The collapse of Syria's Assad regime is already reshaping the Middle East, from Israel's high-stakes military maneuvers to emerging alliances and power struggles that could redefine the region.
Thanks for your views. We are truly a world at war with every step, or misstep, magnified. I pray that Pres. Biden does not do anything stupid in his last 5+ weeks in office and I pray that Pres. Trump and his advisors have their "A" game ready when they come out of the tunnel (an American football term) and onto the field. At this level, no options are good, some are just less bad than others. Just spend my defense tax dollars wisely.
Thank you for this history of the region. This dreadful situation under Assad has continued for a never ending period of time. The atrocities he committed against his people were unspeakable. As you say, I’m sure if the Americans had acted on this immediately, things would have been brought to a swift end. So much suffering could have been avoided. It is certain that Israel’s approach to Iran and Hezbolla has hastened the end. Now is the time to wait and see if the victors are true to their word and can convince Israel and the world that we have nothing to fear from them.
Based on past history, one has great reason to be pessimistic but the litmus test will be the treatment of the Druze and the Christians. I am going to be hopeful and take Golani at his word until he shows otherwise or shows that he cannot garner control. Also I think this is a golden time to see if we can help Kurds to establish their own state.
Lastly and most importantly, I think the fall of Assad means that we are in a time that is ripe for the overthrow of the Iranian theocracy. We have Trump coming in Jan, we have the Iranian protestors who have shown their resolve and bravery and we have Hezbollah as weak as it has ever been. We have Russia also very weak and focused completely on Iran. When I look at all these variables, I believe this is the perfect recipe to take down Iran. Its within our grasp and that should be what we focus our attention on. We have never been in a better position.Basically, it is there for the taking if handled correctly and that would be the ultimate win for Israel, The West and the entire world. Never has there ever been a sweeter time to end those MF and bring them to their 72 virgins.
Thank you both. A great spectrum of information. All bases 'covered', nearly, or sort of. Then again, what is really going on? I read M.O.R.s substack offering this morning. I think that essay and this one of yours are complementary. And more valuable as a Pair than on their own. I use a number of oversimplified expressions often in a social context: "sheesh" as a soft expletive; or, "we're all in this together" when I was involved in multi-cultural artistic projects ( I have since given up on multi-culturalism generally and specifically in the Arts); and "Now What" as a general call out, since October 2023, to fellow Jewish persons and organizations - now what as in what on earth is one supposed to DO while "waiting for Godot". One can write, read, think, converse, and conference. One can be very active with one's own regular work and/or activities. But, importantly the intellect though a very valuable tool requires some other Force of Nature. To a very large degree it is, especially for well educated Jewish academics, journalists, activists, etc. it is the Intellect that has consistently confused the situations in all fields. The most blatant recent areas of evidence would be a) the heinous activities of the WEF and a whole range of 3 letter organizations dealing supposedly with 'health'. Although they have long proved that they are much more about 'wealth'. B) the abundance of again VERY well educated Jewish persons involved with the heinous activities of the current regime in, around, and connected to the White House. As one Holocaust Survivor, a neighbor during my friend's childhood, was regularly wont to say at any perplexing neighborhood or larger scale troubling matter - "Vot to do. Vot to do.". As in 'now what'. You're DOING IT. But that doesn't mean that there are other overarching perspectives that intertwine with the 'so-called' practical. Whereas in the examples A) 3 letter 'health' organizations; and, B) the lethally misled collective in, near, connected to the current regime, prove, to Me of Sheesh-ville that the Intellect is a dangerous tool. A quote from your essay: "But as long as we do not go down the path of trying to nation-build again, as in Iraq and Afghanistan, a strategy of killing the most vicious terrorists and harassing the world’s most brutal dictators is far from the worst thing in the world that a great power can be doing." is worthy of a new line of T-Shirts. (the MOR essay of today is: ISIS and the American "jihadi university"
Thanks for a good backgrounder. The short term looks favorable for Israel. Lots of unpredictable moving parts, as you state. Trump's unpredictability removes a degree of future certainty. His recent language to absent the US from Syrian influence may well be a close cousin to Obama's failed "red line".
