Tag: China

Our Trust Is In The Lord

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Stepping back from the disastrous Iran deal, I turn my eyes toward the Lord. He is our sufficiency and in Him I trust. Disappointed and heart broken for all the Iranian lives that have been lost throughout the years with a radical Islamist regime in power.

I never thought Trump would be the one to fall on his knees and capitulate, but he did. Just a few days away from victory against Hamas and Iran, he stopped!, Why? The Bible says ‘can two walk together unless they are in agreement”. Was the Qatari money and the new Presidential plane just too much for a greedy old man with thoughts of grandeur in his heart? Maybe.

It is very interesting that only after a visit, which should have been postponed, to China did Trump seem ready for a deal at any cost. His rhetoric never did match what was happening on the ground. For those who thought DJT was playing three D chess, think again. He lost, America will survive of course, but the relationship with Israel may not, and that my friends is serious.

A learned man once said “Iran has never won a war, but has never lost a negotiation”. Well Mr. Trump your very own words stare back at you.

For those of us who study Bible prophecy, it is God who protects Israel, not the ranting of a prideful man. Yes one day when the next big war breaks out it could be the Ezekiel war of Chapter 38. Iran was never to be totally destroyed, but now, Israel and their God Jehovah must fight for them.

Please be in prayer as a new Middle East is forming. Not sure if America will like it, but it is our doing. Your legacy Mr. Trump that you are so fond of, just took a direct hit. You stand in a long line of failed Presidents when it comes to the MIddle East.

Final note who is out front leading the charge for this deal? Vance not Rubio, very telling. That my friends says it all. Rh

Inside Israel Analysis

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Forwarded from Amir Tsarfati, a Messianic Jew, author and former IDF soldier. Great take on the supposed deal with Iran. Enjoy the read. Rh

After several hours of confusion and uncertainty, it’s time to bring some order to the situation.

What exactly did Trump agree to?

The agreement rests on two very lean principles:

“The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to free navigation, and Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.”

Trump has insisted in nearly every other post that Iran will not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, while simultaneously pushing to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to unrestricted maritime traffic at any cost.

But why was Trump so eager to reach such a minimal agreement? Why did he pressure Israel not to interfere, even at the cost of merging the various fronts and exposing soldiers to greater danger? Why did J.D. Vance, who has opposed military intervention, suddenly move to the forefront while Rubio faded into the background? And why has no one managed to offer a convincing explanation beyond references to the World Cup, birthdays, the midterm elections, and other superficial reasons for this apparent obsession?

Most importantly: What does Trump intend to do with Iran during the 60-day ceasefire he has effectively bought for himself?

It is possible – and I emphasize that this is an informed analysis of events, not verified information—that the answers lie in what took place in Beijing during the visit held last month (May 13–15, 2026).

Trump arrived in China after not meeting President Xi for nine years. Over the previous year, he had reshaped the global economic landscape through tariffs, supply chains, and trade routes in an effort to reduce China’s dominance and push it into a corner. He had even postponed the visit for a month because of the operation against Iran.

However, Trump arrived in Beijing in a weaker position than he had planned. He had hoped to come as the victor over Iran and force China to accept new trade oversight mechanisms, agreements on rare earth minerals, and AI cooperation that would secure American leadership of the global economy.

But the Chinese did not cooperate.

Instead, they threatened escalation and even the possibility of a wider global conflict, particularly through pressure on Taiwan. They were also deeply concerned about the loss of cheap Iranian oil supplies that the United States had disrupted.

As is often the case between great powers, the talks did not collapse. Some significant deals were reached – most notably Boeing’s sale of 200 aircraft to China. But the joint statement was remarkably brief, containing only one key sentence:

“The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to free navigation, and Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.”

Those are precisely the same principles that now define the agreement with Iran.

Trump is persistent and determined to continue building what he sees as a new global order under American economic leadership. After encountering Chinese resistance to broader agreements, he may have settled for a simpler bargain: oil in exchange for a non-nuclear Iran.

Like a businessman honoring a deal, he returned determined to fulfill his part of the bargain.

From that perspective, everything became acceptable: pressuring Israel to lower its profile, allowing Qataris, Pakistanis, and Saudis to serve as mediators, and bringing in J.D. Vance – whom the Iranians and Pakistanis reportedly trust more than Rubio or Witkoff. The overriding objective was simply to secure signatures and an agreement.

If this theory is correct—and if Trump did not simply turn against Israel in favor of Qatar and Pakistan – then Iran itself is not his primary concern, despite the fact that it allegedly tried to assassinate him only two years ago.

Instead, he will use these two months to complete his side of the understanding with China: ensure that Iran remains non-nuclear, after which Israel, America’s exemplary ally, will return to the position it has occupied over the past year and a half.

As for a formal nuclear agreement: if it succeeds, all the better. By Amir Tsarfati

Follow The Money Trail

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

We have seen how European Union has fallen to the Islamic immigration policies allowed by the various nations in Europe. Here in America we too have allowed our values to be put under attack as well. Our main source of invasion has been a money trail to collages and universities. Training and influencing young skulls full of mush, as Rush Limbaugh used to say. Below is a link to a fascinating article week worth the long read. Please enjoy Rh

Mapping Qatar’s $400 billion footprint in the US

For the full FFD Commentary click here

Why has a country of just 330,000 citizens that is half the size of New Jersey anda leading patron of the Muslim Brotherhood plowed $400 billion dollars into the United States? This amounts to approximately $1.2 million per Qatari citizen — an enormous sum.

FDD’s Natalie Ecanow has labored for more than a year, collecting the receipts for these Qatari transactions, most of which have taken place over the past decade. But as Natalie notes, $400 billion is a lowball estimate. She erred on the side of caution. If you take the word of Qatari government estimates or even the White House, the total number may exceed $1.2 trillion.

Some Americans may welcome the generosity of the Qatari regime. After all, one could argue that a great many of these investments — spanning energy, defense, biotech and other important sectors — serve to benefit the U.S. economy and U.S. citizens. One could also argue that Qatar, like Japan, Canada, or other countries that sink billions in the United States, simply seeks return on investment.

But Qatar is different. There are more than a few reasons to question the largesse of the Qatari government. At the end of the day, Qatar is ruled by an Islamist, autocratic regime; Freedom House consistently ranks the country as “Not Free” in its annual Freedom in the World survey.1 And Doha’s failure to guarantee the rights of its citizens is not the biggest problem. Rather, it is the country’s tendency to support jihadi causes in the Middle East that raises significantly more concern. The country’s horrific track record in this regard distinguishes Qatar from other Gulf states that spread their wealth in America.

Though the U.S. government has delineated Qatar as a “Major Non-NATO Ally” and has positioned its Combined Air Operations Center at the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, this regime may qualify as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism.” The regime has sheltered Al-Qaeda.2 It was a patron for the Taliban before the group recaptured Afghanistan, ending America’s intervention there.3

The government is a longstanding patron of Hamas, the terrorist group that plunged the Middle East into violence on October 7, 2023.4 Finally, it is the primary patron of the Muslim Brotherhood, a global network of violent and nonviolent Islamist groups that seek the downfall of the West.5 Several branches of this network have recently been sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Beyond that, the regime in Qatar has been embroiled in other scandals that should give Americans pause. Qatar bribed its way to hosting the World Cup in 2022. Later that year, the scandal known as “Qatargate” rocked the European Union when Qatari bribes to European parliamentarians were exposed.6 The bribes were reportedly designed to buy influence to rehabilitate Qatar’s image amid reports that more than 6,500 migrant workers had died during the construction of the country’s World Cup stadiums.7

To whitewash these and other offenses, the Qataris wield the Al-Jazeera Media Network, which broadcasts in multiple languages and multiple formats, to spread the regime’s messages.8 Al Jazeera’s U.S.-based affiliate, AJ+, has defied U.S. law for over five years by failing to register as a foreign agent.9

It is for these reasons, and perhaps others, that Qatar’s massive investments in the United States should be scrutinized. Some of these investments include naked influence-peddling — from sponsorship of the annual congressional baseball game to annual White House correspondents’ dinner parties.10 The Qataris spend an enormous amount on lobby groups and public relations, which helps ensure that their investments continue with minimal scrutiny.

Perhaps most disturbing is the massive amount this small Islamic state has invested in American education. Qatar has half as many citizens as Washington, DC, has residents. Yet somehow, it has surpassed China as the largest foreign funder of American colleges and universities. This is baffling. It is safe to say that the regime in Doha is not a stalwart champion of traditional liberal arts education curricula. Even more disturbing: the regime is funding public K-12 schools, engaging American children in the classroom at a young age.

