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Culture War Roundup for the week of February 23, 2026

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Just bombing until they give up worked so well in Vietnam. Afghanistan and Yemen have been bombed relentlessly. It didn't work.

The US isn't going to control the middle east by just bombing.

The US isn't going to control the middle east by just bombing.

Why not? Israel controls (sort of) Lebanon and Syria just by bombing them unopposed. This goes on for decades, and could go on indefinitely. In principle, Iran could be reduced to this state too.

Israel failed to control Gaza in two years of war and Hamas is still running it. 70 000 dead people and they couldn't control an area the size of a small county with closed off borders.

How has controlling Yemen gone with relentless bombing for 12 years?

The war was not about "controlling" Gaza (who needs such prize), but destroying it. Now, it is pile of ruins that will be never rebuilt. Hamas can "control" it, but can do nothing to endanger Israel.

(The actual death toll is unclear, somewhere in low six figures. The rest of Gazans are going to leave or die too).

Yemen is danger because of ballistic missiles, supplied by Iran. When the factories where they come from are destroyed, Yemen would be again as threatening as Zimbabwe.

Hamas can "control" [Gaza], but can do nothing to endanger Israel.

The same was said before the current war.

Just bombing until they give up worked so well in Vietnam.

I'm not sure if this is meant to be a joke.

Bombing is a strategy, the objective is what’s relevant. Is the objective here bad? Yes, that’s why I opposed this action. But that doesn’t make the strategy impossible.