This was not inevitable. This is a war Israel chose. It could have been prevented. Diplomatic talks were ongoing when the bombers took off for Iran. Israel’s continuing, illegal, unjustified airstrikes are unlikely to achieve their stated aim – permanently ending Tehran’s presumed efforts to build nuclear weapons – and may accelerate it. They must stop now. Likewise, Iran must halt its retaliation immediately and drop its escalatory threats to attack US and UK bases.

This conflict is not limited, as was the case last year, to tit-for-tat exchanges and “precision strikes” on a narrow range of military targets. It’s reached a wholly different level. Potentially nothing is off the table. Civilians are being killed on both sides. Leaders are targets. The rhetoric is out of control. With Israel fighting on several fronts, and Iran’s battered regime backed against a wall, the Middle East is closer than ever to a disastrous conflagration.

Reasons can always be found to go to war. The roots of major conflicts often reach back decades – and this is true of the Israel-Iran vendetta, which dates to the 1979 Islamic revolution. The so-called “shadow war” between the two intensified in recent years. Yet all-out conflict had been avoided, until now. So who is principally to blame for this sudden, unprecedented explosion?

Answer: three angry old men whose behaviour raises serious doubts about their judgment, common sense, motives and even their sanity.

  • colonelsharki@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Khamenei maybe an angry old man considering his country is facing an existential threat but Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal and Trump is a rapist with nefarious ties to the notorious Epstein

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      My Iranian ass spending minutes to get my VPN working so I can access lemmy and watch people whitewash the man responsible for all my misery only to shit on Netanyahu and Trump:

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              So it justifies the crimes of the mullahs? Why do you want it to seem that America is the devil and the mullahs are OK? Can’t them both be bad in your mind?

            • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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              So? US foreign policy has done a number of the whole world. It’s not an excuse for Khamenei and his goons to uphold this regime.

              • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                If you don’t want to be governed by conservatives, quit lining all the progressives against the wall and shooting them.

                Blaming Khamenei for governing like a conservative Muslim, when you’re in a region absolutely choked with religious conservative governments, seems to miss the forest for the trees. Especially after the US was instrumental in undermining and dismantling all the modernist secular democracies from the first half of the 20th century.

            • belastend@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              7 months ago

              Khomeini hijacked the revolution that ousted the Shah and turned it from a triumphant moment and chance for change into a “under new management” situation.

              Khamenei now presides over this theocratic regime and continues to oppress Iran.

              • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                Khomeini hijacked the revolution

                The lion’s share of the proletariat were religious conservatives. He didn’t hijack the revolution, he was a foundational pillar of its execution.

                Khamenei now presides over this theocratic regime

                Show me a Middle Eastern government more liberal than President Masoud Pezeshkia’s Independent Reformist coalition. Half their neighbors are Kingdoms, ffs. The other half are military dictatorships. Iran is one of the few proper democracies on the continent. It’s theocratic because the majority of its constituents are conservative theocrats sending up religious politicians to the parliament. Iran is no more theocratic than Pakistan or Mississippi.

                • belastend@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  I don’t have time or will to dive into all of this but this one part: “It is theocratic because the majority of it’s constituents are conservative theocrats” There are no non-theocratic politians in Iran, they do not get approved for standing in an election. Every candidate, on every level, has to be approved by the Guardian Council. Who elected that council? Well, half of the council are clerics, appointed the Supreme Leader. The other half are jurists, who are selected by the Majilis from list approved by the Chief Justice. Who appointed the Chief Justice? The Supreme Leader.

                  Meaning all 12 positions of the body that decides who can stand for election are either appointed by the supreme Leader or appointed by someone with direct allegiance to the Supreme Leader.

                  Take the president for example: Pezeshkian would legally not be able to stand for election if he wasnt a Shia Muslim or didn’t affirm that the Supreme Leader is the ultimate authority in matters of religion and social issues. Meaning by law, both social and religious reforms can only be done with the consent of the supreme Leader.

                  The constituents send up theocratic politicians because there are no other politicians. A theocrat has the ultimate power of determining who is and isn’t a viable candidate.

      • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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        I mean screw the men responsible for your misery, but Iran is objectively the good guy when it comes to Palestine. We don’t have quite as much opportunity to shit on Khomeini now that Assad isn’t around, but we still hate him don’t worry.

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          From what I understand from your message it looks like to me that this is all something like a game for you people to virtue signal.

          Edit: Funny how you got Khomeini and Khamenei mixed up. It shows how much you know and care about the matter.

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            From what I understand from your message it looks like to me that this is all something like a game for you people to virtue signal.

