It’s worth acknowledging when you’re artificially pinging your dopamine system. When you eat tasty food, when you drink coffee, when you smoke weed. Stimulating yourself by browsing the Internet aimlessly falls into this category too.

I believe they are the only 2 countries, so I feel my generalisation is acceptable.

It’s not necessarily that much stricter in Europe. It’s just guns for self-defense, isn’t a thing.

Their are guns everywhere, and everyone who needs a gun has one.

It just stops the random fuckers getting their hands on one for no good reason. Also, automatic weapons are for killing humans. Why even sell those.

I always find it hard to explain the leaps in logic so bear with me.

-You just have to view everything that’s happening right now in the world with the understanding that a post hydrocarbon energy economy has ramifications for western economies financial systems while also on the opposite end of the spectrum, affecting developing nations ability to catch up.

The strength of the American dollar genuinely has been bolstered in the fact that it was the main currency used in the trade of hydrocarbons, this is no longer the case.

If China intends to continue its current military ambitions their demand for hydrocarbons is going to persist, as America retracts from the policy of globalisation a vacuum is being created which the Chinese would be more than happy to take advance of. Developing economies/regimes etc. won’t stymie themselves, they will continue to use them.

There is an obvious split in world geopolitics because of this post hydrocarbon/globalisation shift. unwrapping the ramifications of the effects of climate change and the switch to renewables coupled with energy independence it’s pretty complex, but it’s not unreasonable to expect destabilisation as we enter a new phase.

• The first mention of modern cyber psychological warfare I’ve seen from the Chinese think tanks was published in 2004. I’d argue that the world has become increasingly unstable since then. I’d argue that while the world is unstable right now, but we are on an upswing, if me and you are discussing this right now more capable people have discussed this before us. Everyone has become much more aware in recent times.

https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA800/RRA853-1/RAND_RRA853-1.pdf

• Outlook is not looking good for everyone’s financial systems IMO, core economics and demographics are the best indicators of where the card lie at this time (US is always #1 in this regard). People look at inflation right now and analyse the Fed’s actions without taking into account that this is Cold War economics. Increase the amount of money you increase the amount of productivity, you stay ahead. There is undoubtedly restructuring ahead.

• Well let’s talk demographics from a military perspective, A lot of the analysis of the Chinese military has been taken into account the fact that their demographics say they will have the most amount of eligible military personnel in the next decade, beyond that their numbers will be decreasing.

But then the question arises, are demographics going to matter in military situations in the future. Do you even need humans fight. Could it just become a AI powered military machine building contest?.

• In a world with this much restructuring and destabilisation proxy wars are the preferred means of interacting, If I were to draw a line between these two opposing groups on the map, just like Ukraine, Israel would be right on it. As this plays out over the coming decade Israel is going to be continually tested in many different ways, when you look at the long term possibilities of how this is going to develop things are not as clear cut.

• Netanyahu is not just battling Hamas he’s antagonising everyone on the other side of that line right now, essentially drawing a target on the country for eternity.

As public opinion in support of Israel decreases in the west the chances of an American boot on the ground in Israel decreases. What if the Chinese move on Taiwan, American resources focus elsewhere. American politics presents a majority which oppose the spending. Climate change and AI are certainly going to impact the political status quo in the coming year. Even presuming military dominance is in the balance. American foreign policy is obviously different in recent years, focusing on insular tactics.

I digress, Israeli leadership are all for playing their cards wrong.They are acting exactly like their enemies wanted them to, the would have been better just to pay them off.

Suppose when you take the foreign policy of globalisation out of the equation, the geopolitical arena looks a lot different.

It’s hard to know how the relationships will develop. Israel geographical location has become at least 50% less important.

When you consider the possible impact of climate change and demographics over the next decade, coupled with the increasingly fragile financial outlook.

It’s not unfathomable that Israel ends up in an extremely exposed position without significant support from the West.

China and Russia are bound together by mutual interest in hydrocarbons, and Irans leaders would attempt to capitalise on every opportunity.

In a destabilised world, everyone will try to sieze the opportunity. It’s going to get very busy, Netanyahu is assuming a lot when he thinks that Israel is going to stay relevant in the long term.

Just wanted to add that it’s going to be multifaceted threats along with the multipolar geopolitical outlook. In situations like that, things get very simple. Things start to boil down to very simple decisions.

Element of truth to that wild comment, so I’ll let it pass.

I’m not so sure. The current geopolitical outlook leaves Israel in a tough spot. With the failure of globalisation and the declining importance of the Middle Eastern hydrocarbons, there is actually a breaking point.

I don’t necessarily think that breaking point would be reached, but if the current government does not restrain themselves and play their card correctly, it will count against them going forward.

Despite what Americans think, their previous actions have counted against them, too.

I’m the modern information age. The old tactics of statecraft and economic dominance fall apart. The opposing axis wanted Israel to respond like this. It’s a huge mistake for them to continue with this approach.

It’s a multipolar world these days.

What about Netanyahus relationship with the PLO before Hamas. He’s been playing both sides using the fear of Palestinian militants as a political football, just trying to stay elected and ignoring the views of the average secular Israeli.

Israel is being led by a group of religious extremists.

It’s complicated, and both sides have committed unbelievable atrocities, but Israeli leadership have overplayed their card. Their crimes over the last few weeks will echo for decades to come.

My guess it will have the opposite effect than they intended, Israel will lose out in the long term.