Further to your response to my comment on Scott Ritter...
True, but it goes deeper than simple knowledge of current and planned/proposed operations. These Quds Officers had a deep working relationship with Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and the Iraqi Shia Militias. You don't replace that overnight and even their Deputies would take time coming up to speed. Regardless, I believe that Iran will show restraint and bide their time, as Bebe Netanyahu gets more desperate and his own deep seated sociopathy compells him to lash out more inorder to force a confrontation between Iran and America (something neither want, despite their rhetoric). I suspect that the assassination of the World Central Kitchen was ordered from the top (Netanyahu). I've watched footage of Bebe being interviewed or participating on discussion panels going back as far as the late 70s (William F. Buckley, MIT seminars, CSPAN, The 700 Club, The Advocates, etc) and this man definitely displays narcissistic personality disorder bordering on sociopathy. Undiagnosed and unchallenged for his entire life, riding on the back of his brother Jonathans' fame, deeply indoctrinated in the Zionist doctrine starting with his father, has all led up to this moment in time. And his back is to the wall and he has only one way out - all-out conflagration in the Middle East. We are definitely in for many more interesting months .
I agree there is a cultural difference between how the west and the rest thinks and acts. Individualism is on steroids in the west and it’s all about the cult of the self. Leaders are all about growing their profiles and taking the glory. You don’t groom your underlings to replace you as it’s all about ego politics.. While both systems are hierarchical, you have a more communal approach, I would say, in the Iranian context. But let’s not get carried away thinking that the west can understand or appreciate anything other than it’s own way of being.. there’s always a tad of supremacy even at the edges and we’ve seen that play out too many times on the world stage to even bother mentioning..
I was watching Scott's last interview on the German site "Gegenpol" where he expressed views that can only be described as American propagnda.
For a man who has tried valiantly to dissuade Americans of their current view of Russia, this view of Germany came as something of a shock.
How is it that someone so determined to right wrongs can be happy to disseminate them about a country about which he appears to know so little?
Disclaimer: I lived and worked in Germany and many of the locals thought I was German, so shared ideas with me that they would never speak of to an English speaking person.
Scott Ritter has some very interesting and insightful things to say and I like listening to him, but every now and then he throws in a comment like "the US army is the greatest and most moral army in the world" and it's like a record scratch moment. He still talks about the Iraq wars like they were necessary military victories over peer enemies rather than turkey shoots, and he's been saying that Russia is about to roll over all of Ukraine for 2 years now
This is not the first time Scott seems to be wrong in his assessment. He kept changing his story about Gonzalo Lira and more than a few people called him out on this. Nobody is perfect, but in general Scott is usually correct.
That's exactly the comment I would have made. People need to understand the importance of allies and HOW to construct alliances. Scott was contemptuous of Gonzalo and I have to say, I found him difficult BUT he was genuine and paid for it with his life. The major challenge for those of us who want peace is to confront the behemoth and force it to change, or cage it, or destroy it. We need to construct broad alliances to do this and we know the CIA is ALWAYS present trying to sow division.
'Our community' must hold more than one opinion or analysis if its to survive the fanboy followers who are as biased as the imperialism they claim to despise.
I agree that he performs a valuable service, but in the light of the comment I left, what he said left me feeling so bitter about his ignorance that I can no longer listen to him.
A tad harsh on Scott Ritter. When he said that the Iranian Generals were irreplaceable, he went on to elaborate (albeit somewhat clumsily) that it would take time to rebuild the relationships and corporate knowledge lost in the Israeli attack on the Consult building. To date Iran is showing considerable restraint and allowing Bebe Netanyahu to get more rope with which to eventually hang himself with. Other than that, your assessments are really good and insightful. Thank you.
Yes, he did not elaborate. But it strategic relationships are not based on personalities -- but on policies agreed on. There is no "corporate knowledge" lost here. The generals had no knowledge or knowhow that was not shared with others. Qds force does not operate like a western military or corporation.
Its very healthy to have critical analysis. Two fully competent commentators who will both admit they could be wrong, but here is my analysis. Great dialogue - with love and respect. Time will tell -maybe. You are both leaders and demonstrate why we should be open to who is calling the shots and why they are allowed to shoot first - and I don't mean Scott or Julian. They are upfront troops, not afraid to make mistakes while the details exposed by Julian Assange plus are only known by those who cause problems - war and not peaceful intentions. Thank you. We all have to have facts and hunches to go on. Actions - not words only -to analyse from our points of view. Stop the bloody wars. Seek justice, right the wrongs!!!!! Now.
I think this was the most intelligent and well informed analysis I’ve come across about Israel’s latest atrocities and war crimes over the last week. And I have looked for and reviewed any similar analysis I could find to extent I had time during the same period, including that of Scott Ritter referenced in the article. Even with my rather humble or “layman” level familiarity with military matters, I sensed that Ritter was dogmatic and one dimensional in his analysis of the embassy attack by Israel, and have found Scott to be vulnerable at times to such limitations. However, the present article so concisely yet comprehensively and accurately highlights and interprets the same events within the dynamic context of the region today, a feat hardly paralleled so far in alternative let also the mainstream media. Kudos and thanks for the fantastic contribution and looking forward to more.
