Joe Biden has vowed that US commitment to defend Israel against Iran was “ironclad” as concerns rose in Washington that a “significant” Iranian strike could happen within days, in retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus....
at a certain point, you have to recognize that “not as bad” is still “Bad enough”.
Fuck man, have you looked at the international scene? The Middle East more than most? We don't have 'good' choices, they're all 'bad enough'. And inaction is a choice just as any other. Inaction SHOULD be chosen in many scenarios - but because it is often the best choice, not because it relieves moral responsibility. It doesn't.
The moral option is to pick the path with the least bad outcome.
Israel and Netanyahu are probably going to accelerate the genocide no matter what we do. Iran getting involved will make it worse. doesn’t mean we need to fucking support the genocidal maniac in committing more genocidal maniac- and remember, Netanyahu et al want to have a war with Iran, too.
No longer supporting the ongoing genocide is a very different issue than allowing Iran to attack Israel. Discouraging Iran from attacking Israel is not supporting one genocide - it is preventing another.
Your acting like it’s somehow hypocritical to condemn both countries.
Am I? News to me. I stated outright that Israel is committing genocide currently. How much harsher do you want me to get in condemnation? Is 'genocide' no longer the lowest sin a country can commit? Do I have to invent a new form of democide to assign them before my condemnation is strong enough?
it’s not. it’s hypocritical to not condemn both countries.
It's not about condemnation. It's about what happens if we allow Iran to provoke a war with Israel. It's inhumane to demand another 100,000+ (assuming it DOESN'T kick off WW3) added to the body count because 30,000+ have already been killed. Why? What does allowing Iran to attack Israel solve?
Materially speaking, what are the effects, and can you answer for them?
It’s also an about what happens if we allow Israel to provoke a war with Iran. They’re both escalating.
Certainly. That doesn't change that giving one of them the green light to start a war would be catastrophic.
Biden can “condemn” Israel until he’s blue in the face. But he’s still arming them, still enabling them- and Israel sees that as tacit approval.
At no point have I argued against cutting off arms sales to Israel. Only that Biden stating an intent to defend Israel in the case of attack by Iran or Iranian proxies is the only reasonable choice to be made in the scenario.
Right now, it’s Israel that is destabilizing the Middle East the most. Its attacks on Iranian generals, in Syria, against houthis. Raids in the West Bank. Genocide in Gaza.
Ignoring the endless arguments we could have over this and how deep and how toxic Iranian influence in the region is, or the issue of the Saudis and the catspaws, if we accept your premise as true, that still doesn't change the core argument I'm making.
An Iranian-Israeli war would significantly increase human suffering for no gain. It is desirable to avoid such a war.
Making a statement that discourages attacks from one party during a period of heightened activity from that party is thus a good thing, or, at least, less bad than saying nothing.
Illustration of Zulu and British troops, Anglo-Zulu War, 1879
You know what they say - set a man on fire, he's warm the rest of his life
Good trade, right? No? You don't have a choice.
Necklace with gold and jewel beads, Cyprus, 5th century BCE
Biden vows ‘ironclad’ US commitment to Israel amid fears of Iran attack (www.theguardian.com)
Joe Biden has vowed that US commitment to defend Israel against Iran was “ironclad” as concerns rose in Washington that a “significant” Iranian strike could happen within days, in retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus....