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       #Post#: 22867--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: 90sRetroFan
       Date: October 17, 2023, 5:39 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/analysis-fighting-two-fronts-may-210422134.html
       --- Quote ---
       > Fighting on two fronts may be too much for the IDF
       >
       > Israeli military chiefs are concerned about springing a trap
       in which they commit ground forces to a Gaza invasion but then
       face an assault from Hezbollah in the north, forcing them to
       fight a war on two fronts.
       >
       > The Israel Defence Forces [IDF] insists it can win such a war
       despite concerns it would suffer very heavy casualties at the
       Israel-Lebanon border and inside Gaza.
       >
       > But avoiding a multi-front war in the first place is a
       “critical strategic goal” of both the Israeli army and the
       United States, according to Israeli media reports.
       --- End Quote ---
       Hence we want the multi-front war to happen.
       --- Quote ---
       > This all creates a burning question for Israel: how many
       troops should it commit to a Gaza offensive, and how many should
       be held back to defend the northern region?
       --- End Quote ---
       This is why.
       --- Quote ---
       > The Jerusalem Post also reported that Israeli officials
       believe “Hezbollah is waiting for the moment that most IDF
       ground forces are committed to Gaza to open a full front with
       the IDF in the north,” citing unnamed sources.
       --- End Quote ---
       This is the correct tactic.
       --- Quote ---
       > Israel’s first line of defence appears to be relying on the
       United States deterring Iran and its lead proxy Hezbollah from
       joining the fray: Washington has already sent two aircraft
       carriers to the region.
       > ...
       > If deterrence failed and the United States had to enter the
       war with Israel, a priority target would be Hezbollah’s missile
       launch sites in southern Lebanon.
       --- End Quote ---
       But why does the US "have to" enter the war? Israel isn't a NATO
       member!
       --- Quote ---
       > Even with US support, managing a Gaza invasion and defence of
       the north simultaneously would be an immense task,  and one that
       the IDF has not faced before.
       >
       > Behind closed doors, its leadership is probably hoping that it
       never has to.
       --- End Quote ---
       Now imagine the same scenario without US support. This is what
       we should be aiming at.
  HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-face-fighting-second-front-133446747.html
       --- Quote ---
       > All eyes are on Gaza because, "as the ground offensive looms",
       analysts fear the move could be the "red line" that prompts
       Hezbollah to "fully enter the conflict" and open the war on
       another front.
       >
       > The ramifications of this could be profound. "Will there be
       world war three?" asked Niall Ferguson in The Sunday Times. If
       Israel "finds it cannot contend with a three-front war", with
       the West Bank joining Gaza and Lebanon, and then turns to the US
       for military help against Iran, we will have "reached one of
       history's hinges", he said, and "the future of the world will
       turn on it."
       --- End Quote ---
       The realistic (the US joining in on the Palestinian side is
       unfortunately too unrealistic to consider) best-case scenario is
       as follows:
       1) Israel, confident in US backup, invades Gaza.
       2) Hezbollah invades Israel.
       3) The West Bank invades Israel.
       4) Iranian troops invade Israel from Syria.
       5) Israel calls for US backup.
       6) US stays out.
       How do we maximize the probability of 6)? I suggest that if,
       between 1) and 2), a NATO country is attacked (which requires a
       US military response), the US will have an excuse (NATO
       obligations take priority) to avoid involvement in the Israel
       war.
       So, anyone want to attack a NATO country? How about an invasion
       of Poland from Belarus, for example?
       Of course if the US could be persuaded to stay out purely on
       ideological grounds, that would also suffice.
       #Post#: 22879--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: 90sRetroFan
       Date: October 18, 2023, 12:08 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Yellen (who also looks like what we would expect) is already
       onto our strategy and trying to counter it:
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zdN7JFV8-o
       Previous Yellen coverage:
  HTML https://trueleft.createaforum.com/true-left-vs-false-left/jews-have-nothing-in-common-with-us!/msg7534/#msg7534
  HTML https://trueleft.createaforum.com/true-left-vs-false-left/jews-have-nothing-in-common-with-us!/msg13435/#msg13435
       #Post#: 22882--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: OctoberWar
       Date: October 18, 2023, 12:42 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       "How do we maximize the probability of 6)? I suggest that if,
       between 1) and 2), a NATO country is attacked (which requires a
       US military response), the US will have an excuse (NATO
       obligations take priority) to avoid involvement in the Israel
       war."
