People are speaking at length about what further confrontation in Gaza will do to Palestinians, and that’s good, that’s accurate and justified. But the real issue here is what it will do to Israelis. It won’t be a cake walk. This isn’t a movie where you march heroically into Mordor and rescue the hostages. As a friend, I’m telling you, if your goal is less dead this ain’t it. This time is different. The whole Middle East will rape you to death. And don’t count on US to save you. You saw how we left Iraq and Afghanistan. You best start figuring out how to live with your neighbors. Our empire has just about spent itself out. It’s an even bet whether you or Ukraine get the bottom of the coffers. Next strong wind that blows and we’re the world’s next broken problem (largely because of you). The old man’s living in the past, babes. Don’t start anything you can’t finish on your own, because you might have to. Clear. Operational. Objectives.