Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[THE_WIZARD_]

STFU

[iam416]

Please press 2 if you'd like to speak with a representative or press 9 to hear your choices again.

[Ghengis Jon]

Maybe Hack will show up, he's spent some time in various ME places and could offer some perspective.

[crashcourse]

I stayed in a holiday inn express last night I'll handle this

I agree with Wiz

[THE_WIZARD_]

Please press 2 if you'd like to speak with a representative or press 9 to hear your choices again.

Those are the only choices? What kinda thread you runnin' here mister...

[Kapture1]

[ame]https://youtu.be/klFbf6VG7uA[/ame]

[Jeff Buchanan]

It could do a number of different things. It could, quite rightly, signal to the Palestinians that whatever deal they harbor hopes for is dead and that perhaps should take what they can get.

It could also be giving something big to Israel to set up significant concessions to be asked for later on -- concessions that the Sunni world will back.

This could be a step forward in what the US views as a necessary Sunni-Israel partnership against Iran (part and parcel to getting the fuck out from under Obama's verbal promise).

In any event, I'm quite happy we're no longer tip-toeing around a terrorist-run state hoping that this time, THIS TIME, the same failed policies will produce a different result.

This .....

Although perhaps an oversimplification because you are dealing with Arabs here, this move fundamentally unmasks the real conflict which is between the US backed Israelis and Iran. While Russia is a player on Iran's side I don't think they have the leverage in the ME that Putin thinks they do. I could be wrong on this point.

An intermediate conflict- sort of Venn diagram thing - is the centuries old Shia/Sunni conflict. In the modern ME there are clear nation states representing these religious entities.

Hamas and Hezbollah are mere proxies for Iran in Syria and on the West Bank. Certainly there are other minor players and theseare visible in the Syrian conflict.

BTW talent, thanks for the clarification on a couple of issues I raised but we are, on balance, in agreement about the real problem with drug costs. I think upon further review, the Trump plan has some possibilities as I think those involved in formulating it, not withstanding the public presentation of it which I did not like, understand the BS associated with intermediaries.

[iam416]

An intermediate conflict- sort of Venn diagram thing - is the centuries old Shia/Sunni conflict. In the modern ME there are clear nation states representing these religious entities.

Yeah, man. That's why we put with bullshit from Saudi Arabia. And it's why, very recently, Bahrain actually defended ISRAEL's right to defend itself. It's not revolutionary thinking here -- this has been the situation for years. BUT, the growing and active divide between Sunni and Shia is an opportunity.

And my understanding of PDJT's -- heh -- "art of the deal" is that he gives important folks at the table something they want early to get them to buy into the larger deal later. But that sort of fits with what you're seeing in the ME. Arguably he's lining up Israel and the Sunnis to support the "grand deal" -- one that I still think is entirely fanciful.

Regardless, I do think it's useful to remove this silly veneer that the US is just a neutral third party here. We're not. Back Israel. Don't kowtow to Hamas. And try to offer them something "surprisingly" generous down the road that is sufficient to get Sunni support and something that you can strong-arm Israel into accepting. And then I roll my 3 dice to your 2 and see if my armies conquer yours because it's just a simple as that!

BTW talent, thanks for the clarification on a couple of issues I raised but we are, on balance, in agreement about the real problem with drug costs. I think upon further review, the Trump plan has some possibilities as I think those involved in formulating it, not withstanding the public presentation of it which I did not like, understand the BS associated with intermediaries.

To be clear, I have no illusions about the effectiveness of PDJT's plan (it will not be). But, I just don't find it particularly newsworthy or offensive that he's selling his plan as sliced fucking bread.

I really, really don't know anything about the drug market and how they're purchased. I've also thought the intermediary issue was problematic, but, man, I just don't know enough/anything about it. So, I'd defer to you or AA or anyone who can talk on it with knowledge.

[SeattleLionsFan]

I agree with Iam. We aren’t a neutral player and any attempts to pretend we are is just silly. Let’s be honest and crush/kill every Palestinian. At least until they accept that Israelis were given thier land and will capitulate. This stupid dance is stupid and fools no one.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Also, FWIW, I think the Iranians, Chinese and Russians are developing their own alliance of “outsiders” that can be pretty formidable in the right circumstances.

[iam416]

I’m glad that SLF is on board. There’s hope for him, yet. It’s crazy to treat a terrorist state equal to Israel.

[Kapture1]

We are not supposed to be neutral between Israel and terrorists.

The progressive stance here is that those poor Palestinians are oppressed and THAT is what gives them the automatic moral highground. Nevermind they are siding with terrorists, nevermind they end up spreading Hamas' antisemitic propaganda.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Well this went downhill fast

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hope everything's ok your way, Talent. Tornado sirens blaring over here on the east side

[Whitley]

Hope everything's ok your way, Talent. Tornado sirens blaring over here on the east side

Probably just the Jeffersons.