re: #49 thedopefishlives

Here’s the problem: Historically, US policy in the Middle East has been to treat all Arab statements as posturing, saber rattling, and the like. This is a dangerous misconception that should’ve been made crystal clear by the 1967 Six-Day War at the least. Saying you are going to push the Jews into the sea, then preparing to launch a united pan-Arab offensive to do just that, should be a pretty doggone good indicator that when you say something, you mean it.

I knew an Egyptian who, when I took him to task for Nasser’s casus belli just prior to the Six-Day War, said that “Nasser was bluffing.” Some bluff.