            No? What do you even mean by whitewashing him? The atrocities he commits just aren’t relevant to the topic at hand, so they’re not brought up.

            Edit: Funny how you got Khomeini and Khamenei mixed up.

            Wow, TIL. I thought their names were both Khomeini but that makes more sense.

        • Ksin@lemmy.world
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          Not every conflict has a good guy, there are no good guys, the Khamenei regime is evil and so is the leadership of Isreal. Just because the latter attacked the former does not make them innocent, let the bastards burn and pity the civilian.

    • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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      Stop pretending like Khamenei isn’t a criminal. He’s not just an angry old man because they’re “facing an existential threat” he’s a fuckwad through and through and no Iranian would shed a tear if he was shelled. Israel certainly started this iteration of the conflict but Khamenei and the regime has a rap sheet far longer than Trump’s.

        • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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          7 months ago

          What do I know? My parents came to Denmark fleeing from this shitty regime. What do you know?

            • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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              Of course I have family in Iran, even though I don’t know them too well. How are you reading that I’m happy that terrorist (Israeli) bombs are falling on people? Regular people are always the losers in warfare, no matter the circumstances. Just wouldn’t be sad if it happened to fall on Khamenei - nor if a missile landed on Bibi’s house.

                • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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                  Israel is undoubtedly the most evil regime in the world but upholding another evil regime oppressing 90+ million people just because they lay claim to standing up to Israel - without producing any particularly strong results - doesn’t seem like the tradeoff to go for. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Iran can still be on the right side of history without Khamenei and his goons.

            • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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              I am, but I won’t claim that I’m not first and foremost Danish - apart from when it comes to food… But I do feel like I’m allowed to have a strong opinion on the regime.

      • biofaust@lemmy.world
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        Khamenei is a priest. 'Nuff said. Israel is a theocratic state. Religious people attacking each other, with normal people in the middle. Once more, Rome did it first, 900 something years ago.

  • BrainInABox@lemmy.mlBanned from community
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    7 months ago

    Trust The Guardian to “both-sides” a blatant war of aggression and just completely fail to mention the massive genocide Israel is carrying out.

    • Saleh@feddit.org
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      So far also Iran only matched target groups after Israel targeted them first. E.g. Israel strikes MoD offices in Tehran -> Iran strikes back at the MoD in Tel Aviv. Israels strikes Iranian gas and electrical infrastructure -> Iran strikes back at Israeli Gas and electrical infrastructure.

      Iran doesn’t want this war and keeps reiterating to go back to diplomacy, however the US and multiple G7 countries, especially UK, France and Germany are rattling the sabres more, defending Israels onslaught while condemning Irans responses. These countries claiming they would seek a diplomatic solution makes for rather cynical lies when they cover the attacker and condemn the defender.

      • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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        No doubt Israel started this iteration but to say that Iran doesn’t want war is viewing the regime too favourably. Of course they don’t want war on Iranian territory - but they do want to directly sponsor Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, al-Assad (until he fell), and other mostly Shia militias while severely oppressing their own population - especially minorities. Fuck Israel but it’s not like Iran comes with peaceful intentions. My parents fled from this regime, and while virtually no Iranian supports Israel’s actions or wants war, most of us wouldn’t shed a single tear if the entire regime were wiped out.

        • Saleh@feddit.org
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          Iran doesn’t want this war

          No doubt Iran has acted in aggressive ways in other places. However it seemed to not have directed its aggression directly at Israel. People keep claiming that Iran would have orchestrated October 7, but if it had, Hezbollah, Houthis and Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq would have joined in full force. So Iran wasn’t interested in a confrontation with Israel in the past years either.

          • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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            7 months ago

            Oh absolutely, this one is on Israel for sure. Just important to note that it’s not like the Iranian regime is made up of pacifists

            • BrainInABox@lemmy.mlBanned from community
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              7 months ago

              Israel and the US would like my very much if it was made of pacifists

        • rumimevlevi@lemmings.worldBanned
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          Did you forget that israel also backed the shah which was also oppressive and killed iranian? The west and it proxy israel always trying to control iranian natural ressources.

          Iran provide weapons to resistance groups but do not control their actions. It’s not different than the united state selling weapona to it’s allies

          Iran was forced to intervene in syria because the plan was always to put another regime that will protect israel and not because they love the butcher Assas butchring syrians

          You can’t claim to not support israel when they are the one right now trying to change the regime right now. How many iranians do you think should die for a regime change that will be replaced by a puppet not chosen by iranians?

          • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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            For me it’s about being realistic. Iran is never gonna defeat Israel as long as the Americans support them. You’re right that Iran will never flourish because the powers won’t ever allow it - Israel, USA, Western Europe, Saudi Arabia, sometimes Turkey… puppet or not, I’m not gonna support the devil I know just because I can’t know what happens in the time after.

            • rumimevlevi@lemmings.worldBanned
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              7 months ago

              So do you agree that Israel should stop the war then Iranians themselves decide to overthrow the regime?

              • KumaSudosa@feddit.dk
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                Of course I do? My only statement is that I wouldn’t be sad if a rocket happened to hit Khamenei. Never gonna shed a tear for a tyrant, even if it was my other enemy that caused his downfall.

                • rumimevlevi@lemmings.worldBanned
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                  If Khamenei die , it will be replaced by another. In the process of trying to kill Khamenei ton of civilians will die. Are you ready for the rest of your family who are still in Iran to risk dying in the process?

                • BrainInABox@lemmy.mlBanned from community
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                  Would you take the same view if Iranian rockets started killing Zionist politicians in Europe?

        • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          Empire has been attacking Iran for centuries. The current state is a direct result of imperial violence. Iran has had no choice but to defend itself for decades.

    • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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      7 months ago

      Because they know they’ll lose it as things currently stand.

      That’s why they’ve been trying to build nukes.

      • Fiona
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        7 months ago

        First of all: It’s not clear that they want nukes. Like, seriously, they have been accused of almost having nukes for thirty years, it’s much more plausible at this point that they are much more interested in the ability to acquire them quickly in case they need them.

        But even then: It makes no sense for them to use them aggressively, but it makes an unbelievable amount of sense for them to want them for defensive purposes. Like: They have time and time suffered from western interference, including the extremely bloody Iran-Iraq-war and have a hostile, nazi-run rouge state running a genocide and storing nukes without NPT-approval that is receiving unlimited support from the US in their vicinity.

        The fact of the matter is that there is no country on earth that is as justified in pursuing a nuclear deterrent on earth as Iran.

        And none of that changes anything about the government being made up from horrible tyrants that are almost as bad (but definitely not actually as bad, let alone worse!) as the one in Israel. They absolutely should be overthrown, but that’s not the job for the genocidal nazis in Israel.

        • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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          Yes, I’m sure a nation with huge oil and gas reserves wants nuclear just to have very expensive energy.

          They want nuclear weapons to prevent regime change due to external interference. Russia can’t protect them. There’s no NATO style protection for Russian allies. I think we’re only seeing this now because of how weak Russia is on the global stage.

      • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        Gotta be a complete idiot not to build nukes when a rogue genocidal cult is constantly threatening to nuke you.

        A nuclear Iran is one of the only hopes for peace.

  • Doorbook@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    damn they just pretend the UK is not the country that fuel Jets over Iraq to facilitate the bombing. Or it is not the UK base in Cyprus and vessels that provide a command center and communication tool to facilitate the mission.

    If you want to attack Iran and accelerate to a wwiii don’t shy from telling the truth about your involvement, we know it, you know it …

  • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 months ago

    Peak liberal both sidesism. Desperately clinging to the illusion that USA good, Iran bad. This is a big part of why we have genocide against palestinians and trump in office.

    • nyamlae@lemmy.world
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      Desperately clinging to the illusion that USA good

      You are either being dishonest or have bad reading comprehension. The OP clearly labels Trump as part of the problem, alongside Netanyahu and Khameini. They also blame Israel for escalating with Iran when talks were still ongoing. They are not saying what you claim they are.

      • BrainInABox@lemmy.mlBanned from community
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        I think it’s probably that Americans only do this “both sides are to blame” when their side is the one to blame

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    7 months ago

    Ah yes, blame all three even though its been clearly israel and Netanyahu who have been beating the war drums for 30+ years. Israel has been talking about Iran developing a nuke for 30 years and saying that “its around the corner”. Israel did the same with Iraq btw and dragged the US to war.

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    Likewise, Iran must halt its retaliation immediately and drop its escalatory threats to attack US and UK bases.

    Apparently defending yourself is the peak of insanity now.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    7 months ago

    Angry old men … ruling the biggest countries in the world … and all of them not caring what they are going to do or not do because they’re going to be dead or senile or incapable to do anything within the next ten years.

    • Doorbook@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      blaming the top government officials only is stupid. Thet completelyignore that they got voted in and have majority support among their population. At least Iran has less of a choice, and even then was negotiating a deal and agreed to one in the past!

