“Leave Immediately:” U.K., U.S. Plan for All-Out War
While Israeli troops prepare for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon, the U.S. and its allies are scrambling to patch together a temporary ceasefire that could postpone the worst of the conflict.
“We are the closest we’ve been to spiraling to a regional war,” one anonymous U.S. official told CNN.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon escalated this week, after a week-long Israeli airstrike killed more than 600 people in the region. Israeli Defense Forces commander Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin called the operation “a new phase of the campaign” against Hezbollah, a powerful Hamas ally embedded in Lebanese territory.
“The operation began with a significant blow to Hezbollah’s capabilities, focusing on their firepower capabilities, and a very significant hit on the organization’s commanders and operatives,” Gordin said. “Facing this … we must be fully prepared for maneuvers and action.”
From Washington, U.S. officials say there has been no direct communication with Hezbollah during the attempts to negotiate a ceasefire. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that “it doesn’t look like [a war] is imminent.” It is only out of “an abundance of caution,” according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, that U.S. troops have been deployed to assist possible evacuation operations to get U.S. citizens out before things spiral.
Others say the situation is even worse than it looks from the outside. Speaking anonymously to CNN, a European diplomat said there’s “no reason to be optimistic” that a ceasefire will be reached and added that the “situation is deteriorating and escalating by the hour.”
Earlier this week, Israel intercepted a missile headed for Tel Aviv, which marks one of the deepest strikes Hezbollah has attempted to date.
“Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi told troops after the Hezbollah missile strike. “Prepare yourselves.”
In return, Israel launched punitive airstrikes against Lebanon, hitting about 75 Hezbollah targets. Troops were told that the strikes would pave the way for a possible ground invasion–the next likely escalation if Hezbollah doesn’t back down. Such an invasion would likely trigger responses from Hezbollah allies, including Iran and Syria, which could plunge the entire region into violence as middleman countries are forced to pick a side.
For the U.S., such a conflict would carry deep economic risks that could drag everyday Americans into a domestic price battlefield. Even aside from its obligation to support Israel as an ally, the U.S. has a strong interest in protecting peace in the Middle East, which will force it into the war in at least a supportive role. Even such minimal involvement, as taxpayers have already seen, will come at enormous cost.
“In April, Congress passed a $95 billion addition to the Pentagon budget, with $2.44 billion in extra money for central command. That funding was designed to last six months … which would mean it’s almost out today,” said Noah Robertson of Defense News. “Meanwhile, even as funding runs out, the war in Gaza shows no signs of ending.”
With an increase in the government deficit comes an increase in inflation, the silent killer of American savings. In the modern world, where even the most stable countries are rocked by almost constant conflict, citizens are forced to reckon with the constant sapping of their purchasing power and future returns by a money-starved government.
Stable, long-term precious metal investments are faring well in this turbulent market, achieving shocking new highs amid gloomy economic predictions. Industry experts say the climb is nowhere near its peak.
From Goldman Sachs: “Gold is our strategists’ … preferred hedge against geopolitical and financial risks …. Gold offers significant value as a portfolio hedge against developments such as tariffs … and debt sustainability fears.”
