My opinion has been, for the last few years, to vacate the Middle East entirely - withdraw all personnel and cut all financial ties. Eliminate any dependence on their crude and force them to cut deals with the Chinese. Let them be China's problem. When they try to pull the same shit they do with us with China, the Chicoms won't hold back and don't observe the Geneva Convention. Those fuckers would either be speaking Mandarin or be piles of Ash. They would cry out for help, and we'd turn our back on them. Fuck them all to hell
Your point is exactly why the tenor of the situation has changed. Without American interest in keeping peace for oil, Israel is seeing the possibility of being left alone with sand people on 4 sides. They have a serious arsenal and would be forced to use it. This would destabilize Trump’s economy at a time when he is looking for re-election. This is why he has willingly stepped up to the plate at a time when we want to minimize efforts in the region. The alternative is a much bigger issue for the world. It also sends a message that we can fuck you up at any time and for any reason.
My opinion has been, for the last few years, to vacate the Middle East entirely - withdraw all personnel and cut all financial ties. Eliminate any dependence on their crude and force them to cut deals with the Chinese. Let them be China's problem. When they try to pull the same shit they do with us with China, the Chicoms won't hold back and don't observe the Geneva Convention. Those fuckers would either be speaking Mandarin or be piles of Ash. They would cry out for help, and we'd turn our back on them. Fuck them all to hell
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is the first step, which we have done. We are now a net exporter
Your point is exactly why the tenor of the situation has changed. Without American interest in keeping peace for oil, Israel is seeing the possibility of being left alone with sand people on 4 sides. They have a serious arsenal and would be forced to use it. This would destabilize Trump’s economy at a time when he is looking for re-election. This is why he has willingly stepped up to the plate at a time when we want to minimize efforts in the region. The alternative is a much bigger issue for the world. It also sends a message that we can fuck you up at any time and for any reason.
Israel can handle itself, especially if they want to remain there. It's a fate they've accepted by holding on to it.