The American Rebellion Against AI Is Gaining Steam

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

By Amrith Ramkumar,  Katherine Blunt and Lindsay Ellis

The only thing growing faster than the artificial-intelligence industry may be Americans’ negative feelings about it—as former Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt saw on Friday.

Delivering a commencement address at the University of Arizona, Schmidt told students the “technological transformation” wrought by artificial intelligence will be “larger, faster and more consequential than what came before.” Like some other graduation speakers mentioning AI, Schmidt was met with a chorus of boos.

In one poll after another in recent weeks, respondents have overwhelmingly voiced concerns about AI, a challenge to claims by industry executives that their technology would gain popularity by improving people’s lives.

For full article: The Wall Street Journal

Just recently I read another article that bemoaned the fact that AI would not only wreck havoc with “white” collar jobs, but also “blue” collar jobs as well. My main issue with AI is the fact we don’t fully, maybe we do in some high and mighty circles, understand the rapid growth of the industry. Many who pioneered AI are sounding the alarm. ⏰ But, it may be too late to put the evil genius back into the bottle. Especially when it has a mind of its own. Rh

China Update 5/14

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Secretary of State, Marco Rubio with China updates today.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells NBC: China has confirmed that it does not support turning the Strait of Hormuz into a military tool, and that it opposes imposing fees on passage through the strait.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio:

I think China’s preference is probably to have Taiwan willingly voluntarily join them.

In a perfect world, what they would want is some vote or a referendum in Taiwan that agrees to fold in. I think that’s what they would prefer.

Ultimately it’s featured prominently in President Xi’s mandate in the time he’s been in office. He’s made clear that what they call reunification, what they call it, is something that has to happen at some point.

We think it would be a terrible mistake to force that through force or anything of that nature.

President Trump:

President Xi would like to see a deal made. He said, “If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.”

Anybody that buys that much oil obviously has some kind of relationship, and he’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open.

China has also agreed to buy 200 Boeing airplanes.

Dictators and Despots – Feckless, anti-Semitic and demonic United Nations

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The U.N. Is the biggest impediment to peace in the world.  Filled with dictators and despot from non-democratic nations and sects they foster hate toward the western democracies, especially the US. They are anti-Semitic and anti democracy.  They have been on the wrong side of history and policy for as long as I can remember.

No only have they sided with every anti democratic nation out there, they have been caught giving aid to Hamas in their attempt to destroy Israel.  Some of their so-called (humanitarian efforts) include financing some teaching programs that instill hate against Israel.

Now they have turned their focus on parents right to home school and educate their children as parents see fit.  The U.N.’s demands include “education standards” for homeschooling, as well as “accountability” to government. The outfit is also demanding mandatory registration, forced “evaluations” of homeschoolers by authorities, compulsory “home visits,” and much more. In fact, the agency is even calling for U.N.-approved values and attitudes to be imposed on children across a wide array of issues, with U.N. control of “education content.”

The new U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report on home education, titled “Homeschooling through a human rights lens,” lays out the most draconian global assault on home education in history. The powerful global agency, long dominated by card-carrying communists, claims governments must bring homeschooling under their thumb–for the benefit of the children, of course.

Unsurprisingly, the top U.N. official involved in the push comes from the “Democratic People’s Republic” of Korea (DPRK), better known as North Korea. According to the report’s acknowledgements, it was prepared under the “supervision” of Gwang-Chol Chang, chief of the UNESCO Section of Education Policy.

Before joining the U.N. to help transform education globally, Chang worked for the mass-murdering North Korean Communist regime’s “Education Ministry.” The agency operates among the most comprehensive communist brainwashing systems in human history. And yet, with no sense of the irony, the government controls being demanded by Chang and his minions are said to be necessary to uphold what the global body describes as “international human rights.” Yes, seriously.

Any wonder that the UN officials declare that if Babylon is ever rebuilt, I think it will be, they will move their headquarters there.  Hmnm, makes you wonder doesn’t it.  They will definitely be a part of the anti-christ kingdom for sure.

The UN is where wanna be leaders of small impoverished countries go for validation.  they know their radical ideas and their failure on human rights will be accepted with open arms.  Not surprising the the great Rush Limbaugh once said, “the United Nations looks like the bar scene from a Star Wars movie.”  Man, I miss Rush.

