The first post today looked briefly at the continuing war of attrition and the ways in which it appears to be 1) maintaining its trajectory but also 2) gradually intensifying.
It will be fun watching Biden continue to bail water to appease progressives while still capitulating to his neocon captors, even as more Palestinians starve or are shot to death. He'll need more than vapid denouncements of Bibi to show them who is the tail and who is the dog. But we've known that all along haven't we.
Our education system failures perhaps have intention - if nothing else the following strikes an interesting contrast: Soviet Union saw 15.9-17.4 Million civilian deaths in WWII. 800,000 alone in Leningrad a city of 3 million. Germany saw around 500,000 (+/-1.5K) civilian deaths from Allied bombing (intentionally targeting housing + assorted military targets) 3 Million total German civilians (muddy stats) for all of WWII. Dresden saw 90% of the city destroyed in one allied Bombing campaign (13 days) with 25,000 civilian deaths (*200,000 up to 500,000 - Germany reported & likely Propaganda) plus another 50,000 civilian deaths 'but war-factory workers' so not counted as civilians.
Those are not countries we were rooting for for perspective to my point.
WWII saw 50-55 MILLION civilian deaths (directly from conflict as well as famine and Disease). Military and Civilian deaths totaled 70-85 million. That was 3% of the entire planet's population.
--
My point here is twofold: our education system lacks history. *Many reading this are on this website because of History - it is interesting but extremely important*. Second - I'm not going into any depth except to note we've (mostly) a bunch of uneducated college students and recent grads crying foul about Gaza civilian casualties. "Israel is being Genocidal!" Listen please before judging me too harshly: any death of civilians in military conflict is tragic. Period. But please remember, when the US entered and then spent our amazing war power killing German Nazis, Italians, Austrians and so forth ('the enemy') the civilian death toll was horrendous. Dresden was (and still is) often considered a War Crime. I am glad the Allied Forces won. My mom and dad served in that war. [They survived - I'm proof]. Good or bad, war is hell. Period.
---
I'm closing with a consideration for you all: Many - MANY decry Israeli genocide including this Substack. I decry all "genocide" but actually always decry civilian deaths. Period. Whether civilian deaths are genocide seems not an objective, but subjective accusation these days especially with today's school so lacking in teaching history. With the propensity of information being so unreliable in this time of endless information streams, I wonder if subjectivity is 'winning the vote' and thereby influencing our possibly one-sided observations and thereby opinions. There are no blessings in war. I don't know what God is going to do with Israel - I'm not at all confident their existence is of His making. History is coming to show mankind decided they'd help the Lord and Christ Jesus to come back and restore His Kingdom here. I believe what's going on in the ME is not going to line up real well biblically. What's right, what's wrong with today's ME mess? Death of innocents is wrong - you choose who that is. Israeli? Palestinian? Arab? At best I'll offer that the US Neocon/Israel lobby cabal aren't on the side of right.
My thoughts, as they say worth every bit of the 2 cents paid for 'em. (WrH)
(small edit - I didn't even mention the Nukes on Japan - mostly civilian and all on the USA).
Yes, about Japan... We could have negotiated terms before Hiroshima. For that matter the entire conflict could have been avoided but for FDR's embargo on oil.
Nor are we taught of US firms (GE, Ford, Bank of NY et. al.) rebuilding German industrial strength throughout the interwar years.
As you say, ignorance abounds. And it is the most silent killer of all.
On the one hand there's no question but that Roosevelt steered us into war with Japan--not out of any humanitarian motives, mind you. On the other hand, give a read to what Japan did in Korea, in China, in the rest of Asia.
A very sad reality is those such as the Nazis and Japanese perps as you've noted continue to infest this planet. Wars aren't just fought with the enlisted military folks, but for and against the hearts and minds of the 'enemy' populace. I guess the horrible outlier to my thought here is war perpetuated for MIC enrichment. 21st century ugliness and another revelation of the debasement of the human depraved condition. Ugh. Blessings Mark. (WrH)
Thanks Tony, sage thoughts. I'll add ignorance may be intended for we citizens while 'leadership' operates it's agenda. MIC certainly has made many, many rich folk while millions of lives are spent -and rarely include the lives of the designers of conflict. Blessings sir! (WrH)
Hey Cast, thanks. For your time to endure my never-short nor concise writings and for helping me understand better what I was trying to relate to others.
I feared I'd alienate folks when trying to suggest we become the enemy [evil] when we practice it's op methods. I really had hoped you would respond - being completely willing to accept your positions whether in agreement or objection. I do respect your thoughts.
Like so much in this fallen world, a sense of helplessness can easily gain too much, take too much from us and become an unmanageable distraction. Like worry, fear or a sense of guilt of things well beyond our control, I am reminded our Trust is in our God - He's provided for our personal salvation. We should do what we can in our sphere of influence - however our weapon needs be Love and the outcome not be our 1st and primary focus. My very best and kindest regards good sir! (Wayne)
Your point is valid, but . . . the fact that one party is not as bad as the other, doesn't really cut it for me. Differences of degree rather than in kind that are actually just for show, which party is driving us off the cliff? Both of 'em are, the insanity ends in the deep, dark valley below, in a twisted heap of wreckage. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, ad nauseam.
