War has broken out once more in the Middle East, Hamas attacking Israel from their strongpoint in Gaza. It was apparently unexpected which presupposes an intelligence failure on Israel's part, maybe on our's too.
At least some believe U.S. intelligence may have known and not shared with Israel, based on the current administration's lukewarm-to-cool support of Netanyahu's government. Hostages have been taken, and Israel has declared war on Hamas.
This will put a hold on talks aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. It has to be seen as a victory of sorts for Iran, even if Israel subsequently prevails over Hamas.
One is forced to ask if this war, the war in Ukraine, or the Afghan withdrawal debacle would have happened had Trump been elected in 2020? We'll never know for sure but the suspicion is that other actors would have taken fewer risks with a strong president in office.
