"losing a couple wars abroad in which only 7,000 Americans were killed."
KIA's were very much larger than 7k. Don't forget to be counted as KIA the soldier had to die "in theatre". If he died during evac, or in a military hospital in Berlin for example they weren't counted.
Also not counted were the many thousands of mercs, of which a considerabl amount were US citizens.
Little Bush ordered coffins to be hidden upon arrival as they didn't want people counting.
That is true - I cited the official numbers, which are a drastic undercounting. A very telling statistic which shows how deep the post 9/11 wars reached into US society is that around 2.5 million Americans served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This ist a very thoughtful written article. But it covers only one side of the possibilities.
The question for me ist: When will the West, and especialliy the US say: Enough ist enough. When will the economical burden of this war for the Israeli citicen bei too high? When will the number of the killed Israelian soldiers be too high?
When will the Pictures of the atrocities and the suffering of the Palestinians will overwhelm the public opinion in the West?
The US will lose the war in Ukraine and elections will come soon. The Support for Israel will wane and the Biden administration would like to reach a Resolution of this conflict before.
Maybe they will be also aware of the possible threats you mentioned. I think, there will be more and more countries joining an alliance against this war, the longer it will go on.
However, this will need time and the suffering of the palestinian people will go on.
Kudos, well written, meticulously researched. But do you really believe in a Two State Solution? I'll step out on the ice and boldly proclaim that this will NEVER happen! Even Nasrallah recently stated that a One State Solution, Jews, Muslims, Christians and Others, living side by side, is the ONLY viable solution. Gaddafi said the same, calling the new entity Israstine. Two states is a pipe dream.
I think that when the anti-Zionist forces reach a state of near-overwhelming power then Zionism will sue for peace (2 states), and then it's up for Palestinians to decide what they want. For 20+ years they have wanted 2 states and peace, after all.
Perhaps the best way to put my thoughts is: a 2-state solution is the likely temporary step towards the overwhelming victory of the anti-Zionist forces, which means a final return to a tolerant, multi-religious state of Palestine.
But can't you see the Zionists trying to say, "Wow, you're strong now! Ok ok ok - 2 states is fine!!!!!"
I have felt for many years that the main ingredient lacking has been solidarity among the other States in the Region. It seems that with the BRICS process that is gradually emerging - Saudis, Iranians, Turkey, Syria etc. coming together. Because one part of what is needed for Palestine to be a State is for them to proclaim themselves as such in a Declaration of Statehood and for this to be formally recognized by the other States in the Region. Then there is a State.
The tricky part of course is the borders. VERY tricky! There should be a regional Peace Conference during which the borders are hammered out. Once decided, there then need to be an Enforcement mechanism, ideally with the militaries of all signing parties in the Region. The State of Palestine must be protected by all. Israel can be similarly protected if she so choose, but the important thing is to STOP letting Israel dictate the terms and process according to her own greed and paranoia, rather the emphasis should be on creating a correct, viable, contiguous Palestinian State.
This might have to be done WITHOUT US and Israeli consent. That the State is created and ratified by all major States in the Region and then a slow, steady campaign, military if necessary, is waged to take the territory delineated by the Accord. Again, this is the Region itself taking the initiative and then taking responsibility for that decision rather than leaving it up to Major Powers outside the region or poorly configured international bodies like the UN whose disastrous decisions enabled this sorry mess.
Well said. There's also a lack of solidarity which is expressly created by the West via the puppets and anti-democratic suppressions they create and support.
Thanks for coming to substack, Ramin! After writing a number of essays since 7 October, I welcome the addition of your insights. As a student of Western Imperialism and the Outlaw US Empire, I agree their current weakness is via their own hand due to very longstanding deleterious sociocultural addictions/afflictions accumulated over the Age of Plunder over the past 1000 years.
I wish you success here at substack. I enjoyed your essay at The Saker's. And I'm certain your writing will become even better as you gain more wisdom.
I wholeheartedly agree with the article except that Russia might end up at war with Israel. With 3 million Russian Jews in Israel and who knows how many still in Russia, it seems politically impossible for that event to occur.
I agree. In the alliance I described Russia getting involved in war with Israel is very far down the chain of events.
However, I think that given the vast sanctions campaign there's a veritable revolution going on in Russia-Western relations and that Russia is learning who their actual friends are.
Great article, thanks very much. I have one issue to present:
"....but Palestinians have made it clear they’re fine with a two-state solution, and I respect their sovereign decision."
I cannot accept this is being true. There is no clear irrefutable evidence it is true. It is only an assumption based on a clear absence of hard evidence. The Palestinians, all of them including international refugees must be given a number of opportunities to Vote democratically on these questions as Plebiscites offering alternatives. Proper care and attention - and free space without violence and wars and threats from Israel or the US/Europe - for proper dissemination of the possible options available to them to choose from and open dialogue and community discussions over a LONG CALM PERIOD of time before Voting ... eventually arriving at clear final Referendum of a particular formulation for a State being presented as a Yes or No question.
