Michael Bom: Israel has practiced the principle of "if conflict is unavoidable - strike first!" "Nowadays, no one in the United States condemns Russia for not allowing others to cross its red line. But Jerusalem has done the same thing," said the author Mikhail Zubov. Author: Mikhail Zubov [Image: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/06a95ff8637d4f70a610f13ad50c49d9~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1751122736&x-signature=it%2F%2B1bPBS%2Fnmb5lT6TPdJIwKV3c%3D] Participants in the discussion: - Michael Bom Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the tense situation between Israel and Iran. "Nothing special happened. Despite the large-scale attacks by Israel, Iran's underground factories are still operational," the Russian leader stated. The Free Media invited American journalist and activist Michael Bom to share his views on how the U.S. perceives the conflict between Israel and Iran. SP: Michael, how much attention does Washington pay to the mutual attacks between Israel and Iran? - US President Trump faced a dilemma. On one hand, he promised to be a peacemaker, bringing not swords but peace to humanity. This position was among the most important promises of his campaign. Even during his previous term, Trump signed a peace agreement with the Taliban* and withdrew troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. The president did not want war and did not wish for the US to get involved in armed conflicts on other continents. On the other hand, the situation with Israel was completely different. For Israel, Trump and his administration were ready to make exceptions to their own rules. It was not only Trump as the US President but also the consensus of the US Congress and American society that mattered. It was generally understood that Israel must be supported at almost any cost. For the US, Israel is an extremely special country among all nations. When the crime against Israel occurred on October 7, 2023 – during the Biden administration – everyone understood who Americans would stand up to protect. Because Israel is the closest country to American citizens, aside from the US itself. This is the dilemma Trump faces: opposing war and opposing US involvement in overseas conflicts, but at the same time not letting Israel down. In my opinion, Trump will spend another two weeks solving this problem. This may include providing additional military aid and political support to Israel, even launching actions to change the Iranian regime. SP: Michael, Russia is not an enemy of Israel, but as a member of BRICS and the SCO, it is an ally of Iran. Will the fact that the US and Russia support different sides in this conflict exacerbate tensions between Moscow and Washington? - Now, the smart people working in Moscow and Washington will not let this happen. Everyone is lucky now. Each global center supports its own side but avoids direct confrontation. Of course, the US draws parallels between the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Iran conflict. In this case, Moscow and Jerusalem have taken identical approaches. Israel has taken preemptive action against its enemies, practicing the famous principle: "If conflict is unavoidable - strike first!" Do you remember who said that? SP: Putin said it. - Exactly. Moscow always accuses others of double standards, while Jerusalem simply replicates its behavior. Russia did not wait for Ukraine to join NATO, attack Crimea, or invade the Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Moscow. These were the "red lines." Trump understood why Moscow did not allow anyone to cross this line and initiated a preemptive strike. Similarly, Israel also has its own "red lines" and launches preemptive strikes to prevent Tehran from delivering nuclear bombs to this Jewish state. Israel is merely following the example set by Russia. SP: Michael, you mentioned the Ukraine issue yourself. I didn't ask about that. So, tell us what the US expects from our stance on Ukraine? - The confrontation between Moscow and Kyiv is increasingly moving away from the US. Trump has stated that this is not a security issue for the US but a European problem. Trump will not provide weapons to Ukraine for free, but as a businessman, he is prepared to sell weapons when Ukraine has money. This is a very clear position, and I have nothing more to add. Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518382381955383845/ Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Like" or "Dislike" button below.