East meets West and Sharia law meets Gaza?

This question should be “interesting” to sort out. Mostly it is interesting as a western outsider. While it could be an Afghanistan type military takeover such as the Taliban did, it could sort out quite differently. Every situation is unique. Gaza is Arab in character.

Both the Hamas types and the Gaza types are different from those in Afghanistan. Let’s start with the Gaza types. They generally may be more like cowboys at a bar on Saturday night than the pious Sunday types. And Hamas may not be the religious zealots the Taliban dictators turned out to be. In other words, the military winners may have a political tiger by the tale. Hopefully, for them, they can learn the Hezbollah schemes of ruling by balancing public service, military dictatorship, and avoidance of religious impositions. Oh yes, money from Iran helps. But in the end, don’t mess with the Palestinians in Gaza if you are an outsider, which most of the present combatants are.

In the money from Iran scheme, there is hope for both sides. All nations can be bled financially, and this is happening to Iran as we speak. Timing is everything, and it is on the western side of bleed ‘em dry. From the Iranian side, which is reckless in its consequences, maybe the US and west will give up, quit, or otherwise leave before they (the Iranians) run out of money. If it (Iran) doesn’t, and somehow perseveres, then political shock will still set in for the dictators. The west has always responded in the normal way, why should it change after decades of the other way. In this misjudgment is why local wars begin. And if I were a mullah dictator in Iran, decades of political experience suggests why I believe what I believe. To the western mind, one just has to change the assumptions, and the house of cards will fall. Maybe we will make an earthquate of politcial impacts. Most of these mullah dictators have cowardly instincts, as well as a long term approach. This is often called the mind battle part of war. Bottom line, they are losers, and the west and local Arab allies are winners, if we will persist.

Hamas and Gaza may sort out about the same. Iranian money will run out. And people have lives to live. And Sharia law is not for all Arabs. The consequences for Jordan and Egypt may be just the opposite of the pundit’s guesses. Most political movements, including Hamas, are a small cabal of people. They may just expend themselves in Gaza.