The whole tick tock thing is interesting. It came out of nowhere all of a sudden. As well as quickly and unanimously passed through committee. Then quickly brought up to a floor vote. “Bipartisan” action that the media celebrates if you will. It sure seems to be a reaction to something. The need to shut it down or control it is palpable. What a difference a few years make. I am old enough to remember how during the summer of 2020 the Uniparty relied upon tick tock to fan the flames of the peaceful riots. What a country.
You mention how the alternative media sphere has been able to get the truth out there, despite the best efforts of Big Gov and the MSM to stop it. That explains why we are moving into the next big phases of the war between the Western Elites and Lovers of Freedom: censorship. The TikTok ban is part of that, as is the horrible EU "anti-misinformation" law coming into practice. Of course, they will fail, but it will be a fight to the death. Mearsheimer is correct to say that most Americans (and Western Euros) don't realise how much trouble we are in in the ME and Ukraine. However, I'd go a step further: we don't realise how much trouble we are in at home either. Finally, yes, the months before the election are going to be very interesting. Witnessing Johnson's caving to Dems' recent spending demands, I don't see the Stupid Party taking advantage.
An interesting aspect that my wife has commented on several times is this. My wife listens to CBS news radio whenever she's in the kitchen. She has been very surprised at the level of reporting on the genocide against Palestinians. The newsreaders don't frame it exactly like that, but they present the information much more impartially than expected, not in an entirely overbearing propagandistic manner. That suggests a shift in attitudes on the Left which is framed in Zionist circles as a rise in "anti-Semitism".
The left is the one undergoing a civil war on Gaza.
The Republicans don’t have the power, and every party knows that, so they are being largely ignored. And November is a long ways away. Plus, most parties probably believe that Trump won’t be allowed to be elected anyway.
In the U.S. You have the pro-Israel faction that is in a huge panic dealing with the Pro Gaza faction.
Accusations of Anti-Semitic, anti Israel, pro rape accusations, hate speech are all being deployed.
On the other side physical protests are deployed.
I have no idea what is going on with social media, but the banning of tick tock due to pro Gaza posts probably means other sites censor pro Gaza stuff and are under control.
It will be fun watching Biden continue to bail water to appease progressives while still capitulating to his neocon captors, even as more Palestinians starve or are shot to death. He'll need more than vapid denouncements of Bibi to show them who is the tail and who is the dog. But we've known that all along haven't we.
Our education system failures perhaps have intention - if nothing else the following strikes an interesting contrast: Soviet Union saw 15.9-17.4 Million civilian deaths in WWII. 800,000 alone in Leningrad a city of 3 million. Germany saw around 500,000 (+/-1.5K) civilian deaths from Allied bombing (intentionally targeting housing + assorted military targets) 3 Million total German civilians (muddy stats) for all of WWII. Dresden saw 90% of the city destroyed in one allied Bombing campaign (13 days) with 25,000 civilian deaths (*200,000 up to 500,000 - Germany reported & likely Propaganda) plus another 50,000 civilian deaths 'but war-factory workers' so not counted as civilians.
Those are not countries we were rooting for for perspective to my point.
WWII saw 50-55 MILLION civilian deaths (directly from conflict as well as famine and Disease). Military and Civilian deaths totaled 70-85 million. That was 3% of the entire planet's population.
--
My point here is twofold: our education system lacks history. *Many reading this are on this website because of History - it is interesting but extremely important*. Second - I'm not going into any depth except to note we've (mostly) a bunch of uneducated college students and recent grads crying foul about Gaza civilian casualties. "Israel is being Genocidal!" Listen please before judging me too harshly: any death of civilians in military conflict is tragic. Period. But please remember, when the US entered and then spent our amazing war power killing German Nazis, Italians, Austrians and so forth ('the enemy') the civilian death toll was horrendous. Dresden was (and still is) often considered a War Crime. I am glad the Allied Forces won. My mom and dad served in that war. [They survived - I'm proof]. Good or bad, war is hell. Period.
---
I'm closing with a consideration for you all: Many - MANY decry Israeli genocide including this Substack. I decry all "genocide" but actually always decry civilian deaths. Period. Whether civilian deaths are genocide seems not an objective, but subjective accusation these days especially with today's school so lacking in teaching history. With the propensity of information being so unreliable in this time of endless information streams, I wonder if subjectivity is 'winning the vote' and thereby influencing our possibly one-sided observations and thereby opinions. There are no blessings in war. I don't know what God is going to do with Israel - I'm not at all confident their existence is of His making. History is coming to show mankind decided they'd help the Lord and Christ Jesus to come back and restore His Kingdom here. I believe what's going on in the ME is not going to line up real well biblically. What's right, what's wrong with today's ME mess? Death of innocents is wrong - you choose who that is. Israeli? Palestinian? Arab? At best I'll offer that the US Neocon/Israel lobby cabal aren't on the side of right.
My thoughts, as they say worth every bit of the 2 cents paid for 'em. (WrH)
(small edit - I didn't even mention the Nukes on Japan - mostly civilian and all on the USA).
