While Israel watches.

Quietly.

One hears almost nothing about Israel all of a sudden. "Bibi" isn't to be seen. Previously, it was hard not to see him. It's almost as if this war doesn't involve Israel when, of course, it is all about Israel. There would be no war were it not for Israel. Trump has admitted this, telling the world he had to attack Iran because Israel was going to. This somehow makes sense to Trump. More finely, he hopes it makes sense to Americans. The premise seems to be that had the United States not attacked Iran – had only Israel attacked Iran – somehow that would have resulted in harm to America. Well, that's exactly what happened. Americans have been killed and something on the order of $100 billion has been lost – so far. Americans are paying $4 for gas (again) when they had been paying about $2.80 for it just six months ago, before the war began.

Now America has assumed total responsibility for this stupid, evil war that was started by and for Israel. More finely, Americans have been saddled with total responsibility for this stupid, evil war that was started by and for Israel. Israel is (apparently, who knows given the near total suppression of actually reliable news) no longer being bombed and Israelis are no longer being killed but Americans are being killed and American facilities are being bombed. Mozel Tov, eh? 

Does anyone in this country notice? Does anyone care? Or are Americans so exhausted by it all they've become passive like the herd animals – stupid cattle – they're looked upon by the people responsible for fomenting and perpetuating this war?

The Iranians have refrained – so far – from bombing the country responsible for starting the war, which furthers the perception that it's a war between the United States and Iran rather than a war for Israel being prosecuted (and paid-for) by the United States. It's a brilliant because necessary  development – from the Israeli perspective. Israel can pose as being a kind of Middle Eastern Switzerland while the United States bashes Iran and Iran bashes back. But is it sensible for the Iranians to allow themselves to be maneuvered into being the sole belligerent? The marketing campaign that is now under way is framing it that way. Israel – and Israel's interests – recede from the news and so from Americans' minds. It's those Iranians who are causing us to have to spend $80 to fill up!

This appears to be the hope, at any rate, in Washington and Tel Aviv.

Maybe the Iranians ought to focus once more on the country that started this war – in order to end this war. Iran probably cannot do much to bring it home to Americans, except indirectly (via economic damage, such as $4 gas) and besides, if Iran did try to bring it home to America directly, it would only serve the interests of Israel by arousing the anger of Americans who are for the most part not especially angry at the Persians right now, because why would they be? They are certainly not angry enough to want this stupid, evil war – and the $4 gas that they're paying for it.