Thousands injured, several dead after pagers explode across Lebanon: Health officials

Let’s not forget 9 children were killed but based on the tweets it was their fault for hanging out with terrorists.

 

It's the "fags for Hamas" idiots, the woke leftists, the aoc+squad mindset ... these people are so removed from reality,.... any "pride" people would have their heads chopped off faster than a pager destroying nuts if they actually were among the people they so idolize ...it's mind blowing but it's clearly a mind virus after all.

 

It's the terrorists' fault.

 

16% of the people that were killed in the pager attack were reportedly children.

 

Given only 9 out of 12 people were actually killed that means only 3 terrorist were killed and the majority were children.

Unless you believe the children were terrorists.

 

I saw it was 2 children out of 12 people killed.

 

I had heard early reports that it was 9 children but it does appear later reports that it’s 2 children killed and 4 healthcare workers.

I stand corrected.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kn10xxldo

To add that this would still mean that 60% of the death from this weren’t terrorists.

 

I don’t like the Iranian government. FWIW most Iranians under 50 don’t like the Iranian government either.

Doesn’t mean that the United States needs to be overly involved in the region.

US involvement in the Middle East has been an absolute disaster. From Syria, to Iraq - to Iran and Israel.

The US can offer aid to civilians displaced and leave it at that.

The most successful US relations in the region are with Kuwait and Jordan.

 

It's always children, healthcare workers, saints, etc. blabla.

Don't believe a word that comes out of the Jihadists' propaganda.

Is it possible that a child was unfortunately close to a terrorist holding and exploding pager? Sadly, yes. Would children be anywhere close to the majority of people affected by this? No. Not even close.

 

The most successful US relations in the region are with Israel.

 

Oh wow. I didn't see the healthcare workers. So 50% killed were 100% innocent

 

If you believe the Jihadists and their useful idiots in leftist media.

Which you should not.

 

Future Terrorists according to ATW.

Israel can't be acting the same way terrorist organizations act. If they have to stoop to that level how can you have higher moral ground.

 

You said it, not me.

Any child's death is a tragedy.

 

In the last 15 years we’ve seen massive protests against the Iranian government by the people of Iran. As long as Iranians feel threatened by outside forces it gives the mullahs the excuse to rally to defend the country.

I’m not sure how we do it as I do think we can’t completely ignore Iran but if we can ramp down the pressure and let them collapse internally.

 

To add that this would still mean that 60% of the death from this weren’t terrorists.[/QUOTE]

To be honest with you. I think these attacks are better than in discriminant bombing.
Unfortunately, War is a dirty business. And Israel is playing chess against a group playing checkers.

I do not know what any solution to this conflict would look like. And I am no expert in Middle Eastern affairs except what the news feeds us.
I don't think the genie can ever be put back in the bottle.

I will say, I think Israel has enough money to fund their own war. Let those countries duke it out, while we concentrate on our vast number of problems here in our own country.

Just my $0.02

 

Nope. The cost of relations with Israel has been very high.

 

Supporting Israel has resulted in an economic net benefit to the United States through several key channels, including trade, innovation partnerships, defense cooperation, and geopolitical stability, all of which contribute to economic gains for the U.S.

### 1. **Trade Relations**:
- **Bilateral Trade**: The U.S. and Israel maintain robust trade relations, with two-way trade exceeding $30 billion annually. The U.S. exports products like machinery, aircraft, electronics, and agricultural goods to Israel, creating and supporting jobs in the U.S. For example, Israel is a significant market for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment and defense technologies.
- **Free Trade Agreement**: In 1985, the U.S. signed its first-ever Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Israel. This agreement has allowed for the reduction of trade barriers and the enhancement of economic exchange, boosting U.S. exports and opening the door for American companies to access Israeli markets.

