Mideast conflict: Little hope for peace.

  BOTH SIDES TRAPPED IN RETALIATION

ESCALATION WILL NOT BENEFIT ANYONE

Yesterday, we witnessed the Israeli invasion into southern Lebanon and then the missile attack from Iran on Israel. Today, as is the pattern, we can expect an Israeli attack on Iran, probably more severe than the attack from Iran. I see no one offering a solution to this decades old pattern of tit for tat, an eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth diplomacy. Is it the eternal destiny of this region of the world?

Everyone can empathise with the frustration of Israel's never ending conflict. Many also empathise with those caught in the crossfire who have no options other than attempting to survive. No one seems to have any serious ideas of a solution that would be acceptable to all. Is complete and utter annihilation of one side or the other the only option left? Or will it end with both sides devastated to the point of utter destruction.

This conflict is now even more complicated due to alliances that have been established due to the Ukraine conflict, they have now been linked as never before. At one time there was communication and cooperation from Russia in negotiating some measure of patience and objectivity, that is now no longer possible. Global alliances are now at odds in a manner not seen since WW2. 

While no one, including myself, see an immediate solution to this crisis, we should all be able to agree the present course needs to be ended now. Israel has been conducting operations in Gaza for a year, I don't know that any progress has been made. Are things better now? Is there hope of it being better? Is the only solution the elimination of the population? Does anyone believe that operations against Iran can be successful, short of nuclear war? No one, including the United States is going to enter into a ground war in Iran. Even regime change will not change the course of this crisis.

We can place the blame for all this global crisis on the serious lack of any real diplomacy today. The present U.S. diplomacy is, send more weapons and threaten intervention by western armies. Armies that no longer are feared as they once were by many who have lost all respect for the U.S. due to its decline in respectability and substance. A sad state, that if embarked on, may take decades to correct. 

Again, the world is ready to erupt into war and increased chaos. I see no evidence that it will be avoided by the present leadership in the western world.