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)