US can't help 'Israel' defeat Hezbollah, Iran: Former US intel officer

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
6 Nov 2023 14:08
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Scott Ritter grills Biden's foreign policy in the Middle East and hails Hezbollah's strategy in the region amid "Israel's" aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Former United Nations arms inspector Scott Ritter in Baghdad, Iraq, on September 9, 2002 (AP)

Benjamin Netanyahu desperately seeks to get the United States involved in a multi-front war, Scott Ritter, a former United States Marine Corps intelligence officer, told Al Mayadeen.

During a panel discussion, Ritter explained that Netanyahu is the only person who wants the Northern Front to open with Lebanon, in order to draw the US into the war his government is leading on Gaza because he realizes that his forces are "not up to the task; they can’t defeat Hamas and Hezbollah at the same time."

Ritter also pointed to the crucial role that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's Secretary-General, is executing regarding the unfolding events. "The key player here is Hassan Nasrallah what he will do and he’s made it clear that he is in the business of escalation management; that he is not willing to precipitously escalate the violence with Israel unless provoked."

For Ritter, Hezbollah's actions showcase their perseverance to secure victory against the Israeli occupation.

'Israel' has lost the propaganda war

"There was a horrific attack against civilians in Lebanon, a sovereign state, carried out by Israel. Nothing we can say can change that reality But this is not the first time this has taken place nor will it be the last time it takes place. This is the standard Israeli operating procedure, Ritter said.

The former Marine Corps officer highlighted Hezbollah's awareness and perseverance in responding to such situations, which has exacerbated contradictions between the Israeli and American governments.

"The people of Lebanon, the people of Syria, the people of Iraq, [and] the people of Palestine have suffered under this kind of Israeli behavior for decades now," Ritter told Al Mayadeen.

He later underlined the key factor that will affect "Israel's" ability to commit brutal and careless crimes in the region, which is the "unquestioned backing of the United States."

Ritter underscored "that is no longer as guaranteed as it used to be in the past," as disparency between the United States and "Israel" grows.

This has been accelerated by "a paradigm shift taking place" where "hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets, demonstrating in support of the Palestinian cause, demonstrating in many in support in Hamas," Ritter underscored.

"This is unprecedented."

Scott Ritter to Al Mayadeen

The political analyst shed light on the vast protests happening in core US cities, such as New York and Washington, as well as popular protests all across the world as factors that have pushed the Palestinian narrative to the forefront of discussions.

"This has never happened before. This is a historical moment, as President [Joe] Biden likes to say, it is an inflection point on American relations with the Arab world, on American relations with Israel today."

Sayyed Hassan's foresight cracks Israeli-US ties

Ritter reiterated that Hezbollah's approach to the war on Gaza has pushed the Palestinian narrative to the forefront globally. In a scenario where Hezbollah instigates a wider escalation, Ritter believes that "people will stop talking about Palestine. People will stop talking about Israel's aggression, and they will now focus on a new front that will probably include Iran."

Former #US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter explains on #AlMayadeen the possible scenarios if the current escalation develops to become a general war between the #Lebanese Resistance and the Israelis.#Lebanon @RealScottRitter pic.twitter.com/mJAlstLxum
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 5, 2023

"This is again why Hassan Nasrallah speaks of perseverance. Perseverance means that you have to struggle through the difficult times to ensure that you are not distracted from the strategic vision," Ritter explained.

He reiterated that "Hamas is winning this fight. Israel cannot prevail. Israel cannot defeat Hamas on the ground. Israel has lost the propaganda battle globally; they have lost in the United States."

Biden administration finds itself in a can of worms

Ritter stressed that "Israel" can no longer be treated with immunity in the United States. In fact the country has lost control over the narrative centered around "Israel's" special status in the Middle East, which has been adopted by successive Israeli governments.

"Benjamin Netanyahu's government is at risk of not just collapsing from within but losing the support of the United States," Ritter told Al Mayadeen.

The former Marine Corps officer also highlighted the more than $100 billion spent by the US government on sustaining Volodymyr Zelensky's government and the Ukrainian armed forces. According to Ritter, the major spending that the US has committed itself to has not produced the intended results. In fact, it has failed, as he said.

"[The] US Congress is tired of this. It is a losing cause. We do not like to lose in America and I think you are going to see the funding stop."

US lawmakers are currently preoccupied with several crises including, mounting tensions with China and failing immigration policies. Such issues along with escalating pressure from the Arab American population will push US officials to change their approach toward "Israel" and reconsider its "unquestioned backing".

"The Biden administration is suffering a political disaster as we speak and in order for them to recover from this disaster they will have to change their policy outlooks. I think the day and age of blindly supporting Israel with unlimited munitions [has come to an end]."

US complicit in Israeli crimes

"Remember this, the 2000-pound JDAM satellite-guided bombs that were dropped [by] Israel on the Palestinian [Jabalia] refugee camp were supplied by the United States, thousands of them."

"So the United States has to wake up to the fact that even though it is Israeli airplanes, American airplanes flown by Israeli pilots, dropping Israeli bombs but they are American bombs provided by the United States," Ritter emphasized during the panel discussion.

"America is killing the Palestinian children every much as Israel [is]. This is becoming a political liability [for the United States]."

The analyst also pointed to the fact that the United States is actively looking to avoid an escalation in the region because it is aware that a multi-front war will deal a strategic defeat to Israeli and American interests in the region.

Furthermore, Ritter highlighted the two consecutive major exercises that the Israeli occupation forces run, simulating a multi-front war. According to Ritter, both these exercises involved the United States and ended in strategic defeat.

"So the United States itself is very familiar with that outcome," hence why it has not shown readiness to "accelerate the violence, to escalate the violence."

He also underscored that the United States cannot help "Israel" "defeat Hezbollah or Iran."

Biden's administration seeks to scapegoat Netanyahu

So how will the United States put an end to this geopolitical embarrassment?

Ritter says American politicians will attempt to transfer the blame to Israeli politicians.

Former #US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter tells #AlMayadeen how Benjamin Netanyahu is "desperate" to drag the US into this war because he recognizes that the Israeli forces "are not up to the task" of defeating the Palestinian and the #Lebanese Resistance at the… pic.twitter.com/j8LplqQmPy
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 5, 2023

"The scapegoat will be Benjamin Netanyahu. [American officials] are going to rewrite this narrative so that we say that it was his failure as a leader it was the failure of the Israeli defense force to protect the Israeli people that led to this situation and that there must be a change in the internal dynamic of Israel."

Ritter also said he believes the "Biden administration is working very hard" to push Benjamin Netanyahu out of office, adding that "Israel" is no longer the solution to the Middle East but a problem that US officials are looking to reconfigure to better fit their interests in the region.

Finally, Ritter said that the Netanyahu extremist coalition government "will never ever be put forward again. That day is done."