I agree with you. No one is ever “irreplaceable”. Iran is strong and big enough to get its military act together. About the only thing that's “irreplaceable” is the US war machine for the Israeli government. They depend upon US armaments and political interference on the world stage at the UN. When we shut down the war machine and the flow of arms to Israel, then the Israelis' fascist regime will be replaced for the good of all.
Charismatic politicians are often irreplaceable for their corrupt parties. Charisma is as essential to politics as sociopathy and blackmail. However, good public officials and military leaders will have well-trained underlings.
Congress, the medical establishment and the rest of the agencies, the FBI, DOJ, the list hardly ends - all of them would serve better if the top layer died. Was it Feynman - I think - spoke about how progress moves one death at a time. Maybe we don't need term limits for congress and the like, but life limits.
No one is perfect. Ritter has been wrong before. Like said Russia would run through Ukraine like shit through a goose before war began. I like the guy - especially his thick full head of hair at 65 which I do not have at 55 and he's right more often than wrong so still worth listening to. Anyway, the worst Iranian general is probably better than the best American ones who are promoted on basis of ass kissing rather than competence so I agree they are replaceable.
I agree with this article's assessment near term prospects for the Near East.
Regarding the kinetic energy delivered by a 2000 kg Kinzal missile. The 2000 kg is the mass, where m stands for a unit of mass. Let's assume that the terminal velocity of a Kinzal is 9 times that of a harpoon anti-ship missile. The kinetic energy of a body, represented by K, is equal to the mass times the square of of the body's velocity, v divided by 2.
K=(1/2)mv^2
What this implies is if there is a 2000 kg harpoon, well the 9 times faster Kinzal has 81 times the kinetic energy! That is some big time hurt.
I suspect he was referring to their interpersonal relationships rather than military acumen.
Further to your response to my comment on Scott Ritter...
True, but it goes deeper than simple knowledge of current and planned/proposed operations. These Quds Officers had a deep working relationship with Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and the Iraqi Shia Militias. You don't replace that overnight and even their Deputies would take time coming up to speed. Regardless, I believe that Iran will show restraint and bide their time, as Bebe Netanyahu gets more desperate and his own deep seated sociopathy compells him to lash out more inorder to force a confrontation between Iran and America (something neither want, despite their rhetoric). I suspect that the assassination of the World Central Kitchen was ordered from the top (Netanyahu). I've watched footage of Bebe being interviewed or participating on discussion panels going back as far as the late 70s (William F. Buckley, MIT seminars, CSPAN, The 700 Club, The Advocates, etc) and this man definitely displays narcissistic personality disorder bordering on sociopathy. Undiagnosed and unchallenged for his entire life, riding on the back of his brother Jonathans' fame, deeply indoctrinated in the Zionist doctrine starting with his father, has all led up to this moment in time. And his back is to the wall and he has only one way out - all-out conflagration in the Middle East. We are definitely in for many more interesting months .
I agree there is a cultural difference between how the west and the rest thinks and acts. Individualism is on steroids in the west and it’s all about the cult of the self. Leaders are all about growing their profiles and taking the glory. You don’t groom your underlings to replace you as it’s all about ego politics.. While both systems are hierarchical, you have a more communal approach, I would say, in the Iranian context. But let’s not get carried away thinking that the west can understand or appreciate anything other than it’s own way of being.. there’s always a tad of supremacy even at the edges and we’ve seen that play out too many times on the world stage to even bother mentioning..
Delaware would work too.
I thought Ukraine was being depopulated for Greater Israel. Zelensky even said that in an Al Jazeera interview but everyone ignores it
I was watching Scott's last interview on the German site "Gegenpol" where he expressed views that can only be described as American propagnda.
For a man who has tried valiantly to dissuade Americans of their current view of Russia, this view of Germany came as something of a shock.
How is it that someone so determined to right wrongs can be happy to disseminate them about a country about which he appears to know so little?
Disclaimer: I lived and worked in Germany and many of the locals thought I was German, so shared ideas with me that they would never speak of to an English speaking person.
Scott Ritter has some very interesting and insightful things to say and I like listening to him, but every now and then he throws in a comment like "the US army is the greatest and most moral army in the world" and it's like a record scratch moment. He still talks about the Iraq wars like they were necessary military victories over peer enemies rather than turkey shoots, and he's been saying that Russia is about to roll over all of Ukraine for 2 years now
This is not the first time Scott seems to be wrong in his assessment. He kept changing his story about Gonzalo Lira and more than a few people called him out on this. Nobody is perfect, but in general Scott is usually correct.
That's exactly the comment I would have made. People need to understand the importance of allies and HOW to construct alliances. Scott was contemptuous of Gonzalo and I have to say, I found him difficult BUT he was genuine and paid for it with his life. The major challenge for those of us who want peace is to confront the behemoth and force it to change, or cage it, or destroy it. We need to construct broad alliances to do this and we know the CIA is ALWAYS present trying to sow division.
