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Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

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Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#201

I don't think I've ever seen in all of my wide understanding of history, such a tiny state successfully make an empire its vassal. Truly an astounding feat. It would be highly entertaining if it didn't bode poorly for humanity.

I don’t agree with the assessment, but in terms of a great power being very interested in the interests of a small country, consider Serbia and Russia before WWI.

I agree vassal is the wrong term... but we are currently committing global economic suicide on behalf of Israel's interests. I'm not sure what word is appropriate. Perhaps we need a new one.

I'll look at Serbia, thank you.

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Netanyahu and Trump have a vested interest in promoting the idea of how much influence Israel has over US foreign policy. For Netanyahu, the propaganda that he manipulated Trump into waging a war against Iran boosts his political image with some Israelis. (And it is near election season in Israel).

I don't see how that's a win for him since the outcome was a stronger Iran.

It's simpler than this: Israel benefits from Iran needing to spend large amounts of money on its own infrastructure and civilian needs, rather than on military development. Getting a larger country (the US) to create those money sinks (in the form of a broadly unserious conflict) achieves that outcome.

(The irony being that this is Iran's strategy w/r/t Hormuz as well.)

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#204

"Government suddenly and confusingly starts acting accordingly to what everyone's already know for a long time." This is really quite scary when you think about it. Why now all of a sudden?

"GOP lawmaker wears Israeli military uniform to Capitol Hill" - https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4254384-brian-mast-israel...

It boggles the mind just how egregious this was.

I would not classify myself as anti-Israeli, fwiw. I just think wearing the military uniform of a foreign nation to your job governing our nation is despicable and borderline treasonous.

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#205
post #48

"Government suddenly and confusingly starts acting accordingly to what everyone's already know for a long time." This is really quite scary when you think about it. Why now all of a sudden?

Maybe this is a bit glib, but it's because attacking Iran (which everyone knew was a bad idea but which presumably seemed useful as a distraction) turned out to be a bad idea. So the administration is taking it out on Israel, who wanted us to do it.

Or, because different factions in the regime are at odds with eachother - there's MAGA, who are a sock puppet for whatever Netanyahu wants, and who spearheaded the idiotic war with Iran, and there's the entire military, which thinks that this war is by far the dumbest thing they've been asked to do... This year.

Did this announcement come from the military side of things, or the MAGA side of things?

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#206
post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So the administration is taking it out on Israel, who wanted us to do it. Well, it is clear to see that this is Netanyahu's ploy, but the thing is that Trump constantly lies about this. "There are negotiations", but then the US bombs again. To me it seems as if Trump operates in a way that makes it impossible to have anything else but drop bombs onto Iran. In this way he resembles Putin, who tries to occupy more an…

> Yes, Putin could in theory stop his war, but he tied his identity to it More like his life. He will not survive the end of this war.

Nah. There are always face-saving offramps... And examples like Saddam doing just fine after his failed invasion of Iran.

If the war ended tomorrow, and Russia withdrew from Ukraine, Putin would still be enjoying ~50% organic support among Russians.

Just like Trump has a ~35% approval floor of complete idiots standing behind him as he sends inflation and gas prices and cost of living through the roof...

Putin enjoys fairly wide actual support for generally developing the country over his tenure. Whether someone else would have done better is not the hypothetical people are engaging with.

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#207
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe this is a bit glib, but it's because attacking Iran (which everyone knew was a bad idea but which presumably seemed useful as a distraction) turned out to be a bad idea. So the administration is taking it out on Israel, who wanted us to do it.

Both Netanyahu and Trump have a vested interest in promoting the idea of how much influence Israel has over US foreign policy. For Netanyahu, the propaganda that he manipulated Trump into waging a war against Iran boosts his political image with some Israelis. (And it is near election season in Israel).

>Both Netanyahu and Trump have a vested interest in promoting the idea of...

you mentioned what Netanyahu gained from this but what about trump?

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I have to imagine Donald Trump has better intel and is making wise, measured, well-informed decisions beyond the abilities of your average HNer.

If we assume everything you say here is true, why is the US in such a bind with reopening the straits? The risk of Iran behaving exactly like this has been understood for decades. The attack was not a a wise, measured move.

This was (I thought) very obvious sarcasm, the man is an easily manipulated buffoon.

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#209
post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Along these lines, but with a bit more: Israel definitely wanted us to do this, but they've been trying to sell US presidents on this for decades without success. MBS and the Saudis also want this, but you rarely read about that in the news; likewise with the UAE and quite a few others who have even been running their own direct strikes on Iran. The thing is, and I realize this is a rough climate to say this into: Je…

> 1500 years I’m curious what the Lindy Effect would mean in this case

Fighting over that patch is one of the older continuous activities of the species, and while anything is possible, I would never bet in favor of MENA peace.

Re: Pentagon raised threat of Israeli spying on U.S. to highest level, sources say

#210
post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how that's a win for him since the outcome was a stronger Iran.

Stronger how? The central command is gone.

They seem to be heading towards control of the strait, and the tolls from that could be a pretty good pickup for whatever new government forms?
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