Steve Bashein

SOMETIMES STORY LINES GO TO SEEMINGLY PARTISAN EXTREMES - SOME TIMES LIBELING PERSONS OR COUNTRIES UNREASONABLY. IMHO the “Proxy War” episode libels the Government of Israel. We enjoy the show - primarily because the producers have assembled an accomplished and likable ensemble cast. Placing current public policy issues front and center into each week’s episode makes the stories quite engaging. BUT every now and then I wonder about the seemingly political slants given to a show. A case in point is the recent episode “Proxy War”. The story line pits the USA and its “proxy” Israel against Russia and its “proxy Syria. On the good side the story line does raise the question of how allied nations deal with their relationships AND their own strategic needs maintain their relationship. So what is/are my problems with this episode? First is the notion that little allies may drag their super power ally into a war. IMHO this is an overblown idea. Yes there may be conflicts behind the scene . . . but IMHO these are always resolved in favor of the super power’s needs/desires. Second, and far more troublesome is the depiction of Israel and Syria as relative equals - two pesky gnats that their “handler” super powers keep on a short leash. This AM’s Washington Post (2/18/19), page A12 reports that during its 8 year civil war, Syria has launched more than 300 attacks using chemical weapons. IMHO and in world opinion, Syria’s use of chemical weapons puts Syria on the wrong side on international law. So when this episode’s authors put Israel on the same plane as Syria, they liabel Israel.