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Culture War Roundup for the week of April 20, 2026

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The potential benefit to America winning this war is huge. We defeat an ancient enemy that has killed American soldiers for fifty years. We create a new order in the Middle East that turns a black hole of money and blood into an oasis of energy and peace. America acquires a dominant controlling position over global energy markets. We control the major global choke points of shipping. America eliminates the artificially cheap source of oil China was using to industrialize at our expense. America eliminates a major provider of arms to Russia. America remakes the entire global order and neutralizes one of our most intransigent foes.

This is almost word for word what people said in the lead up to the second Iraq war except the names of the adversaries are different. And hey we won! Iraq is a mostly democratic country. Was it worth it? no. The Europeans and the Chinese are able to do business with the Middle East without constantly bombing it. America should do the same.

The Middle East that turns a black hole of money and blood into an oasis of energy and peace.

Dubai was an Oasis of energy and peace. Now the influencers are dodging drones and blocking their condo windows with mattresses. Pre-war the Middle East was at peace except for Israel's borders and Yemen. Now the entire eastern half the formerly peaceful Persian gulf region is on fire and half a dozen countries have been drawn into the conflict.