       If Israel nuked Iran are we sure that Russia and China would
       launch against Israel? If Israel were threatened with nukes
       would the U.S. go nuclear against Russia and China? I bring this
       up because:
       --- Quote ---
       > October War: Israel Hinted to the US at Using Nuclear Weapons
       >
       > The October 1973 war, a defining moment in the Arab Israeli
       conflict, continues to be a subject of intense scrutiny for both
       Arab and foreign researchers.
       >
       > Decades since its outbreak, new information and previously
       classified documents have come to light, adding complexity and
       controversy to the narrative of this historic conflict.
       >
       > Two distinct narratives have emerged, each presenting a vastly
       different perspective on the War.
       >
       > The first narrative portrays it as a decisive military victory
       for the Arab armies, backed by regional support and underscored
       by the significance of oil as a diplomatic weapon.
       > The perspective emphasized the role of Arab military forces in
       challenging the Israeli tanks and fighter jets.
       >
       > On the other hand, the Israeli narrative praises Tel Aviv's
       response to the surprise attack on what they call "Yom Kippur."
       >
       > It highlights Israel's reaction as it faced the unexpected
       assaults by Egyptian and Syrian forces in the Sinai Peninsula
       and the Golan Heights.
       >
       > However, amid these conflicting narratives, questions persist
       about the proper sequence of events during this pivotal war.
       >
       > As the 50th anniversary approaches and Egypt and Syria have
       yet to release their classified documents, there is an
       increasing urgency to revisit and reassess the war records,
       particularly regarding communications between the US and world
       leaders.
       >
       > - Failure or Overconfidence?
       >
       > The Israeli surprise from the sudden Arab attack on October 6,
       1973, sent shockwaves through various military fronts, creating
       significant confusion.
       >
       > It was to such an extent that US Secretary of State Henry
       Kissinger found himself seeking answers about whether Washington
       had received any prior warnings about the impending war that
       were disregarded.
       >
       > A classified document numbered 63, summarizing meetings at the
       US State Department on October 23, 1973, sheds light on the
       situation.
       >
       > It reveals that Kissinger personally reviewed all pre-war
       intelligence, outlining a strategy rooted in the unique
       US-Israeli relationship.
       >
       > The Director of Intelligence at the US State Department, Ray
       Cline, attributed the failure of intelligence to predict and
       prevent the war to their reliance on Israeli assessments.
       >
       > Signs indicating imminent military action by Egypt and Syria
       had accumulated as early as September 1973.
       >
       > Back then, King Hussein of Jordan warned Israeli Prime
       Minister Golda Meir that the Syrian army was in position and
       ready for action.
       >
       > - Hours before the Battle
       >
       > As the clock approached the afternoon of October 6, 1973, the
       US National Security Council (NSC) held an emergency session to
       discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East.
       >
       > A memo from NSC member William Quandt reveals the chaos of
       that meeting and the heated debates about the seriousness of the
       Egyptian-Syrian attack and the Soviet evacuation of families
       from Cairo and Damascus.
       >
       > The document also highlights an intelligence consensus that
       Arab states were not prepared to wage war against Israel as long
       as the military balance remained uneven.
       >
       > However, the military balance would soon shift dramatically
       with the outbreak of the conflict.
       >
       > - Soviet Message
       >
       > The Soviet Union sent a message to Nixon and Kissinger on that
       fateful day. The message conveyed that Soviet Premier Leonid
       Brezhnev, like the US, was surprised by Egypt and Syria's
       decision to go to war.
       >
       > Brezhnev considered this a significant miscalculation and
       expressed concerns about a catastrophic military or political
       event for the allies, Egypt and Syria.
       >
       > - Initial Assessment
       >
       > Considering the time difference, while it was afternoon
       Washington time, the National Security Council was meeting
       regarding developments in the Middle East.
       >
       > "As Israelis observed Yom Kippur, the Egyptians and Syrians
       launched their attacks. Just after 2:00 PM (Cairo time), 100,000
       Egyptian troops and 1,000 tanks engulfed Israeli forces on the
       east bank of the Suez Canal while 35,000 Syrian troops and 800
       tanks broke through Israeli positions on the Golan Heights,"
       according to the meeting memo.
       >
       > In the meeting, attendees discussed several options for
       dealing with risks arising from the cutbacks in Arab oil
       production and the consequences of a heavy defeat for the Arabs.
       >
       > Kissinger's advisers proposed reducing Soviet influence,
       provided that it could not result from a "major Arab defeat"
       because that could endanger US interests in the region, destroy
       the possibility of a settlement, and weaken "moderate" Arab
       regimes.
       >
       > The advantages of finding ways to "minimize" Arab "loss of
       face" required serious consideration.
