This was not inevitable. This is a war Israel chose. It could have been prevented. Diplomatic talks were ongoing when the bombers took off for Iran. Israel’s continuing, illegal, unjustified airstrikes are unlikely to achieve their stated aim – permanently ending Tehran’s presumed efforts to build nuclear weapons – and may accelerate it. They must stop now. Likewise, Iran must halt its retaliation immediately and drop its escalatory threats to attack US and UK bases.

This conflict is not limited, as was the case last year, to tit-for-tat exchanges and “precision strikes” on a narrow range of military targets. It’s reached a wholly different level. Potentially nothing is off the table. Civilians are being killed on both sides. Leaders are targets. The rhetoric is out of control. With Israel fighting on several fronts, and Iran’s battered regime backed against a wall, the Middle East is closer than ever to a disastrous conflagration.

Reasons can always be found to go to war. The roots of major conflicts often reach back decades – and this is true of the Israel-Iran vendetta, which dates to the 1979 Islamic revolution. The so-called “shadow war” between the two intensified in recent years. Yet all-out conflict had been avoided, until now. So who is principally to blame for this sudden, unprecedented explosion?

Answer: three angry old men whose behaviour raises serious doubts about their judgment, common sense, motives and even their sanity.

  • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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    15 hours ago

    Stop pretending like Khamenei isn’t a criminal. He’s not just an angry old man because they’re “facing an existential threat” he’s a fuckwad through and through and no Iranian would shed a tear if he was shelled. Israel certainly started this iteration of the conflict but Khamenei and the regime has a rap sheet far longer than Trump’s.

    • biofaust@lemmy.world
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      52 minutes ago

      Khamenei is a priest. 'Nuff said. Israel is a theocratic state. Religious people attacking each other, with normal people in the middle. Once more, Rome did it first, 900 something years ago.

      • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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        14 hours ago

        What do I know? My parents came to Denmark fleeing from this shitty regime. What do you know?

          • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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            14 hours ago

            Of course I have family in Iran, even though I don’t know them too well. How are you reading that I’m happy that terrorist (Israeli) bombs are falling on people? Regular people are always the losers in warfare, no matter the circumstances. Just wouldn’t be sad if it happened to fall on Khamenei - nor if a missile landed on Bibi’s house.

              • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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                13 hours ago

                Israel is undoubtedly the most evil regime in the world but upholding another evil regime oppressing 90+ million people just because they lay claim to standing up to Israel - without producing any particularly strong results - doesn’t seem like the tradeoff to go for. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Iran can still be on the right side of history without Khamenei and his goons.

                  • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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                    13 hours ago

                    Again, what does that have to do with not supporting the regime? They’re not there to protect the people.

                    Of course not, USA and Israel won’t ever let Iran thrive - but it can’t be any worse, like in Syria. New crappy regime to replace the old, but a slight improvement nonetheless.

          • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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            14 hours ago

            I am, but I won’t claim that I’m not first and foremost Danish - apart from when it comes to food… But I do feel like I’m allowed to have a strong opinion on the regime.