Iran attacks Israel, Israel pounds Iran

[Bengalzona]

(05-14-2018, 06:47 AM)ballsofsteel Wrote: Does anyone really believe that all these decisions concerning the middle east that Drumph is making are decisions that have been weighing on his mind and are made only after considerable studying on the subject? Who is pulling his strings? How much money will flow his way or members of his family, once he is out of office? Why doesn't he release his income tax statements?

There is an amalgam of convoluted motivations involved.

- Israel wants Iranian influence out of Syria. Their presence there is a strategic link-up with Hezbollah, which makes arming the terrorist group with missiles and other weapons far easier. In Israel's view, this is unacceptable. This is a real threat for them.
- While the U.S. has generally shown favoritism to Israel since the Six Day War, Trump will defer to what Israel needs because the GOP seeks to curry and retain the right-wing Jewish vote and money in the U.S. (in addition to big oil money, see below). If you haven't cottoned on by now, money and votes are the only reasons this administration and it's supporters do anything. And the votes are only so they can retain their positions to make more money.
- Putin, as usual, is the mastermind behind this. Russia currently dictates what goes on in the government-controlled areas of Syria (i.e. if Russia doesn't want Iranian arms flowing through Syria, they ain't going through). The Israeli delegation has been to Moscow eight times in the past eighteen months over the issue, and has walked away without anything each time. This situation favors Russia in two major ways: 1) it gives them political clout and influence; and 2) it helps them financially with their oil industry (see below) and sends a big "F U" to the West and their sanctions.
- Due to the "instability in the Middle East" (and we really should know what is meant by that euphemism by now), oil prices are soaring. This favors Russia, U.S. and Middle East oil producers who have been hurting in recent years.

Are Putin and Trump in collusion on this? That's all a matter of opinion and speculation. If they are, shame on them. If they are not, then Trump really is one of the world's biggest morons.