A War of Attrition and We’re Losing

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A War of Attrition and We're Losing."

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union. However, this milestone is tinged with melancholy, given Russia's occupation of over 20% of Ukraine and its ongoing efforts to expand its influence following the recent invasion on February 24, 2022.

The U.S.'s strategy is a war of attrition, using Ukraine to deplete Russia's military and economic strength. This strategy is reminiscent of the long Iran-Iraq War that wore down both countries. Russia's long game involves alliances with China, Iran, and terrorist proxies, as well as a campaign of divisive propaganda. The US needs to start playing chess rather than checkers to counter Russia's threats.

(AI generated image via Designer)
 

A War of Attrition and We’re Losing

Game of Chess

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Game of Chess

The TikTok Candidate

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The TikTok Candidate."

In short, Vice President Harris, who everyone thought was worse than even President Biden and had the lowest net negative ratings of any vice president in history, has now, six weeks later, magically been transformed into arguably a leading candidate for the next president of the United States.

Essentially, she is the TikTok candidate, where the entire purpose of her statements, apparently all scripted, is superficial and solely to generate "hits," buzz, and votes. In fact, her website is blatantly devoid of policy and only has a place for asking for donations. Thus, instead of policy aims for our country, we are given at best platitudes and smirky, sarcastic lines from followers like "it depends on the context."

As an electorate, we must demand more of our candidates than to be glamorous and look the part. Glitz without substance is worthless!

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The TikTok Candidate

Israel Can Prevail Over Iran

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel Can Prevail Over Iran."

Certainly, Iran is a large country and a formidable enemy, and together with its terrorist proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis), have done some significant damage to Israeli society. Therefore, we are all poised on the precipice of escalating confrontation between the two parties.

Given Israel's incredible finesse at undermining and outmaneuvering its Iranian enemies, what is Iran going to do?

Some say that Iran is a crazy "irrational actor" and is bent on destroying Israel no matter what.

But thinking about this strategically, Iran is weaker than it appears and there are at least five reasons that it should restrain itself from any further escalation with Israel.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Israel Can Prevail Over Iran

Axis of Jihad

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Axis of Jihad."

Deport the terrorists, halt their vile ways,
Before darkness consumes our brightest days.
Iran’s threat looms large, Yemen’s shore cries,
The Axis of Evil seeks its prize.

Russia, China, and Iran—psyops behind it all,
Undermining the West with terror and chaos, oh the gall!
Their geopolitical dance, a cunning ballet,
While the world trembles, caught in their dangerous strategic sway.

 (AI generated image via Designer)

Axis of Jihad

Israel Victory: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel Victory: A Marathon, Not a Sprint."

We've been going on almost 9 months since October 7, and exhaustion is setting in. Many of us are wondering when the war will be won and the hostages will be home so that life can return to normal. However, what many of us aren't seeing is that the terrorists are playing a much longer game. They are willing to endure near-endless suffering and loss of life to achieve the goal of not only a "Palestine" but also a much broader terrorist caliphate. And to that end, they have interwoven a series of intricate false narratives and victimhood.

For us to succeed, we need to dig in our heels and embrace the kind of long-term commitment and unyielding dedication not only to defeating Hamas today but also to the terrorist threat in the long term. Our enemies have a vision of dominion over the West, and we must be committed and united to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to ensure they are completely and utterly defeated and that we are safe and secure forever.

(AI generated image via Designer)

Israel Victory: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

The Biggest Threat to Western Civilization

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Biggest Threat to Western Civilization."

In short, radical jihadists are not only using everything from terrorism to the pursuit of nuclear weapons to achieve their goals of domination and a caliphate, but they are also employing a dangerous strategy of subterfuge and subversion of our democratic institutions and society. As long as we continue to focus almost exclusively on threats from China and Russia and attempt to downplay the significant danger of a radical terrorist caliphate, we ignore the "revolution," the ideology of martyrdom, and the pursuit of Jihad that is a threat to freedom and human rights not only to the people in their own countries but to those around the world.

