This is edition 2025/109 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome back. It's 2025 and 20 years since I started writing about politics and anything else that took my fancy. Thank to my VIP members for making this site what it is today. In July we will be having a 20th birthday celebration. Stay tuned for more announcements.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. The Grim Logic of Israel’s War.
Chris Trotter
- ⚔️ War's Relentless Logic: War imposes unyielding demands, draining national resources and eroding core values, leaving even the victors weakened. Politicians should strive to avoid it at all costs.
- 🛑 Leaders’ Duty: Leaders who go to war for reasons other than national defense harm humanity; peace efforts are crucial once war begins, with the aim to bring all sides to an agreement where no one loses.
- 💣 Hamas and Gaza: The war in Gaza was ignited by Hamas, aiming to provoke massive Israeli retaliation. Israel’s response was to annihilate Hamas, regardless of civilian casualties, to prevent its collapse.
- 🌍 International Perspective: Global condemnation of Israel's actions grew, but Israel could not afford to falter. A loss to Hamas would mean the collapse of Israel’s control over the situation.
- 🚨 Collateral Damage: Israel’s military strategy shifted, prioritizing the defeat of Hamas over minimizing civilian casualties, a long-term approach with significant moral consequences.
- 🕊️ Historical Comparisons: The moral calculus in Gaza echoes the brutal tactics of World War II, where distinctions between military and civilian targets were erased in the rush to end the war.
- 🚢 Blockades and Starvation: The Israeli blockade of Gaza drew comparisons to the British blockade of Germany in World War I, where civilian suffering was seen as a necessary evil of war, not “genocide.”
- 🔥 Hamas’ Strategy Backfires: Despite global protests, Israel’s resolve remained unshaken. Its ultimate goal was not just Hamas’ defeat but also eliminating Hezbollah, and challenging Iran, the puppet-master.
