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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 12, 2026

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I still don't quite understand which parts of the European leadership genuinely consider Ukraine a core interest of theirs, which ones are playing the part because of personal obligations to the US (to gaslight their population into believing/accepting US interests as its own), and which ones are doing so because the former two groups have them by the balls. I would've guessed the split is roughly Baltics/Germanics+France/actual Europoors like Spain and Greece.

Since the Greenland "tripwire" deployment is essentially from the second group, they might have thought Greenland is a demand too far after everything they are already surrendering, or (more likely?) see their loyalties as strictly being with the stable "deep state" core of the US and judging the grab for Greenland to be a personal Trump project rather than reflecting an authentic priority of the immortal soul of America.

I still don't quite understand which parts of the European leadership genuinely consider Ukraine a core interest of theirs

Well, it's not so much Ukraine per se, but rather not encouraging more wars of territorial expansion.

Why do you figure they would not consider encouraging more wars of territorial expansion in their interest? I think you could make this argument for France (which, uniquely, still has some sensitive possessions all over the world that would be juicy targets for their neighbours), but there at least doesn't seem to be a direct threat from it to anyone else in the EU.

Why do you figure they would not consider encouraging more wars of territorial expansion in their interest?

Because the damage from such conflicts tends to outweigh the value of the territory gained; thus everyone involved is less able to afford to buy goods from, and produce goods for sale to, everywhere else. A world in which countries regularly start wars over territory is one in which everyone is worse off.

but there at least doesn't seem to be a direct threat from it to anyone else in the EU

Twenty years ago, there didn't seem to be a threat to anyone else from Russia.

Fifty years ago, there didn't seem to be a threat to anyone else from Iran.

A century ago, no one thought China would be of any geopolitical significance.

If wars of territorial aggression become normalised, it is far from certain that the grandchildren of the current leadership will not regard their neighbours with envious eyes, and slowly and surely draw their plans against one another.

If wars of territorial aggression become normalised,

If you don't want that, I'll be happy to see you at the anti-Israel protest marches!

Anti-'Israel-expanding-beyond-the-Green-Line' or anti-'Israel-existing-at-all'?

If those favouring a two-state solution were to tell those advocating an Arab-Palestine-from-the-river-to-the-sea, like the gay rights movement told the pedophiles, "You can't sit with us!", I would regard them with more sympathy.

I am referring to both the Golan Heights and the continued expansion of the Yellow line. As for me personally I favour a single-state solution with full democracy, along with some denazification efforts/war-crime prosecutions.

But either way, there's zero credibility in condemnations of wars of aggression for lebensraum that mysteriously pass over Israel, because that makes it clear that it isn't wars of aggression that you're objecting to but some secret other motive. "Wars of aggression are fine for me but not for thee" is not a particularly compelling message that will convince anyone to support your cause.

I am referring to both the Golan Heights and the continued expansion of the Yellow line.

Both of which are outside of pre-1967 Israeli territory; the Green Line being the border of such with the West Bank and Gaza. Admittedly this doesn't address the Golan Heights; I apologise if I was less than clear.

a single-state solution with full democracy

As such a state would likely soon have an Arab population greater than its Jewish population, and as many of the Palestinian Arabs object to Jews existing as equals, I would judge a 'one-state solution' as being approximately as prudent as siting Doreen's Nursery next to Ed's Dingo Farm.

along with some denazification efforts/war-crime prosecutions

Of Hamas, right? (Padme, her face concerned!)

condemnations of wars of aggression for lebensraum that mysteriously pass over Israel

Do you know of any organisations condemning Israeli actions in Gaza/the West Bank/the Golan Heights who also explicitly reject Palestinian claims on pre-1967 Israeli territory? Such an organisation would have more credibility than one that equivocates whether, when they refer to 'occupied Palestine', they mean to include Tel Aviv, and has discovered no degree of anti-Semitism sufficient to draw a reaction of "You can't sit with us!".

it isn't wars of aggression that you're objecting to but some secret other motive

It's not secret; I believe everyone is entitled to my opinion. I would prefer that no clay be taken by force of arms; however, if that option is unavailable, and one side or the other must gain from the conflict, I would prefer that the side gaining territory be the side that was minding its own damn business.

If Alicestan is invaded by Bobesia,

Borders return to status quo ante > Alicestan takes land from Bobesia >>> Bobesia takes land from Alicestan.

Both of which are outside of pre-1967 Israeli territory;

Yes, and Israel acquired that territory via force of arms. If Israel can do it, why not Russia? If Israel can do it, why can't China do the same to Taiwan?

and as many of the Palestinian Arabs object to Jews existing as equals,

Of Hamas, right? (Padme, her face concerned!)

Of course! But you'd also have to launch mass prosecutions for anyone in the Israeli government who supported the illegal settlements or the military action in Gaza. You'd also have to take every single Israeli who supported the ethnic cleansing of Gaza or otherwise held racist views towards the Palestinians and put them through some re-education, but if there's real accountability and progress I'm confident you could have peace between the two populations.

Do you know of any organisations condemning Israeli actions in Gaza/the West Bank/the Golan Heights who also explicitly reject Palestinian claims on pre-1967 Israeli territory?

I don't care about pre-1967 Israeli territory - why do you think that the perpetrators of the Deir Yassin massacre should be rewarded? I was under the impression that you're opposed to taking territory through violence!

I would prefer that no clay be taken by force of arms; however, if that option is unavailable, and one side or the other must gain from the conflict, I would prefer that the side gaining territory be the side that was minding its own damn business.

But we have a chance to simply undo the entire problem! A single state solution definitively repudiates the idea that claiming territory via force of arms is acceptable. Anything else sends the message that it is perfectly fine, and leaves you unable to condemn anything Russia, China or even North Korea decides it wants to do.

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