In 1938/9, the British rejected two states in Palestine, instead proposing a single state, putting strict limits on Jewish immigration, and restrictions on land sales from Arabs to Jews. The Palestinian Arab leadership rejected it because they wanted immediate independence and the complete and immediate cessation of all Jewish Immigration. So, the Arabs living in Palestine, were offered a single Arab majority state with strict limits of Jewish immigration, and still rejected it. It’s possible they rejected it because, influenced by both Nazi ideology and Islamism, they wanted the Jews eliminated from the land, so the British offer wasn’t good enough.
From the end of WWII to today, elites in some Middle Eastern states reluctantly support dictatorships because the other options that would likely take over if not for the dictatorships are Islamists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiIvGICLla8
The guy Hegseth/Trump have in charge of the new tests for military officer promotion doesn’t have the basic experience to know how to judge competence at high officer levels. When speaking about the current process, he says things that are just wrong.
The historical example Hegseth cites as what inspired him was an exercise to test maneuver and communications capability, not as a test for promotions. It was only used to evaluate commanders as a secondary element.
A lot of the things Hegseth says is needed to evaluate high level officers, are already done…he talks as if he is not aware of this. Is he ignorant, or/and is the point to these tests something else?
In justifying the new policy, multiple things Hegseth said about US military history was inaccurate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIl1AF8yZ0I
For decades, Morocco has had a dispute over Western Sahara, where rebels demanded independence. Morocco has controlled all the valuable parts of the land, but the rebels had the desert and help from neighboring Algeria. Recently, Morocco has gained more and more international support for its claim, culminating in a UN Security Council vote in favor of its claims, with help from the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giUf3_zWN3s
“The report includes no mentions of Hamas’ attacks or hostages.”
https://reason.com/2025/07/14/u-n-report-blames-israel-and-capitalism-for-the-conflict-in-gaza/
“Tehran has suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Wednesday, according to state media reports.
The move marks a significant stepback in Iran’s international cooperation after Washington’s dramatic June 21 strikes on its nuclear enrichment facilities.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-halts-cooperation-un-nuclear-watchdog/
Not enough aid is reaching Gazans. A record number of UN employees have died trying to get aid to Gazans. What is Israel’s goal here? Why won’t Hamas surrender?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG3SuQhJPP0
“The United Nations’s premier body for protecting human rights has elected serial human rights abusers, including Russia and China, to the panel, once again calling into question whether it’s actually an important platform to address the plight of millions — or an anachronism.
The Geneva-based, 47-member UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) does two main things: It passes nonbinding resolutions on human rights issues around the world, and it oversees the work of experts who investigate violations in specific countries. Its supporters, those of whom in the US typically lean left, say it’s a place where nations can address issues that don’t usually garner the world’s attention. Its critics, who mostly lean right, argue it’s a toothless organization that kowtows to authoritarians and harbors a deep anti-Israel bias.
Detractors gained an upper hand in the debate this week when China, Russia, Cuba, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan each won enough votes to sit on the UNHRC for a three-year term (though China received fewer votes than it had in previous years). Other despotic regimes angling for a spot, like Saudi Arabia, didn’t get the nod, however.”
…
“it’s fair to look at the council and think it’s a problematic forum the US should stay out of. But experts say there are a few problems with that view, namely that the US loses any influence in that forum to push back against the Russias and Chinas of the world — and Israel is left without a strong backer on the council.”