All right, Alexander, let's talk about the situation in the Middle East.

We have Blinken heading to the Middle East.

I believe this is his fourth trip in two months, something like that.

And according to various reports, Blinken is going to the Middle East to try to prevent a wider war. This is according to

the Associated Press and Reuters. That's what they're reporting. And we also have various reports.

I read something out of Politico the other day, which said that the Biden White House is preparing

for a wider war in the Middle East.

And they mentioned an attack on Yemen.

They mentioned protecting their bases in Syria and Iraq, a base in Syria, which is an illegal occupation of Syria.

But they said that.

And Politico also said that, of course,

the main target, if a wider war breaks out, that they're discussing in the Biden White House is Iran and the potential conflict with Hezbollah and Iran. And Politico does say it towards

the bottom of the article that the Biden White House is discussing the wider war scenario and the applications it'll have on Biden's reelection in 2024.

So they're very concerned about the effects that this may have on the 2024 campaign. So that is the situation

with the Middle East. And of course, we still have the ongoing war in Gaza, which doesn't

appear to be easing up either. So Lindsey Graham actually was visiting Netanyahu the other day as well.

So that's not a good side. Anyway, what are your thoughts on what's happening in the Middle East?

Well, I think what he's playing out is exactly the kind of problem that we identified right at the start of the Gaza crisis. The United States,

not this, correct that, the Biden administration, the president himself, came to Jerusalem,

as I think we all remember, embraced Netanyahu, gave Netanyahu in effect a blank check and did so publicly.

And he, as a result, committed the United States to supporting an Israeli operation in Gaza,

which could only succeed politically if it was carried out fast. It is not being carried out fast.

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