"Al Golani" nice looking man....looks like he could be a rabbinic student in Boro Park. Or Ba al tshuva in Jerusalem....but he 's another war lord. I expect zero from him. And from "multi ethnic" and Jew free Syria. I stopped watching 60 minutes in the seventies after crypto anti semitic Jew Mike Wallace delivered his report on the Jews of Syria....no persecution...no problems. Ba'ath party founded on principles of German National Socialism and Italian Fascism. Right down to the goose step and the upraised straight arm salute. And virulent Jew Hate. I expect zero from Syria. Israel can keep that buffer zone too. The hell with the UN's antisemitism. And crypto antisemitic Jew , senator from all white Vermont, B. Sanders.
An excellent and very readable review of Syria’s history. However, if past behaviour is the best predictor of future behavior, then I would not trust Al-Jolani, nor feel hopeful about his future liberalism. His reign in Idlib has been filled with violence and suppression.
A great read. Very similar to many doing the traps. You know its got the right amount of optimism. And thats good, sort of shows your heart is in the right place. Brave to give predictions so close to the event. Anyways I do worry a little about the Russian investments and the already hotting up Kurdish thing happenimg as i read. The one thing i am not worried about is whether or not it will be a good read.
Just in case one is allowed a 2nd Comment. Since the 1st I've had this video/lesson pop-up via algorithm. But first, my single favorite line from Shakespeare is: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" (Hamlet to his friend Horatio. There is another version of the quote.) With that in mind I submit this Comment as another viewpoint on what is 'really' going on. The is regarding a Prophecy of the recent 70 days from 25 Elui to 6 of Kislev. This Rabbi (who is also a Math and Science teacher) is one of the dozen or two 'go to Rabbis' that I enjoy. He did a few talks about that prophecy specifically regarding the 70 days and the 'star' as well as the possible follow up events, people, places. Today he has released this one after the 70 days and into the preliminary follow up events, people, places. It's a mass of information yet he is crystal clear. I think our Culture is a phenomenon. A HUGE percentage of Jewish persons - like myself - know very little about the breadth of our Culture. Here's glimpse. A very complex glimpse. One that may contribute to our understanding of 'reality' of the Current Events regarding Syria and much more? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6EnR_h4iIg
Thanks for your views. We are truly a world at war with every step, or misstep, magnified. I pray that Pres. Biden does not do anything stupid in his last 5+ weeks in office and I pray that Pres. Trump and his advisors have their "A" game ready when they come out of the tunnel (an American football term) and onto the field. At this level, no options are good, some are just less bad than others. Just spend my defense tax dollars wisely.
Thank you for this history of the region. This dreadful situation under Assad has continued for a never ending period of time. The atrocities he committed against his people were unspeakable. As you say, I’m sure if the Americans had acted on this immediately, things would have been brought to a swift end. So much suffering could have been avoided. It is certain that Israel’s approach to Iran and Hezbolla has hastened the end. Now is the time to wait and see if the victors are true to their word and can convince Israel and the world that we have nothing to fear from them.
Based on past history, one has great reason to be pessimistic but the litmus test will be the treatment of the Druze and the Christians. I am going to be hopeful and take Golani at his word until he shows otherwise or shows that he cannot garner control. Also I think this is a golden time to see if we can help Kurds to establish their own state.
Lastly and most importantly, I think the fall of Assad means that we are in a time that is ripe for the overthrow of the Iranian theocracy. We have Trump coming in Jan, we have the Iranian protestors who have shown their resolve and bravery and we have Hezbollah as weak as it has ever been. We have Russia also very weak and focused completely on Iran. When I look at all these variables, I believe this is the perfect recipe to take down Iran. Its within our grasp and that should be what we focus our attention on. We have never been in a better position.Basically, it is there for the taking if handled correctly and that would be the ultimate win for Israel, The West and the entire world. Never has there ever been a sweeter time to end those MF and bring them to their 72 virgins.