  • wpb@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Great man theory nonsense. Was Netanyahu in power during the Sabra and Shatila massacre? During the Nakba? During the June 1967 war? Was Trump president when the US invaded Iraq? Was he president when the US sent billions of dollars in military aid to Israel to commit their genocide with? It’s the countries, not the leaders. They’re just the personification of a system. You could shoot each of these men in the head today, and nothing would change.

    • MrMakabar@slrpnk.net
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      6 months ago

      There are actually some differences here. After the Cold War ended Israel was making some peace deals. The Oslo Accords(1993 and 1995) and a deal with Jordan 1994 were big parts of that. In 1996 Netanyahu came to power and basically all of that stopped. There was a bit with Ariel Sharon being in power, when Israel gave up its settlement in the Gaza strip. Netanyahu was not prime minister all the time, but he was in government and more often then not in position to sabotage that. The only time he failed was Ariel Sharon ordering to close the Jewish settlements in Gaza. He is really the main reason there is no somewhat working two state solution today.

      Trump currently sents billions of aid to Israel to commit genocide AND fight a war within Iran. So yes he is that president. Biden at least used the US military to send some food to Gaza, Trump stopped that.

      Khamenei is the leader of Iran since 1989. He is hardly innocent of supporting the Assad clan, destroying democracy in Lebanon by supporting Hezbollah, massive war crimes in Sudan happening right now, with the biggest starvation crisis in the world, although not as hard as Gaza, the huge civil war in Yemen and so forth. Keep in mind that before the Iranian revolution Israel and Iran were very close allies. They even developed fighter jets together. Point is that both countries are not natural enemies.

      At least two of those men have formed their respective countries and systems for decades. If you killed Netanyahu today, then it would mean a new election and likely a win for the liberals, which is usually good news for Palastinians. If you killed Khamenei today, then there is a pretty good chance, that the infighting would end the Islamic Republic. Iran has had some massive protests in the last couple years. If you kill Trump, then the Vance ends up president and he lacks the charisma of Trump and is not even directly elected.

      • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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        Do you really think Trump’s supporters would suddenly support Democrats, and, do you really think a power vacuum in Iran would make the Middle East more peaceful?

        Similarly, don’t skip over the part where the Oslo process ended when Netanyahu’s current cabinet had Rabin assassinated. Natanyahu is a linchpin, but the right exists independent of him, and the left is still pretty anti-Palestinian.

        • MrMakabar@slrpnk.net
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          Never said that Trump supporters would switch sites. I said that Vance is less popular, which means less likely to get as many people to activly vote for him.

          A power vacuum in Iran would have a good chance of ending the civil war in Sudan. So I believe the odds are pretty good,especially if it is a short one.

          Every Iraeli and Palestinian has experienced violence from the other site. Clearly Israel is occupying the West Bank and not the other was around, but it would be foolish of me to presume that the Israeli left loves Palestinians. Thankfully they do not need to, but just need to make a deal. Without shooting at each other relations will improve. Obviously the right is independent of Natanyahu, but current polls still show them loosing power.

          • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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            I’ll admit my knowledge of Sudan is fuzzy. It’s a huge catastrophe, but it just seems unlikely to spread the way the other crises can. Doesn’t the UAE have a big hand in it too?

            I’m skeptical inspiring middle-of-the-road voters is really that important anymore in the US. Most likely, future elections will not be fully free and fair.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      Trump, definitely. He’s at least too dumb to be evil effectively, I shudder to think where Vance would take things if he decides to keep the MAGA line going.

      Netanyahu dying would lead to a collapse of his government and a more moderate faction coming to power and probably ending the wars… for now.

      I know less about the internal politics of Iran, although this war they didn’t start obviously wouldn’t end.

      • wpb@lemmy.world
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        There is broad support in Israeli society for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. There are polls showing as much (I think one of them showed a rate of 82%). This is not one man’s whim, this is not the will of some small shady elite, this is a consequence of material conditions in Israel. If you don’t take those away, some other face will lead the charge.

        Plus I’m not convinced that an assassination of Netanyahu would lead to a different party taking charge. I can’t imagine their system of governance is set up this way. But this is entirely beside the point. The point is that one man’s death doesn’t change history. The allies didn’t win WWII because Hitler killed himself, Hitler killed himself because the allies won WWII.

        • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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          There is broad support in Israeli society for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. There are polls showing as much (I think one of them showed a rate of 82%).

          I did say “for now”.

          I’m guessing “genocide” wasn’t in the wording of the poll question, but a two-state solution is just as fringe as a one state solution at this point. The vibe of the average Israeli is that they want Palestinians gone and don’t want to talk or even think about how.