This process should take at least 2 years and in the interim Palestine should be governed by a small group of friendly but powerful nations separate to the corrupt and undermined UN system. After the choice is made of a one-state or two state solution state structure / form etc then the process needs to move onto the People discussing and voting upon a proper Constitution of their new nation. None of the things should be rushed, because there is no rush. East Timor is a good example to use as guide, and not what happened in Iraq.
Only once the Palestinians on their own choose to go with two state or a one state solution can the current Israeli citizens be given an opportunity to have their say regarding a one-state option. Unless the Palestinians have decided that immigrant Zionist Jews should be deported from the new state of Palestine .... wouldn't that put the cat among the pigeons, but frankly the Palestinians have such a moral and ethical Right to make that choice should they wish it. Palestine is after all always been THEIR TERRITORY and not the immigrant Zionist Jews who have arrived since 1922!
Fair points and good ideas, but Palestinians have accepted a two state solution - based on 1967 borders - for about 50 years. Now maybe this acquiescence will change ONCE Palestine has some leverage, powerful allies, etc., but for now there seems to be no doubt that Palestine has accepted a 2-state solution in the overwhelming main.
Thanks Ramin. I hear you. My reading is that only the "leadership/elites" have agreed to a Two-State solution.
The people have never had a choice, never been given a chance. And this question should not be asked until the use of violence and threat of force against the Palestinian people has been stopped -- by an overwhelming greater force to pull the Zionist Jews of Israel into line.
The original crime was the Jews and Zionists being allowed to emigrate to Palestine in the first place. That injustice must be corrected first. Then the people to decide what kind of nation state and constitution do they want - not before.
Cheers and keep writing please!
Anyway, it is intractable -- some good unique perspectives and ideas here if interested:
" In simple terms, we can say that no solution acceptable to Israel would work, and that no solution that would work would be acceptable to Israel. "
IMO their opinion no longer counts or holds value. They can and should be ignored - and Deported - all of them who arrived after 1922 and their descendants.
Most excellent and insightful perspective.
Much appreciated!
"losing a couple wars abroad in which only 7,000 Americans were killed."
KIA's were very much larger than 7k. Don't forget to be counted as KIA the soldier had to die "in theatre". If he died during evac, or in a military hospital in Berlin for example they weren't counted.
Also not counted were the many thousands of mercs, of which a considerabl amount were US citizens.
Little Bush ordered coffins to be hidden upon arrival as they didn't want people counting.
That is true - I cited the official numbers, which are a drastic undercounting. A very telling statistic which shows how deep the post 9/11 wars reached into US society is that around 2.5 million Americans served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/veterans
This ist a very thoughtful written article. But it covers only one side of the possibilities.
The question for me ist: When will the West, and especialliy the US say: Enough ist enough. When will the economical burden of this war for the Israeli citicen bei too high? When will the number of the killed Israelian soldiers be too high?
When will the Pictures of the atrocities and the suffering of the Palestinians will overwhelm the public opinion in the West?
The US will lose the war in Ukraine and elections will come soon. The Support for Israel will wane and the Biden administration would like to reach a Resolution of this conflict before.
Maybe they will be also aware of the possible threats you mentioned. I think, there will be more and more countries joining an alliance against this war, the longer it will go on.
However, this will need time and the suffering of the palestinian people will go on.
70% of 18-34 year olds oppose the support for Israel, so the US is starting to say enough is enough... too bad with such a generation gap.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/23/715108/Biden-s-approval-craters-as-70--of-young-voters-oppose-pro-Israel-stance
Kudos, well written, meticulously researched. But do you really believe in a Two State Solution? I'll step out on the ice and boldly proclaim that this will NEVER happen! Even Nasrallah recently stated that a One State Solution, Jews, Muslims, Christians and Others, living side by side, is the ONLY viable solution. Gaddafi said the same, calling the new entity Israstine. Two states is a pipe dream.
Many thanks for your kind praise!
I think that when the anti-Zionist forces reach a state of near-overwhelming power then Zionism will sue for peace (2 states), and then it's up for Palestinians to decide what they want. For 20+ years they have wanted 2 states and peace, after all.
Perhaps the best way to put my thoughts is: a 2-state solution is the likely temporary step towards the overwhelming victory of the anti-Zionist forces, which means a final return to a tolerant, multi-religious state of Palestine.
But can't you see the Zionists trying to say, "Wow, you're strong now! Ok ok ok - 2 states is fine!!!!!"
I have felt for many years that the main ingredient lacking has been solidarity among the other States in the Region. It seems that with the BRICS process that is gradually emerging - Saudis, Iranians, Turkey, Syria etc. coming together. Because one part of what is needed for Palestine to be a State is for them to proclaim themselves as such in a Declaration of Statehood and for this to be formally recognized by the other States in the Region. Then there is a State.
