Israel Rallies Behind Netanyahu

Current polling has some 90% (!) of Israelis supporting Netanyahu.

Meanwhile Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have basically lined up against Hamas and so aligned themselves with Israel.

Support at home and from the usually hostile neighbors will give Israel a lot more leeway to act. The New York Times reports on this and complains that Egypt, et al's choice is making everything worse by impeding a ceasefire.  You know, ceasefires would probably be more feasible if Kerry weren't an idiot, Hamas didn't consistently break them by refusing to stop firing rockets, and - let's be brutally honest - they didn't help the aggressor.

Quote of the Day on ISIS

No good choices:

It is fine to pit Assad and Maliki plus Iran and Russia against ISIS, except under the following circumstances: Either side wins or, alternatively, there is a draw.

Dignified Rant on Iraq: Work the Problem, People

You might have been wondering why I haven't said much about the situation exploding in Iraq.  It's because I can't seem to find the words to describe my utter horror and screaming frustration.  None of this has been a real surprise.  The fact that you don't want to fight anymore doesn't mean that the other guy wants to stop.  Clearly some people aren't willing to stop killing other people and persecuting minorities and now summarily executing civilians in Mosul.  Look at that mess on a map.  If I were, say, Jordan, I'd be shaking in my boots.

Yes, yes, I'm supposed to be able to compartmentalize and turn off the emotions so I can try to make dispassionate analyses.  I'll try to write something soon, but I've been busy and also currently find myself with various family issues to deal with.  For now do read Dignified Rant's take.  Here's a teaser:

Yes, the Obama administration screwed up by leaving Iraq on its own. But conservatives should be in the lead to urge the government to work the problem rather than settling for blaming (rightly, I'll add) the Obama administration for getting us to this position ...

But I'm also convinced that this administration doesn't have the foggiest notion what to do ... and that it's obvious to everybody else that it doesn't.  It also seems completely incapable of learning from its mistakes and engaging with reality.  There, I said it. (Related.)

Meet MERS, the New Coronavirus on the Block

This Foreign Policy headline sounds way too scaremonger-ish, but none other than the New England Journal of Medicine just published "Hospital Outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus."

The Post-WWI Map That Ruined the Middle East?

Cartography matters: thoughts from a PhD candidate in international relations at Georgetown.  The collapse of the Ottoman Empire opened a Pandora's Box.

Meditating on the Middle East: An Open Letter to the Foreign Policy Establishment

What do you think?

Nerd Analysis: Prof. Bernard Lewis on Egypt

Professor Lewis needs no introduction, really.  He is a giant in Middle Eastern Studies.  Do see what he has to say about Egypt, the Middle East, and Obama's foreign policy.  (Link via Transterrestrial Musings.)  Here is a teaser:

“At the moment, the general perception, in much of the Middle East, is that the United States is an unreliable friend and a harmless enemy. I think we want to give the exact opposite impression.”

You don't say!  What we actually want is to be is a steadfast friend and a dangerous enemy.  You'd think this would be obvious.  But sadly, no!  I do like one of Transterrestrial Musings' commenters, who quoted my beloved Tony Stark: "Is it better to be feared or respected?  I say, is it too much to ask for both?"

Yemen: Another Sclerotic Regime Down

It's over for President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 30 years.  Add this to Tunisia and Egypt, and take a look at what's going on in Jordan.  Hmmmm.  We do live in -- what's that phrase?  ah yes -- interesting times.