(AI generated image via Designer)

The Biggest Threat to Western Civilization

America Is the Target; Israel Is the Front Line

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "America Is the Target; Israel is the Front Line."

This is not about free speech but about a takeover of America. These vile terrorist supporters are using our very Constitution against us as they falsely cry Islamophobia and free speech, all the while impeding, threatening, and committing acts of violence against students, citizens, and an orderly democracy. It is time for Americans to stop being complacent or fooled by their terrorist talking points and rhetoric of hate, racism, and Communist ideology. In the face of this evil, we are finally seeing Patriots emerge, proudly carrying and defending the American flag, singing the Star-Spangled Banner, and boldly chanting USA!


(AI generated image via Designer) 

America Is the Target; Israel Is the Front Line

By Any Means Necessary

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "By Any Means Necessary."

Modern-day anti-Semitism has taken the form of pro-Hamas supporters on our campuses and in our cities who pretend that they are fighting against colonialism and an occupation of Palestine. They strategically disguise their Jew-hatred by falsely portraying themselves as the victims of oppression. Instead of showing themselves as the vile racists that they are, they attempt to hide as wolves in sheep's clothing. They do this to try and get the world's sympathy and take the mantle of morality and legitimacy through lies and distortion. In so doing, they can call for resistance, intifada, and jihad, and "by any (murderous and abhorrent) means necessary," all the while pretending to be virtuous.

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By Any Means Necessary

Know Your Enemy

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Know Your Enemy

Angry Reaction

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Angry Reaction

The Occupation Game

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Occupation Game."

Since October 7, it has become almost a daily chorus by Hamas and their supporters around the world condemning Israel for “occupation.” However, if you really examine the facts, it becomes clear that the word occupation is nothing more than propaganda and a tool of radical Islam for hate, intifada, jihad, and terrorism.

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The Occupation Game

The Topsy Turvy World of Baby Killers and Nazis

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Topsy Turvy World of Baby Killers and Nazis."

One of the toughest things to bear is when our enemies hypocritically use psychological projection and try to turn the tables, calling us "Baby Killers," "Rapists," and "Nazis," when this is exactly the criminal behavior that the Hamas terrorists perpetrated at the October 7 massacre in Southern Israel.

For Israel, it's as if being barbarically attacked and victimized with the rape and mutilation of women, beheadings and burnings of babies, and murders and abductions of young and old aren't enough. But then to suffer the grotesque turning of reality on its head by having the perpetrators of these crimes call you out as the aggressor is beyond imagination.

As we approach the Jewish holiday of Purim, we have to maintain our ultimate faith in the Almighty that those corrupt evildoers who seek our destruction "by any means necessary" will ultimately themselves face justice like the evil Haman (perhaps the forefather of Hamas).

(AI generated Image from Designer)

The Topsy Turvy World of Baby Killers and Nazis

How to Get The Hostages Out Alive

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "How to Get the Hostages Out Alive."

In my opinion, the only tactical way to rescue the hostages is to locate and map the tunnel they are hiding in and then gas them all to sleep. The gas would need to be carefully regulated so as not to alert the terrorists that it is being used and not to harm the hostages. The gas needs to be odorless and colorless (like nitrous oxide) to camouflage its use, and the Israeli commandos will need to be hairpin-ready to blow the blast doors and get in to rescue the hostages.

This alternative is far better than releasing 100 Palestinian prisoners (many “with blood on their hands”) for every 1 Israeli hostage like Hamas is demanding (or 10,000+ Palestinian prisoners), thereby creating the terror environment for yet another, and perhaps many, October 7-like attacks in the future that would put many more Israelis at risk. Unfortunately, this is what happened when Israel released Sinwar as part of the 1,000 for 1 deal in 2011 for Gilad Shalit, and look where it got us.

(AI generated image vis Craiyon)

How to Get The Hostages Out Alive

Victimhood for the Cameras

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Victimhood for the Cameras."

