Author Archives: oliverakel

The 10+ months since Oct 7th has unveiled a nasty surprise for Israel and the U.S. Hamas which presides over a hapless Palestinian population of around 2 million people, in an enclave of 140 square miles, has shocked us all with its show of military planning, power and tenacity. How a junta, subject to theContinue reading “On the Future of Israel and the U.S. in the Middle east”

In June 1967, in response to growing threats by its Arab neighbors, Israel engaged in a preemptive war against Egypt, Syria and Jordan. In 6 days it pretty much decimated their combined military capability. It was at that time that the U.S. began to see Israel as a strategic asset in the  volatile Middle East.Continue reading “On the Israeli Relationship”

At the end of July, Israel took out two notably bad guys. Ismail Haniyeh, a Palestinian political leader from Gaza and Fuad Sukr, a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. Just two of the hundreds of their targeted killings since 1967. While few would lament the loss of two ‘terrorists’, one must question the strategic gain fromContinue reading “On Assassinations”

Once again the prime minister of Israel was invited to address the joint houses of congress, an honor afforded few foreign leaders. And once again he has asked for more and more support to pursue causes to which we somehow seem implicated but which we have not caused, on which have not been consulted andContinue reading “On Netanyahu”

The Surgeon General recently declared gun violence a public health crisis.  And that it is. For too long we have allowed this outrage to persist under the guise that any action would be a violation of our 237-year-old constitution.  I doubt that our founding fathers intended that changed circumstances should forever be ignored. That’s why they providedContinue reading “On Gun Control”

The state of Louisiana recently mandated the posting of the ten commandments in public schools, a decision which is being challenged as ‘unconstitutional’ and violating the concept of separation of church and state. In 1978 the state of Kentucky enacted similar state legislation which was overturned by the Supreme Court. The First Amendment to theContinue reading “On the Ten Commandments”

The right to protest is enshrined in our constitution. Amendment I (1791) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redressContinue reading “On Protests”

The Gaza war has driven a rather rare wedge between Israel and the current US administration. While the U.S. is supportive of the goal of decimating Hamas following the atrocities inflicted by them on October 7th, Israel’s seemingly disregard and unconcern for the growing casualties and the dire straits of thousands of innocent Palestinians, aContinue reading “On US – Israeli Relations”

This is an open letter from President Biden to Prime Minister Netanyahu. “Dear Bibi, We have long stood by Israel in its quest for peace and security, often even at the price of our own national interest. We continue to do so. We have always defended Israel’s right to protect itself and we have willinglyContinue reading “On the Gaza War, Part VI – Tough Love”

Two years ago Putin’s army attacked Ukraine expecting only token resistance, believing it would be a veritable cake walk. It is rumored that front line Russian troops brought along their dress uniforms for an early victory parade through Kyiv. That was then. Over the last two years, the Ukrainians have put up fierce resistance, surprisingContinue reading “On the Ukraine War”