In the wake of the death of three American troops on a base in Jordan following a retaliatory attack by Iran, I’ve seen a lot of commentary online stating that they “died for Israel.”
Disagree. The intent of the present fascist regime is to merge IDF with the US military. The bidn't didnt pass this time around ... but just wait. Watch. It will happen. In a way, you are correct about who is fighting whom: Americans, except, perhaps for WWII, always fight, sacrifice, and die for the corporate oligarchy actually running this counyry. Politicians are the puppets. The oligarchs are the masters. Resource wars. For the WEALTHY. Lucky for The Epstein Class, young people in particular, starry eyed, are willing to "fight for their country." Kids. We send kids to war ... a form of child abuse. Smedley Butler: "War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives." United States Marine Corps Major General and two-time Medal of Honor recipient
I largely agree with you, and I respect your rage and passion. I will say, though, that just because Joe Biden said it doesn’t make it true. I think Israel has led the US into many conflicts and troubles in Western Asia that were always in Israel’s interest, never USian ones. They have been very good at selling perceived mutuality of interest to US leaders (hasbara), bringing them from residual skepticism (as late as Reagan and Bush Sr.) to true-believer status in Joe Biden.
The tail doesn’t completely wag the dog, of course. The US policy community has always had plenty of people who think US “interests” are best served by raw projection of power. They love their hammers, so everything looks like a nail. But Israel has always been, since the pre-state British-sponsored colony, an actor, not anybody’s puppet.
As you can see from the photos most of those troops are economic conscripts that see the military as a rare job opportunity with a livable wage. They are held in political ignorance by the Imperialist state/media from a very young age and frequently unaware that they are serving Zio Imperialism. Many think they are protecting their working class communities of origin. The experience of Iran will radicalize many and they should be welcomed and educated by opponents of Zio Imperialism. With genuinely revolutionary consciousness, they would be a great asset in the global class struggle against Zio Imperialism.
The Ukrainian army defends fortified positions until the defense is impossible. The US armed forces in West Asia serve and sleep in structures built on slabs. Defense is impossible period.
Will the obligatory phrase, "Thank you for your service!" be replaced with the more accurate, "Sorry about you being a target!"
We in the US do not have service members, we have hostages held for a period of indenture. Let's free them for our military does not protect us, but rather endangers us.
If not who did they die for? The syphlis ridden orange blob? Who's doing it for Israel no other reason. So put on a uniform you're a soldier if you die you die. Who was she going to fight? Palestinians yes. Bombing children so no soldiers die that's it end of. No sympathy none .
They did die for israel. Israel is the cause of our suffering. They are the reason the U.S.A. is in the condition that drives people to join the military
the Greek tragedy analogy is exactly as I was thinking about it. Great article, thank you.
Disagree. The intent of the present fascist regime is to merge IDF with the US military. The bidn't didnt pass this time around ... but just wait. Watch. It will happen. In a way, you are correct about who is fighting whom: Americans, except, perhaps for WWII, always fight, sacrifice, and die for the corporate oligarchy actually running this counyry. Politicians are the puppets. The oligarchs are the masters. Resource wars. For the WEALTHY. Lucky for The Epstein Class, young people in particular, starry eyed, are willing to "fight for their country." Kids. We send kids to war ... a form of child abuse. Smedley Butler: "War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives." United States Marine Corps Major General and two-time Medal of Honor recipient
What am I missing? Isn’t that the same thing?
I largely agree with you, and I respect your rage and passion. I will say, though, that just because Joe Biden said it doesn’t make it true. I think Israel has led the US into many conflicts and troubles in Western Asia that were always in Israel’s interest, never USian ones. They have been very good at selling perceived mutuality of interest to US leaders (hasbara), bringing them from residual skepticism (as late as Reagan and Bush Sr.) to true-believer status in Joe Biden.
The tail doesn’t completely wag the dog, of course. The US policy community has always had plenty of people who think US “interests” are best served by raw projection of power. They love their hammers, so everything looks like a nail. But Israel has always been, since the pre-state British-sponsored colony, an actor, not anybody’s puppet.
What does that say about Americans? The idea that Israel can lead the US into anything is laughable. The US always does what benefits the US.
As you can see from the photos most of those troops are economic conscripts that see the military as a rare job opportunity with a livable wage. They are held in political ignorance by the Imperialist state/media from a very young age and frequently unaware that they are serving Zio Imperialism. Many think they are protecting their working class communities of origin. The experience of Iran will radicalize many and they should be welcomed and educated by opponents of Zio Imperialism. With genuinely revolutionary consciousness, they would be a great asset in the global class struggle against Zio Imperialism.
They fuckin volunteered, they didn't have to
The Ukrainian army defends fortified positions until the defense is impossible. The US armed forces in West Asia serve and sleep in structures built on slabs. Defense is impossible period.
Will the obligatory phrase, "Thank you for your service!" be replaced with the more accurate, "Sorry about you being a target!"
We in the US do not have service members, we have hostages held for a period of indenture. Let's free them for our military does not protect us, but rather endangers us.
If not who did they die for? The syphlis ridden orange blob? Who's doing it for Israel no other reason. So put on a uniform you're a soldier if you die you die. Who was she going to fight? Palestinians yes. Bombing children so no soldiers die that's it end of. No sympathy none .
They did die for israel. Israel is the cause of our suffering. They are the reason the U.S.A. is in the condition that drives people to join the military