Israel: Both Our Ally and a Rogue State

When I put my grandson, Asher, to bed last night, all I could think about was the fact that Iran was attacking Israel. That scared me, and it still does, because the show is not over. I’m not so much frightened for myself as I am for my grandkids, in particular the little boy who we are raising at home. I’m old. I am in the seventh inning stretch of my life, so Armageddon doesn’t bother me that much. However, Asher, and my other three grandkids are just starting their lives.

What kind of future will they have, if any?

I like to read history. It’s a nasty habit, probably worse than smoking crack, but I am interested in learning about the blunders of previous generations. Human nature has not changed much over the centuries, and it is depressingly predictable. Our ancestors fought innumerable wars, and they never learned that these bloody affairs generally don’t end well. The outcomes seldom match the initial expectations of the adversaries. Just glance at World Wars I and II for evidence of that.

It would be nice to believe that the United States has a handle on the current events in the Middle East. We don’t, and I don’t think it matters who is in the White House trying to run things. Our best friend in the region is Israel, and they do whatever they want whenever they want knowing full well that we won’t interfere. That makes Israel simultaneously both our ally and a rogue state. Our other allies in the neighborhood are also kind of iffy.

We might like to think that Iran and its surrogates in the Mideast are all in lock step. I doubt that. I have read that Tehran was a bit surprised with Hamas’ action on October 7th of last year. Iran has allies, but these organizations also have their own agendas. The ayatollahs don’t own these people.

I don’t foresee Israel and Iran deciding to play nice. For decades, both nations have characterized the other as being an existential threat. Iran’s drone and missile attack of a couple days ago won’t be the last round in the fight. The potential for this struggle to suck in other parties, like the United States, is very high.

I am not so scared about Israel and Iran going at it. I am terrified by the prospect of a variety of forces getting involved, each with its own goals. This game has way too many players, and not enough rules.

I hold my grandson and I pray that this all ends with the world left in one piece.

That is also iffy. 

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Frank (Francis) Pauc is a graduate of West Point, Class of 1980. He completed the Military Intelligence Basic Course at Fort Huachuca and then went to Flight School at Fort Rucker. Frank was stationed with the 3rd Armor Division in West Germany at Fliegerhorst Airfield from December 1981 to January 1985. He flew Hueys and Black Hawks and was next assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, CA. He got the hell out of the Army in August 1986.

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