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Everlasting War on Terror, Gaming International Relations, Gaza Genocide Debate, and More
This week at Inkstick Media.
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Hello, everyone.
February’s here, but it’s not all romance and good times.
As Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip continues to claim lives and rack up astounding amounts of destruction across the coastal enclave, some in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have turned their sights northward. But a war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Devin Kenney suggests in new commentary, isn’t one Washington should allow itself to become entangled in — especially as tensions boil over across the Middle East.
Back on the other side of the world, some of the US military brass might not be making the best choices when it comes to presentation. A recent discussion by a SOUTHCOM leader included graphics — most prominently among them US flags waving over, well, not the US — that could deepen suspicions of imperial schemes, argue Adam Ratzlaff, Emma Woods, and Jeffery A. Tobin.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice has elevated the legal debate over whether Israeli forces are committing genocide in Gaza. But according to Jessica Wolfendale, Israel’s actions don’t just present a legal question: they also demand a moral evaluation of the toll they have taken on Palestinians in the Strip.
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Here’s what’s new on Inkstick Media this week:
“How the Pakistani Military Stands to Benefit from a Tussle with Iran” by Marcus Andreopoulos (Jan. 29)
Iran’s recent strikes on Pakistan were both an act of retaliation for the December attack and a means of sending a message to Islamabad. But the attacks provided the Pakistani military with the opportunity to stoke nationalism and reaffirm its claim to be the sole guardian of the state.
“The Moral Significance of Naming Genocide in Gaza” by Jessica Wolfendale (Jan. 29)
Whether Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip is not just a legal question, it’s a moral question. When evaluating whether these acts constitute genocide, it’s important to look beyond the legal question of Israel’s intentions and consider the impact of these acts on the people subjected to them.
“Israel, the US, and the Endless War on Terror” by Maha Hilal (Jan. 30)
Just as the 9/11 attacks “did not speak for themselves,” neither did Hamas’s attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. In remarks at a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden 11 days later, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strategically compared the Hamas attacks to the 9/11 ones, using resonant terms for Americans that also allowed Israel to claim its own total innocence, as the US had done 22 years earlier.
“Gaming International Relations” by Thomas Brodey (Jan. 30)
Any video game that claims to simulate the real world is inherently making a social statement. Sometimes the message might be deliberate, like the first-person-shooter “America’s Army” (designed to boost military recruitment), or incidental, like “Grand Theft Auto” with its anarchic and crime-ridden hellscape. Grand strategy games are no different. Tweet this. Link this.
“If Israel and Hezbollah Go to War, the US Should Stay Out” by Devin Kenney (Jan. 31)
Nearly everyone in US public discourse will also be compelled to agree that getting dragged by Israel into a war with Hezbollah or Iran is unacceptable. Pro-war arguments are therefore likely to coalesce around some version of the proposition that Israel has sincerely decided that opening a northern front against Lebanon is the only way forward.
“‘Team Democracy’: SOUTHCOM’s Diplomatic Dilemma in Latin America” by Adam Ratzlaff, Emma Woods, and Jeffery A. Tobin (Jan. 31)
Hosted by Florida International University and the Council on Foreign Relations, a recent presentation by the current SOUTHCOM commander resembled what could have been a trailer for the parody film “Team America: World Police.” While the difficulties facing the Americas are real, the imagery it used could limit the ability of the United States to address the challenges in the region or even to prevent the spread of Chinese influence in the Americas.
“Deep Dive: Schooling Politics” by Emily Tamkin (Feb. 1)
Politicians often pursue policies that are unpopular among their electorates. But, as research suggests, in three Western democracies — Germany, the United States, and Sweden — voters are likelier to be persuaded on issues of education and healthcare if a political party has relevant occupational experts among its ranks.
“How US Guns Help Fuel the Migration Crisis at the Border” by John Lindsay-Poland (Feb. 1)
In recent years, the sharp uptick in the number of migrants arriving at the United States-Mexico border has spurred draconian measures to stop them from entering, yet people continue to make the trek — with little discussion of why. People leave for a slate of reasons, but many involve violence from US-sourced guns that makes staying impossible.
“Fiction: The Six Laws of AI” by Bernardo De Urquidi González (Feb. 2)
A fictional dispatch from a dystopian future explores the dark possibilities of a world in the clutch of artificial intelligence.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, Inkstick Media’s managing editor.
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