Human tragedy and 5G warfare

Editor’s Note — Since this column was filed, Israel has launched a limited counterattack on the Iranian Air Base in Iran’s Isfahan Province. Iranian media reports that three drones were shot down, but no damage has been acknowledged.

It’s been an interesting week. The heat and fury of the unprecedented Iranian attack on Israel has all but passed, yet the tragedy of a centuries-old conflict remains. Rooted in the time-honored traditions of prejudice, tribal feuds, revenge killings, and superstition, the suffering is so profoundly unnecessary that it becomes too sad to bear.

While the situation on the ground remains horrible and desperate, the strategic kabuki dance behind the scenes unfolds. My exposure as a Cold War baby has, for better or worse, conditioned me to tune out the human tragedy and focus on the underlying chess game–which can be oddly entertaining.

Obligated by a need to save face among the international community, as well as for domestic consumption, Iran launched a military response to Israel’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria. The consulate in Damascus was being used to fund and coordinate a third-party war against Israel, but attacking a diplomatic facility (even when operating as a military command post) is considered a faux pas on the world stage, so Iran was obliged to respond in kind.

The question was, “How?” They didn’t want to start a war with the West that couldn’t be won, but they had to maintain the appearance of strength for their allies and the people back home. What to do?

Their response was to tell Russia and China to position their satellites to witness the first Western response to fifth-generation warfare.

With more-than-ample notice, the Iranians launched an unprecedented swarm of 300 drones at a speed only slightly faster than OJ’s Bronco chase while the world watched and waited.

The West was similarly obligated to respond. Recognizing both the necessity to defend Israel and an opportunity to test new toys and tactics, they invited their allies to join. Unlike OJ’s Bronco chase, the Jordanian turkey shoot had no surprise ending. Between the air forces of Israel, the U.S., France, and the U.K., complementing ground-based interception by “iron dome” technologies, Iran’s damage to Israel was limited to some structural damage on an airbase and the critical injury of a seven-year-old Bedouin girl.

In proper Wag-the-Dog fashion, the Iranian PR machine went to work, claiming a military victory for their domestic audience, even though the attack was effectively a failure. Likewise, Israel’s claim that the only victim of the attack was an innocent child of Arab heritage is just a bit too perfect to avoid suspicion.

In the end, the Iranian response will be viewed as a mistake because it opens doors to a retaliatory attack on Iranian nuclear targets in a way that will be far easier to sell at the UN. The more significant implication is that former adversaries Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined forces to defend Israel from a radicalized Iran.

As the technology and posturing unfold, the sorrows on the ground continue. While most of mainstream America is aware of Israel’s history and supports its right to defend itself, no country wants to see an ally as the cause of humanitarian disaster.

Those who earnestly contemplate these issues are shifting their focus toward the aftermath of an Israeli victory. They correctly ask what anger and resentment will linger for decades to come and how they will be viewed as victors.

The views expressed are distinct from those of a minority, primarily the younger demographic in our nation, who lack knowledge of Israel's history and misconstrue the historical underdog. Consequently, we witness segments of our youth supporting a radical fundamentalist movement that justifies the barbarism of gang rape and infanticide. We don’t hear about rhetoric like that taking place during the scrap metal drives of the 1940s, and it’s disheartening to witness it today.

On a separate note, somewhere between watching the Middle East realign itself and a solar eclipse, I received my mail-in ballot from the Red Willow County Clerk. Unlike my former Republican brethren, I support mailed ballots when conducted responsibly.

In Nebraska, it is. We have heard that other states mail out hundreds of thousands of ballots without solicitation, but Nebraska required me to make the request in writing and provide detailed driver’s license info and other data to confirm my identity.

As it stands, I am confident in the fidelity of Nebraska’s vote tabulation. I find benefit in the ability to research unfamiliar names and issues at my leisure and from my own desk. I think it’s responsible behavior, and if you are inclined to do the same, then the time to act is now.