It’s high time to kick the UN to the curb.  Why America allows such propaganda in our nation is a mystery to me.  Sent them packing with all their un paid parking tickets.  Please Trump do the world and the U.S  a favor and build them a home in Gaza.  That’s where they belong.  Or Babylon the seat of evil. 

Trump Blinked

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

I am a supporter of Trump, however he just made the two biggest mistakes he will regret.  With all his talk and bluster and egomania he portrays, he blinked.  Israel was two weeks away from total victory in Gaza, ceasefire, Hamas is rebuilding as we speak,  Never did lay down their arms.  Still recruiting, the “Board of Peace” is a joke.  Typical diplomacy.

Here we are in Iran, two weeks away from total victory, another pause.  Iran now feels imbolden, they will hunker down and rebuild.  China and Russia are more than ready to send all the weaponry they need.  

Just minutes after the so-called halt to hostilities, Iran sent multiple missiles into Israel.  Attack also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.  

It has begun, the re-supply:

China and Russia at the UN announced their intention to provide extensive aid to Iran within the next 24 hours, claiming that it is assistance for the country’s reconstruction and not for the arms industry.

However, according to reports in the Russian media, China has already sent 3 cargo ships carrying weapons, while Russian military aid planes are currently on their way to Isfahan. And military aid planes from Belarus are on their way to Tehran!

Trump’s 15 demands to Iran:

 1. Dismantle all major nuclear facilities

 2. End all uranium enrichment on Iranian soil

 3. Transfer enriched uranium stockpiles out of Iran

 4. Accept intrusive international inspections everywhere

 5. Permanently renounce any nuclear weapons pathway

 6. Suspend ballistic missile development

 7. Stop production of long-range missiles

 8. End drone transfers and military exports to proxies

 9. Cut support to Hezbollah

 10. Cut support to Hamas

 11. Cut support to Iraqi Shiite militias and proxy groups

 12. End weapons transfers to the Houthis

 13. Fully reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz

 14. Stop threatening regional shipping and Gulf states

 15. Accept a broader regional de-escalation framework, including limits on military escalation with Israel

Iran’s 10 demands to Trump:

 1. A binding guarantee that the U.S. and its allies will not strike Iran again

 2. A permanent end to hostilities, not just a temporary ceasefire

 3. An end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon

 4. Full lifting of U.S. sanctions

 5. Protection for Iran’s regional proxies and allied militias

 6. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian conditions

 7. A transit fee reportedly around $2 million per ship, shared with Oman

 8. Compensation or reconstruction support for war damage inside Iran

 9. Recognition of Iran’s regional security interests

 10. A broader framework for long-term negotiations without immediate surrender of core strategic capabilities

⸻

Insanity is expecting peace from radicals.  If this is signed it just made the US a laughingstock in the world community.  

This may be the last straw for me.  Please let a grownup talk some sense into the President.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Iran

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Rubio was on Fox talking about NATO, state of the war and mostly Iran.

“This is a regime led by people who believe it is their calling and their purpose in life to usher in the end of the world.

Araghchi is a liar.

This guy was on television… denying that Iran had any missiles beyond a certain range — and then they fired two of them.

They were aiming to become the next North Korea — not a North Korea run by a regime that is troublesome and hard to understand, but an Iran run by radical Shia clerics with intercontinental missiles.

We can see the finish line. It’s not today or tomorrow, but it’s coming”.

This is interesting and a conversation worth having.

Secretary Rubio says “since NATO isn’t allowing the U.S. to use their bases then we have to ask, “Why are we in NATO?”

Rubio says the U.S. is “going to have to reexamine the value of NATO and that alliance for our country.”

IMO the elites thought they were on their way to a new world order just a couple of years ago.  Not sure this is what they had in mind.  Europe devastated and worthless, Europe-lite (Canada) worthless and a new Middle East without Iran as the bully with no teeth.  Rubio is the rock star of this administration, and worthy of my apologies over concern about him.  After living in Florida for 10 years, I never thought thought he was like this.  Some people rise to the occasion, Rubio is acting Presidential, with strength but with some tact which is much needed in the White House.  At the present time he is my pick and favorite to continue the freedom march the U.S. has begun under Trump.  America is back, baby!  Rh

Commentary below on what Trump might say tonight in his speech from the White House. From Amit Sega’s newsletter “It’s Noon In Israel”.  Highly recommend you check him out, great updates from inside Israel.