Yes, about Japan... We could have negotiated terms before Hiroshima. For that matter the entire conflict could have been avoided but for FDR's embargo on oil.
Nor are we taught of US firms (GE, Ford, Bank of NY et. al.) rebuilding German industrial strength throughout the interwar years.
As you say, ignorance abounds. And it is the most silent killer of all.
On the one hand there's no question but that Roosevelt steered us into war with Japan--not out of any humanitarian motives, mind you. On the other hand, give a read to what Japan did in Korea, in China, in the rest of Asia.
A very sad reality is those such as the Nazis and Japanese perps as you've noted continue to infest this planet. Wars aren't just fought with the enlisted military folks, but for and against the hearts and minds of the 'enemy' populace. I guess the horrible outlier to my thought here is war perpetuated for MIC enrichment. 21st century ugliness and another revelation of the debasement of the human depraved condition. Ugh. Blessings Mark. (WrH)
Thanks Tony, sage thoughts. I'll add ignorance may be intended for we citizens while 'leadership' operates it's agenda. MIC certainly has made many, many rich folk while millions of lives are spent -and rarely include the lives of the designers of conflict. Blessings sir! (WrH)
Very well said WRH
Hey Cast, thanks. For your time to endure my never-short nor concise writings and for helping me understand better what I was trying to relate to others.
I feared I'd alienate folks when trying to suggest we become the enemy [evil] when we practice it's op methods. I really had hoped you would respond - being completely willing to accept your positions whether in agreement or objection. I do respect your thoughts.
Like so much in this fallen world, a sense of helplessness can easily gain too much, take too much from us and become an unmanageable distraction. Like worry, fear or a sense of guilt of things well beyond our control, I am reminded our Trust is in our God - He's provided for our personal salvation. We should do what we can in our sphere of influence - however our weapon needs be Love and the outcome not be our 1st and primary focus. My very best and kindest regards good sir! (Wayne)
A pox on both of their houses.
Both parties are stupid.
Both parties support evil.
Both parties are corrupt.
Both parties are spendthrifts.
Both parties are owned by foreign and domestic lobbyists.
Neither party abides by the Constitution.
Neither party is loyal to We the People.
Neither party supports the traditional family.
Neither party will ever receive a contribution from me.
I may have to write in Chinggis Khaan for President !!!
Your point is valid, but . . . the fact that one party is not as bad as the other, doesn't really cut it for me. Differences of degree rather than in kind that are actually just for show, which party is driving us off the cliff? Both of 'em are, the insanity ends in the deep, dark valley below, in a twisted heap of wreckage. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, ad nauseam.
precisely
The whole tick tock thing is interesting. It came out of nowhere all of a sudden. As well as quickly and unanimously passed through committee. Then quickly brought up to a floor vote. “Bipartisan” action that the media celebrates if you will. It sure seems to be a reaction to something. The need to shut it down or control it is palpable. What a difference a few years make. I am old enough to remember how during the summer of 2020 the Uniparty relied upon tick tock to fan the flames of the peaceful riots. What a country.
I’m not really understanding the Houthi conundrum, why wouldn’t the US East coast through Gibraltar be the natural shipping lane.
Why would they need a land route through the Middle East, are all their goods coming from the East.
I wonder if the screws are being applied to Israel to topple Bibi.
Everything comes from the East.
You mention how the alternative media sphere has been able to get the truth out there, despite the best efforts of Big Gov and the MSM to stop it. That explains why we are moving into the next big phases of the war between the Western Elites and Lovers of Freedom: censorship. The TikTok ban is part of that, as is the horrible EU "anti-misinformation" law coming into practice. Of course, they will fail, but it will be a fight to the death. Mearsheimer is correct to say that most Americans (and Western Euros) don't realise how much trouble we are in in the ME and Ukraine. However, I'd go a step further: we don't realise how much trouble we are in at home either. Finally, yes, the months before the election are going to be very interesting. Witnessing Johnson's caving to Dems' recent spending demands, I don't see the Stupid Party taking advantage.
An interesting aspect that my wife has commented on several times is this. My wife listens to CBS news radio whenever she's in the kitchen. She has been very surprised at the level of reporting on the genocide against Palestinians. The newsreaders don't frame it exactly like that, but they present the information much more impartially than expected, not in an entirely overbearing propagandistic manner. That suggests a shift in attitudes on the Left which is framed in Zionist circles as a rise in "anti-Semitism".
The left is the one undergoing a civil war on Gaza.
The Republicans don’t have the power, and every party knows that, so they are being largely ignored. And November is a long ways away. Plus, most parties probably believe that Trump won’t be allowed to be elected anyway.
In the U.S. You have the pro-Israel faction that is in a huge panic dealing with the Pro Gaza faction.
Accusations of Anti-Semitic, anti Israel, pro rape accusations, hate speech are all being deployed.
On the other side physical protests are deployed.
I have no idea what is going on with social media, but the banning of tick tock due to pro Gaza posts probably means other sites censor pro Gaza stuff and are under control.
Irrationality free zone.