Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

Are you neutral and knowledgable?

153 replies

Itsokaytomorrowisanewday · 08/04/2026 21:56

If you are both knowledgeable and neutral, please can you explain the current issues in the Middle East- why is there conflict between Israel with Lebanon, and Iran and Gaza? What is the history leading up to this current conflict ? Why are the USA involved? Why do the USA want NATO to be involved?

I thought I knew what was going on for a while, but the speed of information, and the bravado and bluster, has got me confused. It now feels like Orwell’s 1984 with a stream of endless wars and no one is quite sure who the enemy is anymore.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsokaytomorrowisanewday · 08/04/2026 22:15

HotRootsAndNaughtyToots · 08/04/2026 22:13

Neutral: yes
Knowledgeable: not hugely

But from reading up on it, the problems between Israel and Iran boil down to a level of mutual dislike - Iran feeling that Israel doesn't have a right to exist, seriously compounded by Israels appalling actions in Gaza. I understand there have been dreadful actions on both sides over decades.

Israel has wanted to drag the USA into it for years but its a fraught situation and not easily winnable, Trump is basically on an ego-flex. Trump also believes that he should say jump and the rest of the world (especially Europe & NATO countries) ask how high.

He fundamentally misunderstands the point of NATO, although I've seen a few things shared online lately where it's been misnamed the North American Treaty Organisation instead of the North Atlantic Treaty Orgnisation so he is perhaps not alone in this .

Trump has imperialistic ambitions, from who he admires to his renaming of national institutions, to his desire to control the oil rich countries and the world markets. He thought he saw an easy opportunity to assert control in the middle east and ignored / fired all those who advised against it.

Thank you

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 08/04/2026 22:14

There’s a conflict in the Middle East topic which may be helpful - if you ask MN to move this, the posters on there should be able to help

HotRootsAndNaughtyToots · 08/04/2026 22:13

Neutral: yes
Knowledgeable: not hugely

But from reading up on it, the problems between Israel and Iran boil down to a level of mutual dislike - Iran feeling that Israel doesn't have a right to exist, seriously compounded by Israels appalling actions in Gaza. I understand there have been dreadful actions on both sides over decades.

Israel has wanted to drag the USA into it for years but its a fraught situation and not easily winnable, Trump is basically on an ego-flex. Trump also believes that he should say jump and the rest of the world (especially Europe & NATO countries) ask how high.

He fundamentally misunderstands the point of NATO, although I've seen a few things shared online lately where it's been misnamed the North American Treaty Organisation instead of the North Atlantic Treaty Orgnisation so he is perhaps not alone in this .

Trump has imperialistic ambitions, from who he admires to his renaming of national institutions, to his desire to control the oil rich countries and the world markets. He thought he saw an easy opportunity to assert control in the middle east and ignored / fired all those who advised against it.