          Plus I’m not convinced that an assassination of Netanyahu would lead to a different party taking charge. I can’t imagine their system of governance is set up this way.

          How much do you know about the system?

          It’s a party list parliament with a pretty high degree of political fragmentation, comparable to the Netherlands. Netanyahu started with a slim majority propped up by the far-right parties, and his party has polled poorly since they let Oct 7 happen. Security was his main thing. He’s globally famous for his skill holding together coalitions, which he couldn’t do while dead, and it’s pretty typical to hold snap elections after something like that anyway. His successor also wouldn’t need to worry about being thrown in jail for corruption the moment they’re out of office.

          But this is entirely beside the point. The point is that one man’s death doesn’t change history. The allies didn’t win WWII because Hitler killed himself, Hitler killed himself because the allies won WWII.

          Great man theory is indeed dumb, but “leaders don’t change anything even in the short term” is too far in the other direction.

  • IndustryStandard@lemmy.world
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    What an insanely stupid article. Israel bombs Iran completely unprovoked. Khamenei and Iran are incredibly responsible and measured in their response. Meanwhile Israel is flailing around like a wild bully with their American big brother behind its back, threatening Iran that they are not allowed to strike back

    And the liberals from TheGuardian write a both sides article about it as if all parties share blame.

    • Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works
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      The Ayatollah regime that has been building and funding terrorist proxies for years, that has a bloody countdown timer for the destruction of Israel in the middle it Tehran? The same regime who is, pretty obviously, rushing toward military nuclear capabilities in order to fulfill said countdown? You’re saying that they haven’t provoked Israel?

      And you really think that firing drones and ballistic missiles at civilian populations is a measured response?

      Fuck off with that bullshit.

      • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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        Cool whataboutisms. Yes, Iran is shitty. No, Israel didn’t have to do this. Yes, it’s a great strategy to regain support for the Likud coalition government and not go to prison for corruption.

        And you really think that firing drones and ballistic missiles at civilian populations is a measured response?

        Pardon, which county are we talking about here?

        Iran at least has the excuse that their missiles can’t aim that well.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      If Israel has a right to defend itself, what does (still awful government of) Iran have?

      I guess blaming Netanyahu and Trump only would have lead to too much blowback. The Guardian really doesn’t seem like it’s the same anymore.

  • Andy@slrpnk.net
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    7 months ago

    This article is fine, but kind of superfluous.

    We get it. Everyone can see this. If you don’t have actionable advice or some additional insight, you’re really just reporting that water is wet.

    • Zorque@lemmy.world
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      Unfortunately not everyone is aware that water is wet. And often there are groups who try and convince people otherwise.

      I agree that more ideas need to be put into action that can actually accomplish change for the better, but that requires that people be informed first.

        • Andy@slrpnk.net
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          7 months ago

          Most scientists define wetness as a liquid’s ability to maintain contact with a solid surface, meaning that water itself is not wet, but can make other sensation.

          But if you define wet as ‘made of liquid or moisture’, as some do, then water and all other liquids can be considered wet.

          So… by a highly common definition it is wet. That’s not much of a debate.

          There are plenty of words that mean different things in scientific contexts that are different from common use. It’s like saying “the sky is blue” is a false statement. Yes, there are contexts where the sky isn’t blue. At night. On other planets. Perhaps earlier periods in our planet’s history. But are we in those contexts right now? And is my meaning ambiguous?

          There are a lot of times where language is unclear, and we must work to bridge communication barriers. But to insist on debating things when no genuine confusion is present is just an a bizarre antisocial practice.

          • Andy@slrpnk.net
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            6 months ago

            This is silly.

            First, I don’t know why you’re using the past tense. I don’t call water “wetted” I call it “wet”. And while I wouldn’t call fire “burned”, I would call it “burning”.

            But here’s the thing: you’re welcome to have your idiosyncratic opinion on this. The fact that you seem to want me to argue my side when I feel perfectly comfortable letting you have a subjective opinion most people consider ridiculous says to me that (A) you know which one of us holds the broadly agreed upon position and (B) this isn’t about resolving a dispute. It’s just online debate for sport.

            Enjoy believing a hotdog is a sandwich. Sleep well in your claims that cereal is a soup. I’m not going to explain to you why water is wet because it’s a waste of my time.

  • DragonSidedD@lemmy.ml
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    7 months ago

    Illegal, maybe. But… Unjustified? Maybe the author is unaware of Isreal’s recent divulgence of Iran’s plan to sprint for a nuke while its militant religious zealots in Hamas and Hizbullah are hobbled? Or how openly the mullahs state that they will use it?