If this were purely about opposing brutal regimes, the list of targets would be a lot longer. The outrage seems to show up mainly when it aligns with U.S. strategic interests.
If the Regime was only brutal to its own people, that would be bad, yes, but the Tehran Regime is more than that. From the beginning of the so-called "Islamic Republic", one of their chief goals was to export the "revolution" abroad. IRGC exists with a dual mandate of internal oppression, AND support for foreign groups who seek to implement similar systems in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and "Palestine".
That’s also why I think U.S. support for Israel is driven heavily by strategy, not just shared values. That doesn’t make it illegitimate, but it does mean we should be honest about the geopolitical incentives and actually debate whether they still make sense.
Yes, geopolitics plays a role. That's why we are also allied with Saudi Arabia despite no shared values.
But I think shared values are important. For all the glazing of the Regime and Palestinian factions far left engages in, they ignore how these regimes are toward groups these leftists purport to support. "Queers for Palestine" being an especially delusional bunch.
And just to be clear, I support dismantling groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Ayatollah’s regime.
Good to hear!
But the moment I show any concern for civilians caught in the middle, suddenly I’m “pro-Hamas”? That leap makes no sense to folks not in their cult.
Showing concern is one thing. Saying that Israel should not engage in operations because they might harm civilians is not. Especially if said civilians are deliberately put in danger by Hamas tactics. When Mahmoud Sinwar operates from underneath a hospital, or Mohammed Deif operates from the civilian safe zone in Al Mawasi, it is them putting civilians in harm's way, not the IDF.
Another thing, why do people even feel the need to constantly preface everything by saying they support Israel’s right to exist? When was the last time anyone had to clarify that they support other countries existing? It's a no brainer to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When was the last time somebody was saying that Germany or United States or France should be abolished and the territory given to a different people group?
Nobody would be talking about Israel's right to exist if it wasn't constantly challenged. Remember all the "from the river to the sea" signs anti-Israel protesters were waving in the aftermath of Gaza's repelled invasion of Israel?
Note that Russia is claiming that Ukraine is part of Russia and should not exist. In that case, it is just like with Israel reasonable to affirm Ukraine's right to exist.
The “No other country is threatened with destruction” is a wild take too. They really think global rivals wouldn’t love to escort each other off the board.
Idle wishes are one thing. 78 years of concerted efforts by Islamic radicals to conquer Israel under the banner of Islam is quite a different one.
