US Joint Chiefs: Are Deployments Containing Fighting or Inflaming It? Does US expanded presence just embolden Israel? Will Bibi be risky/reckless?

[DrPepper12]

Will we get dragged into this by INTENTIONALLY putting ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time?

As the Israeli offensive in Lebanon expands to include ground incursions & airstrikes, Pentagon officials discussed whether the U. S. military presence is containing a widening war or inflaming it.

In the 12 months since Hamas attacked Israel, launching a conflict that includes Yemen, Iran & Lebanon, the Pentagon has sent a bristling array of weaponry to the region, including aircraft carriers, guided missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships and fighter squadrons.

The Pentagon announced this week that it would add a “few thousand” more troops and essentially doubled its air power in the region.

President Biden says the U. S. hardware and extra troops are there to help defend Israel and to protect other American troops on bases throughout the region. Pentagon spox said they remained “focused on the protection of U. S. citizens and forces in the region, the defense of Israel and the de-escalation of the situation through deterrence and diplomacy.”

But several Pentagon officials expressed concern that Israel was waging an increasingly aggressive campaign against the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy, knowing that an armada of American warships and dozens of attack planes stand ready to help blunt any Iranian response.

“Right now, there’s enough posture in the region that if the Iranians step in, we can and would support Israel’s defense,”. The Pentagon’s top official said, “If you’re Israel and you’re a military planner, you want to do all that while US assets are in the region, not after it leaves.”

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has raised the issue in mtngs at the Pentagon & at the White House. He also questioned the effect of the expanded US presence in the region on combat “readiness,” the ability of the US military to respond quickly to conflicts w/ China & Russia.

US presence emboldens Israel & will expand/lengthen conflicts

US presence is a deterrent & will shorten conflicts.

US presence is Dems electioneering & will withdraw after election.

[WindAtMyBack]

I have said over and over again for many years that the US needs to stop supporting Israel.

Israel is nothing but trouble. The US involvement with them is nothing but trouble. They need to stop the support, which doesn't even make any damn sense. The rest of the world needs to stop supporting both sides.

Let Israel burn to the ground and get this shit over with already. It's been going on WAY to long.

[Juxtapose]

So what? We rescued the Jews in WW2 only to leave them to death at the hands of radical Muslims?

Whatever happened to "never again"?

[WindAtMyBack]

@Juxtapose

"We rescued the Jews in WW2 only to leave them to death at the hands of radical Muslims?"

More like SENT them to their deaths. Apparently the final solution didn't end with WW2.

If Europe didn't want it to happen again, they should NEVER have created Israel.

[DrPepper12]

I'm with you wind. our relationship with Israel is like going out to hit the bars with your juvenile angry shortest weakest friend with the biggest mouth and you've ALWAYS gotta bail him out and it's tiring.

[Juxtapose]

So I guess existing is having a big mouth to you now?

[DrPepper12]

No. It means the junior "partner" should STFU sometimes, not spy on us & steal our tech, taking our aid & weapons and stop making us look foolish for decades

[Juxtapose]

Israel should exterminate every single terrorist it can with extreme prejudice. There is no negotiating with these fuckers, the only thing the savages understand is violence. Kill every single last one of them.

[DrPepper12]

Do you support the same solution for BLM? Antifa? 3%ers, Proud Boys?

[Juxtapose]

It's actually disgusting that you are comparing those small timers with big time, HARDCORE jihadi terrorist who will go into your home, torture you, rape you, kill you and then stuff your body with explosives so it can kill rescue workers all while filming it so they can send it to your family from your own phone. Hamas also literally puts Jews in ovens.

I don't recall Antifa or the Proud Boys ever doing that.

[DrPepper12]

The definition of a terrorist is one who wants to achieve political ends using violence. They are all terroristic regardless of whether they're in the minors or the majors. The question still stands.

[Juxtapose]

That's like comparing someone who wants to intimidate you with a fist fight versus someone who wants to violate you in the worst ways imaginable. They are not the same and I don't care what your stupid government agencies say about them. That is a false equivalency.

[Juxtapose]

Obviously I would not treat them the same.

[Juxtapose]

Hell by your definition the founding fathers were terrorists.

[Likes2drive]

I think it might increase more tension and make it longer