I agree.
'Our community' must hold more than one opinion or analysis if its to survive the fanboy followers who are as biased as the imperialism they claim to despise.
Yes, of course. It doesn't matter that Ritter is wrong. He draws attention to the issues, performing a valuable service.
I agree that he performs a valuable service, but in the light of the comment I left, what he said left me feeling so bitter about his ignorance that I can no longer listen to him.
A tad harsh on Scott Ritter. When he said that the Iranian Generals were irreplaceable, he went on to elaborate (albeit somewhat clumsily) that it would take time to rebuild the relationships and corporate knowledge lost in the Israeli attack on the Consult building. To date Iran is showing considerable restraint and allowing Bebe Netanyahu to get more rope with which to eventually hang himself with. Other than that, your assessments are really good and insightful. Thank you.
Yes, he did not elaborate. But it strategic relationships are not based on personalities -- but on policies agreed on. There is no "corporate knowledge" lost here. The generals had no knowledge or knowhow that was not shared with others. Qds force does not operate like a western military or corporation.
Its very healthy to have critical analysis. Two fully competent commentators who will both admit they could be wrong, but here is my analysis. Great dialogue - with love and respect. Time will tell -maybe. You are both leaders and demonstrate why we should be open to who is calling the shots and why they are allowed to shoot first - and I don't mean Scott or Julian. They are upfront troops, not afraid to make mistakes while the details exposed by Julian Assange plus are only known by those who cause problems - war and not peaceful intentions. Thank you. We all have to have facts and hunches to go on. Actions - not words only -to analyse from our points of view. Stop the bloody wars. Seek justice, right the wrongs!!!!! Now.
"Stop the bloody wars. Seek justice, right the wrongs!!!!! Now " YES!.
Thanks Julian, I respect your writing and opininions. John
I think this was the most intelligent and well informed analysis I’ve come across about Israel’s latest atrocities and war crimes over the last week. And I have looked for and reviewed any similar analysis I could find to extent I had time during the same period, including that of Scott Ritter referenced in the article. Even with my rather humble or “layman” level familiarity with military matters, I sensed that Ritter was dogmatic and one dimensional in his analysis of the embassy attack by Israel, and have found Scott to be vulnerable at times to such limitations. However, the present article so concisely yet comprehensively and accurately highlights and interprets the same events within the dynamic context of the region today, a feat hardly paralleled so far in alternative let also the mainstream media. Kudos and thanks for the fantastic contribution and looking forward to more.
I owe a lot to some of my friends in the ME.
I agree with you. No one is ever “irreplaceable”. Iran is strong and big enough to get its military act together. About the only thing that's “irreplaceable” is the US war machine for the Israeli government. They depend upon US armaments and political interference on the world stage at the UN. When we shut down the war machine and the flow of arms to Israel, then the Israelis' fascist regime will be replaced for the good of all.
Charismatic politicians are often irreplaceable for their corrupt parties. Charisma is as essential to politics as sociopathy and blackmail. However, good public officials and military leaders will have well-trained underlings.
Good leaders share. And they use consensus. Knowing that the show will likely go om without them.
Congress, the medical establishment and the rest of the agencies, the FBI, DOJ, the list hardly ends - all of them would serve better if the top layer died. Was it Feynman - I think - spoke about how progress moves one death at a time. Maybe we don't need term limits for congress and the like, but life limits.
I don't know, maybe it's time to rethink Pol Pot.
I like that idea "life limits"!
No one is perfect. Ritter has been wrong before. Like said Russia would run through Ukraine like shit through a goose before war began. I like the guy - especially his thick full head of hair at 65 which I do not have at 55 and he's right more often than wrong so still worth listening to. Anyway, the worst Iranian general is probably better than the best American ones who are promoted on basis of ass kissing rather than competence so I agree they are replaceable.
Does DaIsraeli tail wag DaAmerican dog?
Eric Margolis writes -
America has become the champion of Israeli expansionism. The Israeli tail continues to wag the bumbling American dog. Instead of engineering a cease-fire, Washington has blocked all efforts at the UN to stop the mass murder in Gaza. The rest of the world will remember this. - https://crushlimbraw.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-nasty-little-sparta-by-eric-s.html?m=0 - and after reading this, judge for yourself - https://crushlimbraw.blogspot.com/2024/04/does-israeli-tail-wag-american-dog.html?m=0
I agree with this article's assessment near term prospects for the Near East.
Regarding the kinetic energy delivered by a 2000 kg Kinzal missile. The 2000 kg is the mass, where m stands for a unit of mass. Let's assume that the terminal velocity of a Kinzal is 9 times that of a harpoon anti-ship missile. The kinetic energy of a body, represented by K, is equal to the mass times the square of of the body's velocity, v divided by 2.
K=(1/2)mv^2
What this implies is if there is a 2000 kg harpoon, well the 9 times faster Kinzal has 81 times the kinetic energy! That is some big time hurt.