Habib Siddiqui

  After decades of bipartisan deference to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the likely contenders for the next Democratic presidential nomination have been distancing themselves from the powerful organization. The shift is significant. But disavowing AIPAC has become a box-checking exercise, useful for politicians who remain firm supporters of Israel. Polling  last month found that registered Democrats – by a margin of 67-17 percent – were more sympathetic toward Palestinians than Israelis. For elected officials on automatic pilot for Israel, such numbers are a big jolt. In response, the evident quest is to satisfy the majority of Democratic voters who have negative views of Israel, while at the same time not angering its supporters. While AIPAC and perhaps other pro-Israel groups must now cope with being shunned by many Democratic politicians, the implications for U.S. policy toward Israel are another matter. The Times of Israel  reports  that “...

  “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.” – Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis would have recognized Pete Hegseth immediately—a Christian nationalist whose religious beliefs, tattoos, and now his policies let everyone know he’s on a crusade to do no good. And what more perfect position from which to crusade than secretary of war. This is a man who says: “There would be no Europe and no America” if not for the Crusades—a gross distortion of history that nevertheless shapes his view of the military and US national security. The US military has become too soft, Hegseth says. It is infested with woke culture and needs to restore a “warrior ethos.” Liberal generals have been recruiting, retaining, and promoting all the wrong people. They need to be rooted out. He has fired or forced out several senior officers, most recently the army chief of staff, and he has blocked promotions of women and Black generals. On the other hand, Hegseth has pardoned s...