Hi Alex,

I appreciate your perspective. I share some of it, though not all. It’s refreshing to be able to exchange ideas without rancour.

I value the points you raised about Jews worldwide. Most of the Jewish friends and acquaintances I’ve known are secular, much as I was raised Catholic but now mark holidays more culturally than spiritually. To be clear, my arguments are coming from a historical and strategic perspective, not religious conviction.

I know full well that most Jews don’t live in Israel and many are ambivalent about its policies or even its existence. That tension itself is part of the story. I’m currently preparing a series of articles on the historical development of Zionism, why it emerged, and what it means today. I come at this as a Canadian, aligned with our longstanding position: neutrality in the conflict, support for Israel’s right to exist, and support for a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. That’s also Israel’s official position, even if terminology differs (Judea and Samaria, etc.). Names change — Sumer and Akkad are now Iraq.

On ChatGPT: I agree with your caution. I never take its first answer at face value, especially on contested issues. I use it as one tool among many, testing, probing, and vetting what it gives me. My background in historiography helps me separate useful synthesis from errors or bias.

On politics: I’m not a libertarian. I respect that view but I believe it’s naïve. The answer to bad government isn’t to abolish it; it’s to improve it with free speech, oversight, and gradual reform. Liberal democracy is not perfect, but it is the least bad option we have. Churchill was right about that, and Mises was right that it is the best system for peaceful adaptation.

Finally, for context: I served 26 years as an infantry officer, including Bosnia and multiple other multinational operations, including the Middle East. I have many friends—including my brother and father-in-law—who have served in the Middle East. I’ve studied military history and strategy for more than 45 years. I don’t claim omniscience, but I bring real-world experience to these discussions.

If you’re interested, my blog is here: www.thestrategiccode.com. I also post articles on Nostr.