MAIN EDITORS—Both Col. Wilkerson and (former) weapons inspector Scott Ritter analyse Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, judging them a failure. This evaluation contrasts markedly with the cacophony of celebratory voices on the US and western press in general, proclaiming the mission an absolute triumph for Israeli arms over Iran, its longstanding regional foe. The NYTimes seemed to reflect the more sober evaluation of the event, noting with evident relief, that both sides seemed to be satisfied with the outcome.
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GEORGE HAZIM—Yesterday’s escalatory bombing attack by Israel on Iran underscores Israel’s willingness to provoke broader regional conflicts, with the US’s tacit or direct support.
America’s complicity in Israel’s crimes is undeniable. US foreign policy has consistently aligned with Israeli interests, whether through diplomatic support or military interventions that have destabilised the region. The Iraq War, sanctions on Syria, and the military presence in Lebanon have all served to weaken Arab nations while strengthening Israel’s strategic position.
October 7 should be understood not as the starting point of violence but as a moment that exposed the layers of aggression, deceit, and oppression that have long defined the Israeli-US alliance in the Middle East.
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EDITOR—Increasing numbers of Israeli soldiers are becoming disillusioned with fighting in Gaza and other areas of conflict in Lebanon and the West Bank, leading some to refuse to return to the battlefield. According to a report in Israeli outlet HaMakom, interviews with over 20 parents and fighters in a range of battalions have revealed increasing dissatisfaction in the ranks. Among the Nahal Brigade, soldiers spend five weeks fighting in Gaza before returning home to rest, something they have done 11 times so far since the beginning of fighting October 2023. Jimmy speaks with Congressional candidate Jose Vega and retired Marine Scott Ritter about why the circumstances in Gaza would lead IDF soldiers in particular to refuse to fight any more.
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RON. UNZ—Although armies have committed war crimes from time immemorial, never before have these been so thoroughly documented, with much of the evidence drawn from the social media accounts of the Israeli troops who gleefully filmed and uploaded the clips, presumably doing so to impress their friends. I doubt that any other military in the world has ever been so eager to boast of its crimes as that of Israel, probably because decades of near-total political and media impunity have raised the arrogance of its government, military, and citizens to unprecedented heights.
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LARRY C JOHNSON—ell, the freakout over the leak of the US intelligence documents regarding Israel’s preparation for an anticipated attack on Iran is growing in intensity. I missed something important in my initial review of the document pictured above. The varied classification of the paragraphs in the document tell a story. The overall classification is Top Secret//TK//FGI ISR//RSEN/NOFORN. In other words, a highly classified document that is not going to be widely disseminated. You not only need a TS clearance, but you have to be cleared for TK, FGI ISR, and RSEN. Without detailing what those letters mean (I will leave it to you to do the Google search), I can elaborate on the key acronym that appears at the end — NOFORN. That means no release to foreigners, i.e., anyone who is not a US citizen.