       >
       > - Kissinger and Eban
       >
       > Another US memorandum documents a conversation between
       Kissinger and Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban at 9:07 AM,
       during which the US official indirectly assured that Washington
       would not immediately go to the Security Council.
       >
       > Later, Eban spoke with Kissinger's executive assistant,
       Lawrence Eagleburger, and registered his appreciation that
       Kissinger would defer UN action so that Israel had "time to
       recoup its position."
       >
       > During this time, it was clear to the US that the Soviets were
       interested in a cease-fire, and so was President Hafez al-Assad,
       if the fighting stopped, he would have control of the Golan
       Heights.
       >
       > Sadat, however, was not ready to halt until he had a stronger
       position on the Sinai.
       >
       > - China exchanges
       >
       > By 9 PM in Washington, Kissinger conversed with Chinese
       Ambassador Huang Zhen. He told the Chinese diplomat that
       Washington's "strategic objective is to prevent the Soviets from
       getting a dominant position in the Middle East."
       >
       > Kissinger wanted to demonstrate to the Arab states that
       "whoever gets help from the Soviet Union cannot achieve his
       objective."
       >
       > The Chinese were sympathetic to the Arab cause, so Kissinger
       had to be able to ensure progress on Arab grievances.
       >
       > Perhaps this prompted Kissinger to attempt to reassure the
       Chinese ambassador, stating that it would be possible for
       Washington to offer security guarantees for "new borders after
       the settlement."
       >
       > - The Second Day
       >
       > Despite half a century since the war, the first page of a
       document between Kissinger and Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz
       is primarily illegible, except for a few scraps on US supply of
       Sidewinder (air-to-air) missiles and bomb racks.
       >
       > However, it provides interesting details on the early moments
       of the war, such as Israeli cabinet debates on whether to
       preempt or not.
       >
       > Apparently, advice that Kissinger had given in the
       past--"whatever happens, don't be the one that strikes
       first"--played no small part in Meir's thinking.
       >
       > - A miserably tough day
       >
       > During the first day of the fighting, Arab forces made
       significant gains. Given the tremendous strategic value of the
       Golan Heights, so close to Israeli population centers, the
       Israelis started to throw in units there first.
       >
       > To keep officials abreast of developments, the State
       Department's Middle East Task Force, lodged at the Department's
       basement Operations Center, regularly issued "sitreps" on
       military and political consequences.
       >
       > At the end of the second day of the fighting, it showed a grim
       situation: "major losses on both sides," a "miserably tough day"
       for the Israelis.
       >
       > - Pivotal Moment
       >
       > The ninth and tenth of October 1973 can be considered a
       pivotal battle moment.
       >
       > The Egyptian and Syrian armies surprised everyone with a
       resounding defeat of Israeli tanks, which had attempted to
       regain control of the situation in Sinai and the Golan Heights.
       >
       > Early Tuesday morning, Kissinger received a call from Dinitz
       that Israeli forces were in a more "difficult" position. A
       counter-offensive launched the previous day had failed with
       significant losses.
       >
       > Dinitz acknowledged that the Israelis had lost over 400 tanks
       to the Egyptians and 100 to the Syrians.
       >
       > He explained that Egyptian armor and surface-to-air missiles
       were taking their toll in the air and ground battle, and the
       Israeli cabinet had decided that it had to "get all equipment
       and planes by air that we can."
       >
       > Kissinger, who had assumed that Tel Aviv could recapture
       territory without significant aid infusions, was perplexed by
       the bad news--"Explain to me, how could 400 tanks be lost to the
       Egyptians?"
       >
       > Dinitz and Kissinger met privately, without a notetaker, to
       discuss Meir's request for a secret meeting with Nixon to plea
       for military aid, a proposal that Kissinger quickly dismissed
       because it would strengthen Moscow's influence in the Arab
       world.
       >
       > - Nuclear blackmail
       > In a remarkable turn, the document also reveals that to
       underline the situation's urgency, "Dinitz may have introduced
       an element of nuclear blackmail into the private discussion."
       >
       > Meir had rejected military advice for nuclear weapons use. She
       had ordered at least the arming and alerting of Jericho missiles
       to influence Washington.
       >
       > According to the document, "Kissinger has never gone on record
       on this issue, and no US documentation on the US Israeli nuclear
       posture during the war has been declassified."
       >
       > Later, Kissinger was responsive to the pleas for more
       assistance.
       >
       > In an evening meeting on the same day, Kissinger informed
       Dinitz that Nixon had approved the list of "consumable" items
       sought by the Israelis (except for laser bombs) that would be
       shipped.
       >
       > "Moreover, aircraft and tanks would be replaced if the need
       became acute."