With the October 7 invasion, Hamas was after something much bigger and more important to them than the one-day massacre of Israelis; they wanted a massive blood libel against Israel to turn the world against them.

Just like Hamas used a barrage of missiles on the day of their attack to divert from their invasion, so too was the invasion and massacre itself a manipulative provocation, for any forceful response whatsoever automatically turns the perception of Israel into the “genocidal” aggressors.

To our great detriment, Hamas’s strategy was largely successful. They inflicted significant damage on Israel and the Jewish people not only through sheer terrorism but also through the insidious setup for Israel to be perceived as the perpetrator rather than the victim. However, now it is Israel's turn not only to destroy Hamas and rescue the hostages but also to set the record straight.

(Credit Photo: Aurel_Cham via https://pixabay.com/illustrations/propaganda-obey-shepard-fairey-7287298/)

Victimhood for the Cameras

Preventing a Future October 7

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Preventing a Future October 7."

First and foremost, we need more and better capability to think outside the box and see things not only as they appear, but what's behind the curtain as well. War gaming, planning, modeling and simulation, and using artificial intelligence are just some of the tools at our disposal for breaking the paradigm and thinking about what's possible and even what's probable. Most importantly, we need a diversity of thinking to end the groupthink and mind-numbing stasis of seeing things only as we think they are and not as they really are or could be. Whether we employ think tanks and advisory boards; military and intelligence assets; strategic planners, futurists, and statisticians; technologists, scientists, and engineers; psychologists, sociologists, and anthropologists to get into the heads of our adversaries or the realm of the unthinkable, we must break down the barriers to novel thinking and creative solutions. Along with faith in the Almighty and a strong, technologically advanced, and well-trained IDF, this deep planning must become the bedrock of our security preparedness.

(AI Generated Image via Craiyon)

Preventing a Future October 7

Smoke Them Out

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Smoke Them Out."

The Gaza tunnels are one of the greatest obstacles to the IDF in destroying Hamas and rescuing the hostages. Given that Hamas will never voluntarily release "the ace" they are holding with the hostages, Israel has the unenviable task of not only "smoking out" and dealing with the terrorists but also simultaneously rescuing the hostages. This seems like a near "mission impossible," but with the right "smoke" and the ingenuity and bravery of the IDF, along with G-d's guiding hand, there is still hope.

(Credit Photo: Zachary DeBottis via https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-wearing-motorcycle-helmet-2930929/)

Smoke Them Out

Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas."

As always, Israel is facing long odds, attacked not only by Hamas in the south, Hezbollah in the north, and terrorists in the West Bank but also potentially by the combined arms of hostile Arab nations such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and, of course, the arch-terrorist Iran, which is seeking nuclear weapons and threatening to destroy Israel. Despite all of this, and while we are still only at the beginning of this latest battle with evil, it is clear that once Israel overcame the initial shock and horror of the Hamas attack, the response from Israel has been nothing short of brilliantly planned and flawlessly executed.

Without a doubt, this will be a long and difficult war, and it is far from won. There are so many families grieving for those who have been lost, and hopefully, there will be no more. Moreover, the hostages are suffering and must be brought quickly home. No matter how precise our planning and how good our execution are, ultimately, we must pray to Hashem to help us overcome our enemies and suffering, grant us a complete victory, and speedily bring us peace.
 
(Credit Photo: Anastasia Petrova via https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-silver-compass-xu2WYJek5AI)

Israel's Precise Strategy Against Hamas

Chess Blowing Away

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Chess Blowing Away

10 War Strategies for Peace

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "10 War Strategies for Peace."

Of course, we may not win every battle, but we need to make sure that we win the war. Strategy and tactics, along with plenty of investment, planning, technology, training, and execution, are the way to win. 

Ultimately, peace is the goal, but to get there, we must be ever vigilant, smart, and strong, and maintain our faith in the Almighty.

(Photo via https://www.army.mil/article/247350/fort_leonard_wood_examines_wwii_ghost_army_deception_tactics)

10 War Strategies for Peace