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, Donald Trump is set to deliver an “important update on Iran.” At 4 a.m. Israel time, most Israelis, including the leadership, will be away from their phones, either asleep or still celebrating the first night of Passover. When they eventually wake or finish the Passover meal and check their updates, I am certain they will not be blindsided by the announcement.

Most likely, Trump announces that despite the great victories already achieved, more is required to finish off the Islamic Republic. He confirms that he is still open to a diplomatic settlement, but nothing has manifested so far, and critical infrastructure remains a target. If so, that would suggest he is sticking to the original plan: another two to three weeks of strikes before transitioning to the protest phase.

Least likely, he announces a unilateral end to the war. The uranium is yet to be retrieved or more deeply buried beneath Isfahan; Kharg is still in Iranian hands, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Any one of these facts would cast a shadow on Trump’s declaration of victory; all three make victory difficult to make out. Yet even if Trump chooses to declare victory regardless, Israel more broadly would be surprised, but the leadership would not. As a senior intelligence source told me last week, Israel is prepared for this outcome and still believes it can pull out a win if U.S. forces remain in the region during the protest phase.

Part of his speech will certainly be devoted to calming oil markets. Trump’s rhetoric may have a chaotic tone, but there is a clear rhythm to his comments, balancing between explosive threats and assurances that the war is almost over. So far, he has succeeded. If I had asked an expert at the outset of the war what prices would look like if barely any oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz for almost a month, $100 would be far from the estimate. Since markets are open for two more days, I would imagine Trump’s dovish side will be present tonight.

After 33 days of the closest cooperation in the histories of both countries, I think we can say with confidence that no matter how the media reacts to Trump’s comments tonight, Israel will not be surprised.

Updates and Analysis: MAGA – Iran- Hormuz

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Below are a couple of posts of interest to me at least, hope you enjoy them. Both are accredited, and also a repost from Amir Tsarfati. Hormuz must be stabilized to keep the objectives of this military action on track. Extremely high gas prices are most likely the only thing that will derail final and completed objectives. The MIddle East is changing and so also the world pecking order. America is back in dominance, as it should be. God Bless America, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Living in truly “Prophetic Times”. Rh

Tucker Carlson’s Failure — Trump’s Knockout

Various interesting polls point to a clear trend:

A. There is no “split” within the MAGA camp — on the contrary, there is an almost Soviet-level consensus around Trump and his decision to strike Iran.

B. The war in Iran is not hurting Republicans ahead of the midterm elections — it is actually strengthening them.

Here are the data (to be detailed in follow-up posts):

1. NBC poll: One hundred percent support among MAGA supporters for Trump. Yes — 100%. This figure was also echoed by CNN.

In other words, two networks highly hostile to Trump present a president who has complete control over his base.

The share of people identifying with MAGA has also grown since the election.

2. Republican poll (New York Post): Who do you identify with — Trump or Carlson and Megyn Kelly?

The result is decisive: Trump 84%, Carlson and Kelly 6%.

It turns out that clicks and Spotify listens do not necessarily translate into real influence among the public.

Ironically, a phenomenon similar to traditional media in recent years is emerging: a loud and vocal minority holds the microphone and claims to speak for a silent majority that actually rejects it.

This frustration is causing Tucker and his circle to lose composure and drift away from the MAGA “mothership” toward the more fringe territories of the far left and pro-jihadist narratives.

The current investigation into Kent’s leaks to Carlson may become the official break between Carlson and the Republican Party.

3. YouGov–Economist poll on the November midterms (the most important issue in U.S. politics):

Since the start of the war, Republicans have narrowed the gap with Democrats in the race for control of the House — from a 7-point Democratic lead in mid-February to just 2 points in mid-March.

Earlier this month, I referenced a Harvard/Harris poll conducted before the war that showed a tie.

Democrats still lead in betting markets and most polls, but the trend is favorable for Republicans.

As noted recently, Republicans have only upside potential — historically, since World War II, only once has a second-term president managed to keep his party’s majority in the House (Clinton and the Democrats in 1998).

If Trump becomes the second, it would be a phenomenal achievement for him and the Republican Party.

4. Finally (not a poll): The major unknown is Vice President J.D. Vance, who is closely tied to Carlson and issued a very lukewarm statement regarding Kent’s resignation.

His public profile during the current war with Iran has been relatively low, and it is not at all certain that he supports the campaign.

Recently, he has lost some ground in the (so far quiet) race between him and Marco Rubio to become Trump’s successor for 2028.

