The tragedy that’s befallen 21 Israeli soldiers on January 22, 2024 who were setting down explosives which detonated prematurely, along with all their grief-stricken families and loved ones, is a tell-tale sign that Israel’s war with the goal of eliminating all Hamas fighters in Gaza isn’t progressing well.
According to last week’s Wall Street Journal report, only 20%-30% of Hamas fighters in Gaza have been taken out by Israeli military since October 7, 2023 when Hamas savagely attacked Israelis and foreigners, killing about 1,200 and kidnapping about 240.
See: Twenty-four killed in deadliest day for Israeli forces of Gaza war
For at least the past 20 years, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu has acted in opposition to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. But by continuing to adopt this hardline stance, he’s hoping that he can persuade traumatized Israelis who are fearful of a Palestinian neighbor as a result of the past October 7th massacre, that he, despite leading them into disaster, is still their best hope of future security.
He’s betting that he can survive in his job as the Israeli prime minister by continuing Israel’s war against Hamas until a second Trump presidency can come to his rescue.
Other dictators from countries like China and Russia are also holding onto the dream that if the US republican party MAGA ex-President Donald Trump can manage to be reelected as the next US president in November 2024 that their ambitions can be realized. The Chinese President Xi Jinping can pursue his plans, unimpeded by US interference, to gain control over Taiwan. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin can count on a free reign to succeed in overtaking Ukraine.
But on the evening of January 23, 2024, this hope became “mission impossible” as a new Republican Party star, Nikki Hailey announced plans to continue competing with Mr. Trump to be the nation’s republican party’s presidential nominee.
She doesn’t share the ex-president’s penchant for Putin and Jinping and other world’s autocratic strongmen like Victor Orben from Hungary, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijani.
While Mr. Trump handily won the republican party nomination to be New Hampshire state’s presidential candidate, he fell short with voters who’re independent, moderate party members who don’t buy the lie that President Biden didn’t win the 2020 presidential election and republican party members who pride themselves in being “Never Trumpers.” The benefit of a primary election in a state like New Hampshire is that the voters better resemble the population mix found in swing states. In short, he can’t win the presidency in a general election based solely on support by MAGA hard core republican voters.
As per a January 23, 2024 ABC news report, “Haley captures independents and college grads, but Trump base holds fast in NH: Exit poll” by Gary Langer, Christine Filer and Allison De Jong:
(In New Hampshire) “strong turnout by unaffiliated voters and a comparative abundance of moderates stood out in exit poll results, underscoring the state’s often unconventional voter profile. Forty-six percent reported being registered as “undeclared” rather than Republican vs. a previous record of 45% in 2012. Haley won those undeclared voters by a wide margin, 65-34%. In another sign of non-Trumpers turning to Haley, she won 65% of those who said they are not part of the MAGA movement.”
If either the republican party’s Nikki Hailey or the democrat US President Joe Biden wins the role of the US presidency in November 2024, both will champion the U.S.A. as a democracy ensuring the strengthening of other world democracies via NATO, the (EU) European Union and the United Nations.
The following articles depict the US ex-president’s attraction to the world’s autocratic leaders.
As per the January 22, 2024 Daily Express US report, “‘Absolute Idiocy’ Donald Trump’s Taiwan comments provoke anger and concern” by Chris Samuel:
Excerpts:
“Donald Trump has sparked fury online by declining to give a firm answer on whether the US would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China.”
“The former President, who is the frontrunner for Republican presidential nomination, appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo and was asked by the host whether, if he became president, the US would protect Taiwan even if it meant a direct conflict with Beijing.”
“China’s Communist Party has never controlled the autonomous island in its 70 years in power but sees it as a breakaway province that will one day be under Beijing’s control.”
“Trump didn’t directly address the question, but suggested discontent towards Taiwan. “Taiwan did take all of our chip business,” he said. “We used to make all of our own chips, now they’re made in Taiwan, 90 percent of [them]…Remember this, Taiwan took, smart, brilliant, they took our business away.”
In recent weeks, opposition to Ukraine aid is most significant with the republican party’s extreme right-wing US Congressional representatives led by ex-President Trump, which plays an outsized role in what happens to the flow of assistance.
As per a May 12, 2023 BBC report, “How Trump presidency could change Ukraine war” by Anthony Zurcher:
“If Mr. Trump returns to the White House, this more positive attitude toward Russia – which is echoed in much of the Republican base and some of the party’s members in Congress – is likely to re-emerge as a driving force in US policy.”
“His comments at a CNN-hosted town hall event this week provided further evidence to those who accuse him of being too cozy with Mr. Putin.”
“The former president said he could end the war in 24 hours but did not say how. He refused to be drawn on whether he wanted Ukraine to prevail and complained about the cost of the military aid.”
As per an October 14, 2023 Guardian report, “As Donald Trump’s “America First” philosophy has gained popularity among Republicans, anti-Ukraine sentiment has spread through the party’s base and now into the halls of Congress. Even as bipartisan support for Ukraine remains robust in the Senate, a majority of the House Republican conference appears skeptical if not outright hostile to the idea of more funding.”
See: Hard-right House Republicans are against Ukraine aid -/ Guardian
As per the December 10, 2021 BBC report, “Donald Trump uses expletive to attack ex-ally Benjamin Netanyahu:
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on his once-close ally, ex-Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of disloyalty.
“Mr. Trump said he was furious at Mr Netanyahu for the way he congratulated Joe Biden on his election victory, using an expletive towards him.
“He also said he believed he saved Israel from destruction.”
“Mr. Trump made the comments in interviews for a book about his role in Middle East peace-making.”
“The US administration under Mr. Trump, from 2017-2021, is considered the most favourable towards Israel in the two countries’ history.”
“Mr. Netanyahu served as Israeli prime minister while Mr. Trump was in office, and the 2 men were portrayed as having particularly warm personal relations, often publicly praising one another.”
“Speaking to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid for his book Trump’s peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East, Mr. Trump accused Mr. Netanyahu of congratulating too quickly Mr. Trump’s successor Joe Biden on winning the 2020 US election.”
“The first person who congratulated [Joe Biden] was Bibi [Benjamin] Netanyahu, the man that I did more for than any other person I dealt with… Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake.”
“He was very early,” Mr. Trump said. “Like earlier than most. I haven’t spoken to him since. [Expletive] him.
“In fact, Mr. Netanyahu was not the first foreign leader to congratulate Mr. Biden. He also tweeted his gratitude towards Mr. Trump minutes later.”
“In other comments, Mr. Trump says: “Nobody did more for Bibi. And I liked Bibi,” adding: “I still like Bibi. But I also like loyalty.”
“As US president, Mr. Trump took a series of steps in support of Mr. Netanyahu, including controversially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, sparking fury across the Arab world.”
“Mr. Trump also declared Israeli settlements in occupied territory were not illegal, putting the US out of step with the UN, and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights, occupied by Israel.”
Mr. Netanyahu unveiled a planned settlement there called Trump Heights in return.
Gronda Morin 
Either Republican csndidate is a menace to the world.
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Hi!
Personally, I wouldn’t vote for Nikki Haley because as a republican party member, she has to be a proponent of abortion bans and she has to discount that racism exists, rtc.
But I do consider her to be sane with legitimate foreign policy creds.
Hugs, Gronda
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