The presidential election in the US is not too far away. In what appeared to be a straightforward election with Republican candidate Donald Trump trailing his Democratic rival Kamala Harris by some distance may have found a disruptor in the form of Israel’s war with almost the whole of the Middle-East. It’s no secret that the Jewish lobby with its massive money power has a huge influence on American politics. The war has forced each party to take a clear position.
The Republicans, being in the opposition and with the maverick Trump in the lead, have the leeway to take a bold, even unpragmatic position, not so the party running the government, even if a lame duck one. Its approach has to be more nuanced. Democrats are in a bind now. Palestinians in the country are a staunch support base. Any wrong move is likely to have a spillover effect on the elections.
The bigger issue, however, is at stake here is the US’s status as the supreme power in an unipolar world and its moral authority in world affairs. If it supports the genocide unleashed by Israel, it loses the right to be the protector of human rights and liberties, if it backs Israel full on and there are reverses in the war zone for the former, the presumed military superiority of the US takes a hit. The war is likely to redefine the US to the world.
TROUBLED EQUATIONS WITHIN THE NATO BLOCK
The equations and alignments in the world still remain close to the post Cold War template, but they could be under stress from the war in the Middle-East. Members of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have expressed unease over Israel’s action against the civilian population in Gaza and West Bank. They fear the developments in the war zone could make them face a hostile public opinion at home. It, in turn, could hurt the prospect of the ruling political establishments in the countries to return to power.
Israel is not a member of NATO, an alliance of 32 member countries, but a major non-NATO ally. Not many partners are keen on taking its side openly in a war that is strictly none of their business. Turkey has declared its opposition to Israel, France is not happy and the attacks on the UN peacekeepers have not gone down well with many allies.
The biggest problem they face is the pressure of avoidable military engagements on the sagging economies back home. The support of Ukraine in its long-drawn conflict with Russia has proved to be an expensive affair. Direct commitment to Israel would only add more stress to their respective economies. Also, it’s a war from which gains would be insignificant. Moreover, the world economy may take a disastrous turn if the situation escalates. Not many countries, including the US, are in a position to face the brunt of a long period of uncertainty.
But can they avoid getting dragged into the war? Given the collective commitment to mutual security against attack from non-allies it might be difficult.
HOW RELIABLE ARE OUR MEDIA REPORTS?
During a war never trust media reports. They are likely to be spurious.
Who’s winning in the Middle-East – Israel or its many enemies? Is Hezbollah causing serious damage to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in Lebanon or is it the other way around? Is the Hamas finished in the Gaza strip or its guerrilla forces hitting back after initial reverses? What’s the factual position in Iran’s stand-off with Israel?
The simple answer to all these questions is we don’t know. Media reports don’t tell the truth. During wartime, propaganda and truth get terribly mixed up. Every party in the war extends substantial funding to drum up its success in the battlefield. Reason: the supporters, sympathisers and men in action need to be in a positive frame of mind. Journalists are paid to amplify the message sought to be conveyed.
Sometimes it may not be deliberate. News is normally blocked by all parties in war situations, and whatever comes through are selective leaks. People deep into the war are not expected to reveal their true position, in terms of manpower lost and damages suffered otherwise. What reporters treat as genuine news may not be so at all.
The Indian media are divided – the television channels, notorious as the Godi media, are with Israel and many of the popular YouTube channels are batting for its enemies. It’s not too difficult to find their links to politics within India. A perceptive mind can easily read the larger agenda.
Should we believe in their war coverage? It’s up to the individual consumer of news.
(By arrangements with Perspective Bytes)