papa j
Thank you both. A great spectrum of information. All bases 'covered', nearly, or sort of. Then again, what is really going on? I read M.O.R.s substack offering this morning. I think that essay and this one of yours are complementary. And more valuable as a Pair than on their own. I use a number of oversimplified expressions often in a social context: "sheesh" as a soft expletive; or, "we're all in this together" when I was involved in multi-cultural artistic projects ( I have since given up on multi-culturalism generally and specifically in the Arts); and "Now What" as a general call out, since October 2023, to fellow Jewish persons and organizations - now what as in what on earth is one supposed to DO while "waiting for Godot". One can write, read, think, converse, and conference. One can be very active with one's own regular work and/or activities. But, importantly the intellect though a very valuable tool requires some other Force of Nature. To a very large degree it is, especially for well educated Jewish academics, journalists, activists, etc. it is the Intellect that has consistently confused the situations in all fields. The most blatant recent areas of evidence would be a) the heinous activities of the WEF and a whole range of 3 letter organizations dealing supposedly with 'health'. Although they have long proved that they are much more about 'wealth'. B) the abundance of again VERY well educated Jewish persons involved with the heinous activities of the current regime in, around, and connected to the White House. As one Holocaust Survivor, a neighbor during my friend's childhood, was regularly wont to say at any perplexing neighborhood or larger scale troubling matter - "Vot to do. Vot to do.". As in 'now what'. You're DOING IT. But that doesn't mean that there are other overarching perspectives that intertwine with the 'so-called' practical. Whereas in the examples A) 3 letter 'health' organizations; and, B) the lethally misled collective in, near, connected to the current regime, prove, to Me of Sheesh-ville that the Intellect is a dangerous tool. A quote from your essay: "But as long as we do not go down the path of trying to nation-build again, as in Iraq and Afghanistan, a strategy of killing the most vicious terrorists and harassing the world’s most brutal dictators is far from the worst thing in the world that a great power can be doing." is worthy of a new line of T-Shirts. (the MOR essay of today is: ISIS and the American "jihadi university"
Did the US government create ISIS?")
Thanks for a good backgrounder. The short term looks favorable for Israel. Lots of unpredictable moving parts, as you state. Trump's unpredictability removes a degree of future certainty. His recent language to absent the US from Syrian influence may well be a close cousin to Obama's failed "red line".
Thank you for this very thorough explanation, I feel like I understand the situation somewhat better now.
"Al Golani" nice looking man....looks like he could be a rabbinic student in Boro Park. Or Ba al tshuva in Jerusalem....but he 's another war lord. I expect zero from him. And from "multi ethnic" and Jew free Syria. I stopped watching 60 minutes in the seventies after crypto anti semitic Jew Mike Wallace delivered his report on the Jews of Syria....no persecution...no problems. Ba'ath party founded on principles of German National Socialism and Italian Fascism. Right down to the goose step and the upraised straight arm salute. And virulent Jew Hate. I expect zero from Syria. Israel can keep that buffer zone too. The hell with the UN's antisemitism. And crypto antisemitic Jew , senator from all white Vermont, B. Sanders.
An excellent and very readable review of Syria’s history. However, if past behaviour is the best predictor of future behavior, then I would not trust Al-Jolani, nor feel hopeful about his future liberalism. His reign in Idlib has been filled with violence and suppression.
A great read. Very similar to many doing the traps. You know its got the right amount of optimism. And thats good, sort of shows your heart is in the right place. Brave to give predictions so close to the event. Anyways I do worry a little about the Russian investments and the already hotting up Kurdish thing happenimg as i read. The one thing i am not worried about is whether or not it will be a good read.
Just in case one is allowed a 2nd Comment. Since the 1st I've had this video/lesson pop-up via algorithm. But first, my single favorite line from Shakespeare is: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" (Hamlet to his friend Horatio. There is another version of the quote.) With that in mind I submit this Comment as another viewpoint on what is 'really' going on. The is regarding a Prophecy of the recent 70 days from 25 Elui to 6 of Kislev. This Rabbi (who is also a Math and Science teacher) is one of the dozen or two 'go to Rabbis' that I enjoy. He did a few talks about that prophecy specifically regarding the 70 days and the 'star' as well as the possible follow up events, people, places. Today he has released this one after the 70 days and into the preliminary follow up events, people, places. It's a mass of information yet he is crystal clear. I think our Culture is a phenomenon. A HUGE percentage of Jewish persons - like myself - know very little about the breadth of our Culture. Here's glimpse. A very complex glimpse. One that may contribute to our understanding of 'reality' of the Current Events regarding Syria and much more? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6EnR_h4iIg