The news that came overnight in America of the act of war — there can be no other description of a massive, complexly coordinated incursion into southern Israel by “Hamas” (yes, Hamas, but really by Iran using Hezbollah on the ground) that has killed over 100, wounded over 900, and resulted in an unknown number of hostages hidden away in Gaza — is still shrouded in the fog of confusion. So many questions remains: How could the IDF have been so brutally surprised? What will come of the hostages? (Gilad Shalit was worth quite a bit to the Israelis; how much are 100 civilian women and children worth?) What will come of Netanyahu’s government?
But more than anything else I am nauseated by how dizzyingly quicky things may change all around the world. Israel’s response is not going to be a few targeted missile strikes. They are at war, and there will be a full-scale invasion; this presumably scotches years of diplomacy (quietly shepherded by both the Trump and Biden administrations) trying to get Saudi Arabia to officially recognize Israel. (Iran’s self-interest here is thus transparently obvious.) But think further afield, to places like China, Russia, Ukraine, and . . . America.
Events are moving fast; for once I lack any tidy thoughts or clever endings. What may shock us all is how fast world events move over the next year or so. I am pessimistic.