Israel Declares War For The First Time Since 1973.

This time is not like the last. The first time it was Trump surrounded, with a few exceptions (eg, Steven "Nosferatu" Miller), by staff who were still loyal to Country and Constitution and Rule of Law and many of whom worked to protect the country from Trump's worst impulses. For example, on 01 June 2020 Trump twice called for mobilizing active duty troops against the demonstrators in Lafayette Square so that he could stage his Satanic display (displaying a Christian symbol, the Bible, upside down) in front of St. John's Episcopal Church and both times that was nixed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper.This time Trump will be surrounded both by sycophants who will only agree with him and will do nothing to hold him back and also by extremists intent on using their positions of power in the new Trump Administration to pursue and prosecute their own agendas. It was the latter who composed Project 2025 which outlines their plans and goals. Trump is far too lazy, illiterate, and just plain stupid to have formulated that 920-page plan, but rather it was created by extreme right-wing ideologues eager to exploit Trump's power.It's like what I seem to recall Bill Maher having said in the 2016 Republican primaries when that race was mainly between Trump and Ted Cruz -- I seem to recall him recommending Trump over Cruz (interspersed with gargling bleach):

from memory:

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Trump in the White House would break everything around him like a bull in a china shop, but he's too stupid to do too much damage. Cruz, on the other hand, knows exactly where to place the explosives to destroy the entire building.

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Several years ago I heard a historian's opinion that Hitler was not the architect of the atrocities of the Hitlerzeit ("Hitler Time", the Nazi Regime), but rather a catalyst. Hitler was too lazy and unimaginative to have accomplished all that, but rather he was surrounded by ambitious men who wanted to build their own bases of power and realms within Hitler's Reich. It was those power-hungry ambitious followers who, seeking to draw some of Hitler's power for their own, would try to curry favor by formulating and implementing operations that would appeal to dem Führer. Just like it will be in Trump's incoming administration.BTW, Mike Godwin (Godwin's Law, 1990) has approved of comparing Trump to Hitler:

quote:

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In 2023, Godwin published an opinion on The Washington Post stating "Yes, it's okay to compare Trump to Hitler. Don't let me stop you." In the article, Godwin says "But when people draw parallels between Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy and Hitler’s progression from fringe figure to Great Dictator, we aren’t joking. Those of us who hope to preserve our democratic institutions need to underscore the resemblance before we enter the twilight of American democracy."

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Last I checked, that article was still behind a pay wall.Also from that same Wikipedia article:

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In August 2017, while commenting on the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Godwin himself endorsed and encouraged social-media users to compare its "alt-right" participants to Nazis.

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Godwin has denied the need to update or amend the rule. In June 2018, he wrote, in an opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times: "It still serves us as a tool to recognize specious comparisons to Nazism – but also, by contrast, to recognize comparisons that aren't." Additionally, when a potential subject of Godwin's law seems "intent on making the Hitler comparison", the comparison with fascism may be appropriate rather than devaluing the argument; a "MAGA" corollary to the Law recognizes the pernicious embrace of Nazi-inspired tropes and phrases by the "alt-right".

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A quote from memory:  

Steven Miller reminds more of Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, but Nosferatu is pretty good too.For the military, I don't think you have to go down the chain of command too far before you hit a general who's just going to say no. They swear an oath to the Constitution, not the President.Elsewhere in government there are going to be plenty of lifers who are more than willing to slow walk anything they don't like. Trump has a 4 year expiration date, so you just have to outlast him. Hitler dissolved the German parliament and became dictator. I don't see that happening here. Other Republicans still want to get re-elected, so I'm hoping there is a red line they won't cross. Their rejection of Gaetz is one sign they might actually have a rudimentary spine remaining. Democrats will also be fully aware of all that is going on within government, so they will at least hold Republicans accountable for what they do and inform the American people of what is going on.Or, it could be I am at the bargaining stage in the 5 stages of grief.

Virtually no aid has reached besieged north Gaza in 40 days, UN says
From the article:

BBC:

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Palestinians are "facing diminishing conditions for survival" in parts of northern Gaza under siege by Israeli forces because virtually no aid has been delivered in 40 days, the United Nations has warned.(...)Meanwhile, the US vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

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The 14 other Security Council members voted in favour, but the US said the text did not explicitly call for the immediate release of the hostages being held by Hamas as part of a ceasefire.

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The resolution "demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages".

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Israel said the text was a "resolution for appeasement" of Hamas, but France said the resolution "very firmly" required the hostages' release.

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In my opinion, the hostages are likely casualties of war by now. Israel insists on fully eliminating Hamas in its current form.

BBC:

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The Israeli military has said its six-week-long offensive targets regrouping Hamas fighters, and that it is facilitating civilian evacuations and supply deliveries to hospitals.

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It appears that the IDF military strategy is to coerce the Palestinians to reject the Hamas fighters and crawl to Israel for survival. The IDF wants...indeed insists that Hamas and Hezbollah formally surrender (or else they will be killed.) In my mind, Israel would never accept surrender without bringing Hamas and Hezbollah to justice. Will they allow the global community to be as tough on them? (No)At any rate, it is the same old story. As long as the US supports Israel, we place ourselves at odds with the global community.

No 10 indicates Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters UK

BBC:

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to the UK after an international arrest warrant was issued for him, Downing Street has indicated.

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A No 10 spokesman refused to comment on the specific case but said the government would fulfill its "legal obligations".

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On Thursday the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, along with Israel's former defense minister Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

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. Biden calls it "outrageous". The rift between Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant indicates that the wartime "Unity Party" may be breaking up.

What we know about Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal
This sounds like good news, at least better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
From the article:

BBC:

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US President Joe Biden has announced a ceasefire deal to end 13 months of fighting between Israel and with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia supported by Iran.

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In a joint statement, the US and France said the agreement would cease fighting in Lebanon and "secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations". (...) Biden told reporters that the agreement was "designed to be a permanent ceasefire".

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Under the terms of the ceasefire, over 60 days Hezbollah will remove its fighters and weapons from the area between the Blue Line - the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel - and the Litani river, about 30km (20 miles) to the north.

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Hezbollah fighters will be replaced by Lebanese army forces in that area, who will ensure that infrastructure or weaponry is removed and that it cannot be rebuilt, according to a senior US official.

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Over the same 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces and civilians, Biden said, adding that it would enable civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes.

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All I can say is it's about time! A lasting peace in the Middle East is often elusive and fleeting. It is a 60-day ceasefire and will take us into the Trump administration.

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Biden told reporters that the agreement was "designed to be a permanent ceasefire".

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It's also worth observing which side violates the terms first and, more importantly, NEXT! One main difference between GAZA and Lebanon is that the Palestinians have no army.

reuters.comWell that didnt take long. And (surprise!) Israel shot first, and "justifies" firing based on unsupported accusations.