Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

The United States, and other countries, keep telling Israel to adjust their military strategy to reduce civilian casualties.

They are all full of… a lot of hypocrisy. And the truth is in the numbers.

Hamas’s health ministry reports nearly 16,000 have been killed in Israeli bombardments in eight weeks of warfare. Other sources indicate 5,000 Hamas terrorists had been killed. That equals two civilians for each combatant killed.

Does this meet the international meaning of “proportionality” under the Geneva Convention? Let’s compare and contrast a recent similar urban combat situation.

During the Battle of Mosul, Iraq (October 16, 2016- July 20, 2017), ISIS fought Iraqi and US led coalition forces. The Associated Press reported over 9,600 civilians died. NPR, quoting from the US Department of Defense, indicated there were 2,000 ISIS soldiers killed in Mosul. This equal 4.8 civilians killed for each combatant.

That is more than twice the civilian casualty rate in this Israeli war. The IDF regularly goes beyond any other army in the world to protect civilians. And the numbers prove it. Yet, the call to change or cease military activities related to the issue of reducing civilian casualties are a focus only when Israel is involved.

The repeated messages from the US that Israel should protect innocent Gazan civilians is counterproductive by providing false anti-Israel talking points, inferring that Israel is not, when it does better than any other military, including America’s.

Meanwhile, Yemen Houthis are attacking Israel with ballistic missiles and disrupting global shipping, US bases are being repeatedly attacked in Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah is firing rockets at Israeli civilians. Iran is behind it all, acting as the head of the snake.

Unfortunately, the escalation of this war that the US does not want is already happening. Remember the character, Jim Malone, in the 1987 movie The Untouchables: “They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.” This is how to stop escalation. Unstopped, Iran and its proxies feel emboldened. As seems to be happening right now.

The US needs take effective action immediately, even as it talks or mulls over a coalition. The Western world needs to kill the head of the snake (Iran) because after Israel, the rest of the non-Arab world is their next target. Not only will this show strength and create deterrence to these inhumane actors in the Mid-East but also to Iran’s new friend, Russia, which will help currently in Ukraine and prevent future Ukraine-like situations.

The United States must lead, follow, or get out of the way.