Sorry Dan but I'm exposed to far more of the Middle East than you give me credit for. My step father is Iranian, we have family in Iran, own property in Iran and have many friends from all over the Middle East with family still living there. You get a much different perspective when your information doesn't come solely from the media or biased so called independent journalist. Strangely enough not one of all of our family or friends blames Israel or Bibi for any of the violence, they blame, the Iranian regime.
Figuring you were the staunch anti-war activist you seem to want to be, I simply gave you a website listing all of them, thinking with your anti-war activism you would know them all. Evidently I was wrong and you are not anti-war, merely anti Bibi.
My step father is in Iran right now and not scheduled to be back until the first of the month. I haven't been able to talk to him but he has contacted my mother. He says things are fairly normal where he is but people are both concerned and encouraged this might lead to the toppling of the regime.
No need to apologize, Bearcat, you’ve spoken of your family connection to Iran before. I bet your step father is a good man as is his family, and there’s no doubt they give you a perspective based on their reality.
I love the subtle way you manipulate language! I truly mean it. The way you slipped in “biased so called independent journslist(s)” is a thing of beauty! What you may not know is many of those independent journalists are reporting on site, they live there just like your step-father’s family. Which leads me to believe that the “Arab” consensus is as mixed as what is found in the west. I don’t know if any poll should be trusted but it seems the Iranian regime “attacked” Israel p
out of deference to the enraged Iranian population following the illegal attack by Israel on their embassy. Which, if the polls are true, shows your family to be in the minority on that one.
As for me I am staunchly anti-war. I am also staunchly anti-apartheid and anti-genocide (how can anyone not be?), which in the case of Israel/Gaza/West Bank makes me anti-Bibi. I do not and have never blamed Bibi as solely responsible for the historical conflict between Israel and the people they subjugate. But unlike you I call him out for his participation in it. I don’t know why but I’ve never got you to understand that, and probably never will.
But I am also staunchly anti-authoritarian. That puts me at odds with Hamas, Iran … well, virtually every ME country. That, too, seems to be something you can’t wrap your mind around.
I hope your step-father and his family are safe and he returns home to you undamaged. In fact I hope the Iranian people en toto are not attacked by Israel. I believe the advice Biden gave Bibi to “take the win” was excellent advice, and I pray Bibi will follow it.