From October 7th to the Brink of All-Out War
Ongoing thoughts on the Israel-Hamas War and concerns about an escalating conflict
Here’s a mashup of my posts since the war began in early October, with the inevitable yet still surprising front page headline predictions sadly playing themselves out, alongside speculation regarding the frightening year ahead:
Anticipating the worst a week after the October 7th attacks, yet hoping reason might finally prevail in the region…
Seeing the October 7th attacks for what they were: classic asymetrical warfare strategy, with Israel about to fall for it…
Pondering the paradox of negotiating for hostages taken by an attacking force whom you’ve promised to kill man-to-man…
Bracing for the imminent Israel land invasion of Gaza, while arguing against the IDF doing Hamas’ bidding…
Seeing the inevitability of imminent disaster in Gaza through the lens of two Jews arguing about what to do…
Realizing that emotions will trump intellect as Israel is about to roll into Gaza, and citing reasons the decision will backfire…
Why the Israeli land invasion of Gaza will likely lead to disaster, and the triggering of a wider war…
Why despite the obvious risks Israel feels compelled to invade Gaza, and why it’s still a horrible strategic blunder in the making…
My personal message to the IDF, reminding them of the lessons of history, and repeating the rationale to seek other solutions…
My prediction that the IDF will “blitz” in Gaza, in retrospect not far off from the reality of their stealthy but significant onslaught…
My observation that — analogous to the German bombing of Stalingrad — the IDF creation of mountains of rubble in Gaza will prove ideal cover…
The continued paradox of disingenuous and opportunistic hostage negotiations and trickled release…
How our love of drama and the hero’s journey create challenges when it comes to making life and death decisions…
A satire on how I’ve reconstructed my identity to preclude online abuse and bullying from both sides of the conflict…
How my prediction about a Gaza blitz seems correct given the IDF strategy for communications blackout as the armor rolls in…
Why Hamas has been winning the information war since October 8th, and Israel continues to fall into their traps…
Identifying the key characteristics of tribalism, and how they make all of our lives more miserable…
How an escalation of the Israel-Hamas War was mitigated, at least for the time being, from international pressure…
Vivid demonstration of the success of Hamas’ information war in the US, as the democratic party fissures…
The escalating Israeli invasion of Gaza, the burgeoning tole on civilians, and how the IDF has already lost the information war…
My prediction that regardless of any temporary cease fire, the IDF will continue hammering Gaza for months…
A visceral example of the power of propaganda, and the subjective nature of symbolism and information…
An overview of the Israel-Hamas War, and how the IDF continues to play into the hands of the people they are trying to destroy…
More observations, with examples how the power of social media has changed the rules of warfare…
More frustration at the reckless callousness of the IDF’s actions in Gaza, and how they are self-defeating for Israel…
How the Middle East conflict is similar to the Coronavirus pandemic in stripping away the truth about those closest to us…
Categorizing American Jews as “Militant Zionists” on the one hand, and “Apologist Liberals” on the other…
The painful hypocrisies and horrific compromises of hostage negotiations, and why they’ll soon end…
My prediction that the cease fire will not only end soon, but be followed by an even more savage and relentless conflict…
Rationale for why the hostage negotiations and releases have been a net-negative for Israel, and will only get worse…
An overview of the conflict to date, why Hamas has been winning despite the invasion, and what Israel should do next…
A satire describing a new Palestinian State in Egypt, highlighting the hypocrisy of surrounding Arab nations…
Commentary on the Congressional hearings regarding campus antisemitism, and their double-standards…
A summary of Hamas’ strategy, why it continues to work, and what Israel should instead do to thwart it…
My assertion that the IDF killed many Israelis during the chaos of the Hamas attacks, and how it’ll soon be headline news…
How lies from both sides of the conflict fuel distrust, and make peace further away than ever before…
Fears of nuclear war seem ominously justified as Israel’s northen border continues to burn red hot…
How the changing demographic in America makes the once unshakable US-Israeli alliance increasingly tenuous…
Ending this shocking and terrifying year with thoughts on what to me seems the only viable long-term path forward…
Let’s see what 2024 has in store for the region and the world. Given where we’ve landed this year, the future, at least for the next year, looks bleak…
Thanks for reading, and I’m always eager to hear your own opinions and engage in constructive dialogue!
Mookie
