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PaperclipPerfector  7mo ago (text post)   31823 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of September 30, 2024

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Iran has launched hypersonic missiles into the center of Tel Aviv.

This is shocking to me - I knew things were heating up in the Middle East, but now Iran is officially firing back at Israel. To be frank I was kind of not paying attention to the situation much until this happened, but seems like a major inflection point.

What are the implications of this for further war? For nuclear action in the area? Other countries getting invovled?

What are the implications for the U.S. election, and what do you think the U.S. will do in response?

How do we find a way towards peace now that Israel has been bombed in a civilian area?

EDIT: Almost goes without saying, but Iran has officially declared war on Israel.

Yeah, this is just posturing. Iran has to make some kind of response to save face/show support for Iranian proxies. It's not interested in a war with Israel (and the United States). The United States (or at least the Democratic Party) isn't interested in a war with Iran. Israel really wants to drag the United States into a war with Iran.

If it's not interested in a war, why does it stand behind proxies that do?

To weaken Israel politically, economically, and militarily. Hamas helps erode international support for Israel and wastes economic and military resources. Hezbollah disrupts northern Israel and makes it unsafe for civilians, who may leave for the United States. Every little bit helps.

Why does Iran care about Israel so much? I get why the Arab states hated them, but what has Israel ever done to Persia? Palestinians are Sunni, not Shia, so there’s no obvious alliance there. Is it all about Jerusalem? Why don’t Pakistan or Bangladesh or Indonesia fund resistance groups? Is it just a cynical power play?

History that I'm unfamiliar with, but this article seems to sum it up decently. I'm sure there's more to it.

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