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Biden going to Israel: good thing or bad thing? [1]

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Date: 2023-10-17  

Because of assorted issues going on in my life over the last few days, I have been somewhat distanced from the news cycle. I’ve gotten access to cable news today so if anything the situation has been made less clear by assorted talking heads talking loudly with concerned expressions. Israel and Gaza is the big story of course. Throw in shots of things getting blown up, mandatory clips with families of hostages, and a dash of those terrible lefty students cheering for Hamas, there’s a lot more heat than light.

Oh, and Trump has a new gag order and Jim Jordan is trying to threaten his way into the Speakership. Also, something something Ukraine.

So, there are reports Biden is planning to travel to Israel, and mixed takes on that decision in the press. Aside from the political aspects of the trip, the major risks to regional stability are a reason to do something — but options and leverage are limited.

I think we can take it as a given that Biden has good intentions — but we also know where those are used as pavement. It’s a high risk — low reward scenario.

Like responding to Climate Change, the players in the region are all desperately trying to find ways to keep doing what they’ve been doing all along even as the cost of inaction rises higher.

They’re looking for whatever advantage they can gain while trying to avoid looking weak. This is easier than embarking on the painful changes that might actually start solving the underlying problems.

So, Biden would be facing an uphill slog at the best of times — and it’s a given the media will be looking for all the ways to put negative spin on it that they can.



But Biden is also the President who was willing to take the heat for pulling America out of Afghanistan. We should not underestimate his desire to do “the right thing” as best as he understands it regardless of the risk.

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