It is far too early to write off Vance’s chances of becoming the Republican nominee in two and a half years, but his political trajectory will likely indicate the direction the Republican Party will take in the coming years.

(Gilad Zwick on X)

Vance is the big loser for now, I just don’t trust him. He came late to the MAGA party. First time he voted republican was for himself in the Ohio senate race. Seems to be a carpetbagger and far too close to the woke right and the Anti-Israel sentiment. Rh

American retaliation – strategic shift

Financial Times reports a major U.S. pivot:

• Air-defense systems and ammunition redirected from Europe to the Middle East

• Focus shifting fully toward confrontation with Iran

On the ground

• Deliveries to Europe – especially Patriot interceptors – expected to be delayed

• Systems already moved from Europe to protect U.S. forces and allies in the region

• U.S. deprioritizing Russia–Ukraine track – signaling full attention on Iran

Europe reacts

• Anger and concern – described as a “disaster”

• Accelerating independence from U.S. arms supply

• France taking its own path – deploying forces to the region

Middle East implications

• Stronger U.S. deterrence posture

• Shortages creating competition for air-defense systems

• Rising risk of escalation with Iran

• Gulf states reassessing alliances

Bottom line

• The Middle East is now Washington’s top priority

• Europe is sidelined

• The global balance is shifting

(Nziv .net)

Final thought, Europe may be the big loser, not supporting the US when they are far more dependent on oil than us. Typical, we save them and they turn their backs on us. Open borders and government overreach has defeated the once great British Empire, they should change their symbol from the lion to a kitty. France is just France, as long as they have their mistresses and their over priced wine, they are good. Rh

Ties That Bind: US & Israel

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Long but interesting article from a journalist inside Israel that I have found and enjoy his take, maybe a fresh take on what is going on in the Middle East. Different perspectives are good. I fully agree that Europe has fallen and will never be the partner that we need. Islamification has happened to the continent. Rh

Israel will emerge from this war safer and more prosperous.

After the war – the United States and its military are expected to recalculate course regarding regional countries that disappointed them.

The joint U.S.-Israeli crushing of the greatest threat to Israel and the region continues with intensity and is progressing ahead of schedule. In any case – by the end of it – Iran will remain weakened and bleeding. The United States will also maintain control over the region’s energy resources.

At present – the U.S. is biting its lip over the disappointment from many countries and is relying on a surprisingly positive ally – Israel. But on the day after the war – Washington will reassess its relationship with a long list of countries that have let it down.

In this campaign – the U.S. has been forced to build an alternative and very costly military deployment instead of the one it had planned for a quarter century. Ironically – Israel – which was not part of the original plan – has become the primary forward operating base in the region.

For 25 years – the United States built its Middle East force posture for a regional conflict scenario. It relied on regional states and largely bypassed Israel.

Frontline states – the “fortunate winners” – included Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain – where forward bases were established with intervention forces, command-and-control centers, and logistics infrastructure. Israel was not counted.

In the second tier were European and NATO countries – with bases in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania, and further out in the United Kingdom.

In this campaign – however – most U.S. regional allies have refused to allow offensive operations from their territory – fearing Iranian retaliation the day after – and some are already being targeted by Iran. Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and NATO countries are providing only minimal logistical support – while prohibiting the launch or transit of bombers through their territory.

As a result – the U.S. has had to develop an alternative plan based on aircraft carriers, aerial refueling stations, and one country that has become the central forward base – Israel – with its relatively small airfields: Ben Gurion and Ovda.

On the day after the war – the U.S. will evaluate whether it still needs the massive CENTCOM base in Qatar – how much it can rely on its Gulf allies – and especially whether Turkey can truly be considered a military ally.

This costly deployment has also forced the U.S. to take into account the policies and positions of those countries – for example regarding Gaza and Lebanon – while those same countries maintained “dual loyalty” – cooperating both with the U.S. and with the axis of evil: Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah – as well as with other U.S. rivals such as China and Russia.

Israel is expected to replace them as the primary forward military hub for the United States in safeguarding Middle Eastern energy resources – not to mention the deepening of cooperation in training, development, and military research between the two countries.

Israel is set to become the preferred partner of the world’s most powerful nation – which currently accounts for 42% of global arms sales.

The implication is clear – Israel will become both safer and more prosperous as a result of this war.

(Shlomo Filber)