       >
       > To ensure that the US role had low visibility, Israeli cargo
       plans would have the El Al markings painted out.
       >
       > Moreover, the discussion of arrangements to charter US
       commercial aircraft for shipping war material began on
       Washington's side.
       >
       > During that meeting, Dinitz had better news to report progress
       on the Golan Heights and the massive destruction of Syrian
       tanks.
       >
       > - Oil Threat
       >
       > A report prepared jointly by the US State Department and the
       National Security Council states that while Arab and Israeli
       ground forces were "sparring and regrouping," Syrian and Israeli
       air forces were engaged in battle, and the Israeli Air Force
       bombed the international airport at Damascus.
       >
       > Meanwhile, Greek, Israeli, and US intelligence picked up signs
       that the Soviets were airlifting supplies to their Arab clients.
       >
       > "The Israelis speculate the main cargo is missiles."
       >
       > The Soviets had made their airlift decision early in the war,
       believing that extensive support could enhance Moscow's prestige
       in the Arab world.
       >
       > The decision had significant implications for the course of
       the war; not only did the airlift encourage the Egyptians and
       Syrians to continue fighting, but it came to be seen in
       Washington as a "challenge" to US power.
       >
       > The report also mentions that the US press had already
       observed an Israeli Boeing 707 picking up missiles and bombs in
       Virginia.
       >
       > Moreover, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum, Sheikh Ahmed
       Zaki Yamani, suggested that "the US military supply of Israel
       would have a cost cutback in oil production."
       --- End Quote ---
  HTML https://english.aawsat.com/features/4586521-october-war-israel-hinted-us-using-nuclear-weapons
       #Post#: 22883--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: 90sRetroFan
       Date: October 18, 2023, 3:32 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Our enemies think Russia will not oppose Israel:
  HTML https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2023/10/17/interview-is-russia-run-by-incompetents-or-traitors-an-expert-analyst-weighs-in/
       --- Quote ---
       > The truth is that we are in a long, protracted war with no
       solution in sight. Someone like Strelkov would be right to point
       that out and predict it when he did. There are no clever plans
       and there won’t be any resounding Russian victory any time soon.
       But that doesn’t mean that measures aren’t being taken now to
       prepare for a long war. Strelkov’s claims that Moscow will
       surrender are more a fear than a reality. From what we can tell,
       the elites’ backs are against the wall. Western sanctions and
       rhetoric has painted a target on all their backs. So,
       increasingly, they are realizing that they have no choice but to
       resist in some way.
       > ...
       > You know, many well-meaning Russian patriots have this idea in
       their head that if Russia wanted to, Russia could easily win the
       war. They think that Russia is holding back either because of
       moral considerations or because of traitors in power. They seem
       to still think that Russia is the USSR, with huge war factories
       and massive shell arsenals. But those warehouses are long gone.
       They were sold off years ago. Those factories are rusted-out
       hulks. We are restoring some of our war potential in
       manufacturing, this is true, but it will take time. In other
       words, we are fighting with the means that we have now. The
       people demanding that Russia ought to stop holding back don’t
       know what they are talking about. We are at our limit now.
       --- End Quote ---
       This is why I keep saying it is a good idea for other countries
       to get their land back from Russia now.
       --- Quote ---
       > Since we are on the topic of the Middle-East, what is Russia’s
       official and unofficial position on the Israel-Palestine/Gaza
       situation?
       >
       > Well, Russia’s position hasn’t changed much. Putin moved the
       pro-Israel agenda forward a bit by stating that West Jerusalem
       is Israeli and East Jerusalem is Palestinian. Of course, in
       reality, this is not a reality. Both belong to Israel and their
       proxies. And then there is the embassy situation.
       >
       > Russia isn’t really pro-Palestine. Other countries give more
       aid and support for Palestine when compared to Russia.
       Furthermore, some elites in Russia consider Israel their second
       home. And many others wish that they were part of that club, but
       they cannot qualify for Israeli passports, sadly. We would never
       see the Kremlin siding against Israel because of these factors.
       > ...
       > Have you noticed Ukraine’s full-throated support for Israel?
       >
       > Yes, and there may be several reasons for this. Maybe they
       want weapons from Israel. Maybe they know that the West expects
       them to support Israel. They are a beggar-country now. Also,
       their elite is all Israeli, not Ukrainian.
       >
       > Ukraine has lost all autonomy. If they have any autonomy left,
       they will sell that off too. Without Western aid, Ukraine cannot
       continue functioning. The entire economy and war effort is being
       carried by the West. Hopefully, the Israel situation will
       distract some of the West’s attention and resources.