### 2. **Innovation and Technology Partnerships**:
- **Tech and Startups**: Israel is often called the “Startup Nation” due to its high density of tech startups and innovation hubs. American companies, including tech giants like Intel, Microsoft, Google, and Apple, have acquired Israeli startups or established R&D centers in Israel. These collaborations have directly fueled American technological advancements, particularly in sectors like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and medical technology.
- **Venture Capital**: U.S. venture capitalists and private equity firms heavily invest in Israeli technology firms. In return, Israeli innovations bolster U.S. companies' competitive advantage globally, generating revenue streams for American investors.

### 3. **Defense Cooperation**:
- **Military Technology Sharing**: U.S. military support for Israel results in mutual technological exchange. Israel develops cutting-edge defense technologies such as the Iron Dome missile defense system and cybersecurity tools. The U.S. benefits from access to these technologies, incorporating Israeli innovations into American defense systems, which enhances U.S. national security capabilities and creates export opportunities.
- **Job Creation**: U.S. military aid to Israel is structured so that Israel uses a significant portion of these funds to purchase U.S.-made defense equipment. This supports American defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing, securing jobs in U.S. industries and boosting the American economy.

### 4. **Geopolitical Stability**:
- **Strategic Partner in the Middle East**: Israel’s position as a stable, democratic ally in the Middle East contributes to regional stability, which is crucial for global oil markets and trade routes. A stable Middle East, or at least one where U.S. interests are protected, reduces risks to global energy supplies, which has a direct impact on the U.S. economy, especially concerning energy prices and supply chain stability.
- **Security Partner**: By investing in Israel’s defense and strategic position, the U.S. has been able to reduce its own direct military presence and spending in the region, shifting the cost of regional security burdens onto Israel. This contributes to savings in U.S. defense expenditures, providing an economic benefit by reducing the need for costly interventions.

### 5. **Research and Development Cooperation**:
- **BIRD Foundation**: The U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation funds joint R&D ventures between U.S. and Israeli companies, particularly in sectors like clean energy, water management, and health technologies. The commercialization of these technologies leads to job creation, innovation, and economic growth in both countries.
- **Agriculture and Water Technologies**: Israel's advances in agricultural and water technologies (e.g., drip irrigation and desalination) have directly benefited U.S. industries, especially in regions like California that face similar climate and water challenges. Partnerships between U.S. and Israeli companies in these fields lead to technological spillovers that help U.S. companies remain competitive.

### 6. **Cultural and Educational Exchange**:
- **Tourism**: Israel is a top destination for American tourists. Beyond cultural and religious significance, tourism fuels significant economic activity. Likewise, Israeli tourism to the U.S. contributes to local economies, particularly in cities like New York and Los Angeles.
- **Academic and Scientific Collaborations**: Many leading U.S. universities have strong collaborative programs with Israeli institutions. These collaborations foster scientific breakthroughs, particularly in fields such as medicine, computer science, and physics, which have commercial applications that benefit U.S. businesses.

### Conclusion:
The U.S.’s support of Israel has led to economic net benefits through enhanced trade, technological innovation, defense cooperation, and strategic geopolitical advantages. These relationships not only fuel economic growth by creating jobs and fostering innovation but also stabilize a critical region, allowing the U.S. to benefit from reduced military costs and secure energy supplies. The economic gains derived from these partnerships far outweigh the costs, making support for Israel a net positive for the U.S. economy.

 

Syria and Iraq taught us that it is a very difficult rope to walk. The regional politics and power structures are not always predictable.

 

That’s nice and there is some truth (some) to those points.

However, I am not really interested in helping US weapons contractors - I am not interested in spreading additional war weapons into the Middle East. I don’t believe Israel needs any more weapons from the USA.

Second, relations with and favoring Israel has hurt relations with other nations in the region.

Third - Israel has spied on the USA and their interests are the interests of Israel and not the USA.

Fourth, will I acknowledge Israel in 2024 has the right to defend itself- that does not need and should not involve the USA.

Fifth, I am not calling for negative relations between the USA and Israel. The US should maintain diplomatic relations like it should with other countries in the region.