #team@zeberdi

Are you his personal secretary?

 

[armchairclubber]

With all the right answers for people too lazy or stupid to find them. And your problem with that us? #team@zeberdi

I meant to ask, which camp are you, lazy or stupid or both?