       --- End Quote ---
       We should aim for the opposite: for US-backed escalation against
       Russia to the extent that the US is too busy to also support
       Israel.
       --- Quote ---
       > Shoigu and others have said that the MoD plan is to weaken the
       Ukrainians by attrition over many years. They probably hope that
       the West will get tired of bearing the costs and be dissuaded
       from continuing the war by Russia’s static defensive lines. But
       this means many more years of war and many more casualties on
       both sides. People need to stop believing in clever plans.
       >
       > This is what victory will look like if it comes.
       >
       > So the plan really is to just keep the butchery going for a
       few more years?
       >
       > Yes, it seems so. What else can they do?
       --- End Quote ---
       Exactly. But then what can Russia do if additional fronts of war
       are opened against it? This is why now is the best time to
       strike. Doing so will weaken both Russia and Israel
       simultaneously!
       #Post#: 22977--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: rp
       Date: October 22, 2023, 4:32 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Whitepill (positivity/hope) or bluepill (optimism/cope)?:
  HTML https://x.com/umyaznemo/status/1715952953884864677?s=20
       --- Quote ---
       >
       > Rania
       > @umyaznemo
       > This is the beginning of the end for #Israel. Both
       > @netanyahu
       > &
       > @POTUS
       > are so weak, short-sighted, & pompous that they actually will
       be the end of Israel, killing thousands of Americans & Israelis
       in the meantime. #Gaza #iran #Hezbollah
       --- End Quote ---
       Of course the military guy has to add his False Leftist
       commentary about the Israelis "not liking" what they are doing
       in the West Bank, and hence being "demoralized", which is
       absurd. But there is some truth to this: the Israelis are simply
       too cowardly to face off against a stronger opponent and hence
       may be unprepared.
       #Post#: 22978--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: 90sRetroFan
       Date: October 22, 2023, 6:14 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       "Whitepill (positivity/hope) or bluepill (optimism/cope)?:"
       Please do not use rightist vocabulary. "Pills" and in particular
       "copes" are designed to be unfalsifiable and thus effective for
       as long as the consumer decides to take them. On the other hand,
       how this war (or any war) turns out will be seen eventually,
       revealing once and for all which predictions were correct and
       which incorrect. Therefore predictions about the outcomes of
       wars are not "pills".
       "the Israelis are simply too cowardly to face off against a
       stronger opponent and hence may be unprepared."
       They still have the Samson Option.
       Nevertheless, if this video can get watched by Israelis and turn
       them against Netanyahu, or by Americans and decrease the chance
       of the US getting involved (hopefully it can persuade Biden to
       not even bomb Hezbollah), then it would be useful propaganda.
       But if this video gets watched mainly by
       Palestinians/Lebanese/Iranians who then start underestimating
       Israel, it would be counterproductive propaganda.
       #Post#: 22982--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: rp
       Date: October 22, 2023, 6:53 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       "Please do not use rightist vocabulary. "Pills" and in
       particular "copes" are designed to be unfalsifiable and thus
       effective for as long as the consumer decides to take them. On
       the other hand, how this war (or any war) turns out will be seen
       eventually, revealing once and for all which predictions were
       correct and which incorrect. Therefore predictions about the
       outcomes of wars are not "pills"."
       Ok. Noted.
       "They still have the Samson Option."
       I was counting on Pakistan nuking Israel in retaliation.
       Pakistan has time and again reaffirmed their support for nuking
       Israel if Israel were to nuke Iran. But I will admit the lack of
       long range ICBMs in Pakistan's arsenal presents some logistical
       hurdles as the warhead/missile would have to be transported to
       Turkey with a secure convoy, which risks being intercepted by a
       U.S. drone strike. The only non-Western countries with
       nuclear-capable long-range ICBMs capable of targeting Israel are
       China and India, neither of which are anti-Zionist. What do you
       think?
       #Post#: 22983--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: 90sRetroFan
       Date: October 22, 2023, 7:52 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       "What do you think?"
       I never understood why Pakistan has no:
  HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_missile_submarine#Active_classes
       I hope that it actually has some in secret, but I doubt it.
       #Post#: 22985--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: rp
       Date: October 22, 2023, 9:30 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       There is another option: Turkey invades Israel. If Israel
       attacks/nukes Turkey in retaliation, the U.S. will be forced to
       declare war on Israel per Article 5.
       #Post#: 22991--------------------------------------------------
       Re: War
   DIR By: rp
       Date: October 23, 2023, 5:50 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Turkey is a good candidate:
  HTML https://twitter.com/Sprinter99800/status/1715482253503898022
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