The tricky part of course is the borders. VERY tricky! There should be a regional Peace Conference during which the borders are hammered out. Once decided, there then need to be an Enforcement mechanism, ideally with the militaries of all signing parties in the Region. The State of Palestine must be protected by all. Israel can be similarly protected if she so choose, but the important thing is to STOP letting Israel dictate the terms and process according to her own greed and paranoia, rather the emphasis should be on creating a correct, viable, contiguous Palestinian State.
This might have to be done WITHOUT US and Israeli consent. That the State is created and ratified by all major States in the Region and then a slow, steady campaign, military if necessary, is waged to take the territory delineated by the Accord. Again, this is the Region itself taking the initiative and then taking responsibility for that decision rather than leaving it up to Major Powers outside the region or poorly configured international bodies like the UN whose disastrous decisions enabled this sorry mess.
Best of luck to you!
Well said. There's also a lack of solidarity which is expressly created by the West via the puppets and anti-democratic suppressions they create and support.
"or it could also mean taking on Russia as well,"
And Russia has the men and weapons if required. They have 400,000 sitting and waiting....for something. And thousands are signing up each month.
Thanks for coming to substack, Ramin! After writing a number of essays since 7 October, I welcome the addition of your insights. As a student of Western Imperialism and the Outlaw US Empire, I agree their current weakness is via their own hand due to very longstanding deleterious sociocultural addictions/afflictions accumulated over the Age of Plunder over the past 1000 years.
I wish you success here at substack. I enjoyed your essay at The Saker's. And I'm certain your writing will become even better as you gain more wisdom.
Many thanks Karl!
I sure do miss the Saker. But I'm trying out Substack... lots of positives.
I wholeheartedly agree with the article except that Russia might end up at war with Israel. With 3 million Russian Jews in Israel and who knows how many still in Russia, it seems politically impossible for that event to occur.
I agree. In the alliance I described Russia getting involved in war with Israel is very far down the chain of events.
However, I think that given the vast sanctions campaign there's a veritable revolution going on in Russia-Western relations and that Russia is learning who their actual friends are.
Nowhere near 3 million. Closer to a million. And many will go back to Russia.
Great article, thanks very much. I have one issue to present:
"....but Palestinians have made it clear they’re fine with a two-state solution, and I respect their sovereign decision."
I cannot accept this is being true. There is no clear irrefutable evidence it is true. It is only an assumption based on a clear absence of hard evidence. The Palestinians, all of them including international refugees must be given a number of opportunities to Vote democratically on these questions as Plebiscites offering alternatives. Proper care and attention - and free space without violence and wars and threats from Israel or the US/Europe - for proper dissemination of the possible options available to them to choose from and open dialogue and community discussions over a LONG CALM PERIOD of time before Voting ... eventually arriving at clear final Referendum of a particular formulation for a State being presented as a Yes or No question.
This process should take at least 2 years and in the interim Palestine should be governed by a small group of friendly but powerful nations separate to the corrupt and undermined UN system. After the choice is made of a one-state or two state solution state structure / form etc then the process needs to move onto the People discussing and voting upon a proper Constitution of their new nation. None of the things should be rushed, because there is no rush. East Timor is a good example to use as guide, and not what happened in Iraq.
Only once the Palestinians on their own choose to go with two state or a one state solution can the current Israeli citizens be given an opportunity to have their say regarding a one-state option. Unless the Palestinians have decided that immigrant Zionist Jews should be deported from the new state of Palestine .... wouldn't that put the cat among the pigeons, but frankly the Palestinians have such a moral and ethical Right to make that choice should they wish it. Palestine is after all always been THEIR TERRITORY and not the immigrant Zionist Jews who have arrived since 1922!
Fair points and good ideas, but Palestinians have accepted a two state solution - based on 1967 borders - for about 50 years. Now maybe this acquiescence will change ONCE Palestine has some leverage, powerful allies, etc., but for now there seems to be no doubt that Palestine has accepted a 2-state solution in the overwhelming main.
Thanks Ramin. I hear you. My reading is that only the "leadership/elites" have agreed to a Two-State solution.
The people have never had a choice, never been given a chance. And this question should not be asked until the use of violence and threat of force against the Palestinian people has been stopped -- by an overwhelming greater force to pull the Zionist Jews of Israel into line.
The original crime was the Jews and Zionists being allowed to emigrate to Palestine in the first place. That injustice must be corrected first. Then the people to decide what kind of nation state and constitution do they want - not before.
Cheers and keep writing please!
Anyway, it is intractable -- some good unique perspectives and ideas here if interested:
https://aurelien2022.substack.com/p/no-way-out
The Zionists will never allow a two state solution as that means Palestine has the right to a military, land , sea, and air. And a UN seat.
One state, for all religions, as it was before the Zionist infestation. The ashkeNAZI criminals can fuck off back to NYC and Eastern Europe.
" In simple terms, we can say that no solution acceptable to Israel would work, and that no solution that would work would be acceptable to Israel. "
IMO their opinion no longer counts or holds value. They can and should be ignored - and Deported - all of them who arrived after 1922 and their descendants.