El Jefe

Yesterday's cold wind was replaced by a gentle ocean breeze, allowing the guests in our Mazatlan beach hotel to enjoy an afternoon by the pool.  Children noisily splashed in the water, while their parents relaxed on lounge chairs. Suddenly, silence, as all eyed turned towards a young man wearing dark glasses, a thick gold necklace and many tattoos.  Fully aware of the attention he attracts, he strode arrogantly across the pool deck in what can best be described as a gangster gait.   Following in close proximity were several heavy-set men, whose loose hawaiian shirts served perhaps to obscure suspicious bulges around their belt line.  The regal procession descended the stairs towards the beach.  Below, at the water line, a large band was waiting.  Many bands-for-hire cruise the Mazatlan beach, but this one included more than the usual number of  instruments. The young man exchanged fist bumps with the band, and after one of his entourage ceremoniously dusted off a beach chair, sat himself down.  In front of him was a table laden with food and drinks.  The tubas took the musical initiative, followed by the bass-drums, the trumpets, and the trombones. The prince got up to sway with the music while the heavy set men remained watchful.  Someone handed him a microphone and with a beer in hand, he began to sing.

I concluded that this must be a narco boss celebrating something special.  Perhaps the elimination of a rival gang?  Loud music carries along the beach, and soon a small crowd taking selfies, gathered around the celebration.  Eventually, I noticed a professional cameraman filming the event. That's when I started to  doubt my previous conclusion.  I gathered my courage, approached, and asked one of the onlookers for the prince's identity.  "That's Eduin Caz, a famous band singer" he answered, surprised by my ignorance.  

When Adi and I returned from our sunset stroll, The crowd was larger, few more tubas joined the band, and the music rose to a level way above ear-damage threshold.  Eduin was still singing, beer in hand.  He was having fun.  We continued to enjoy his party from our 9th floor balcony.

Prologue:  https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/935587753  (Sorry about the abrupt ending.)

For better audio:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlq6Ni3kEZE

Gaza. Pause and think

  On October 7, I was walking on a sunny Ashdod beach when the rockets struck.  Like everyone in Israel, I was shocked, humiliated, and outraged.  On that day, while Hamas fighters were still killing people, Netanyahu declared "We are at War."  He added that he directed the army to "fight back on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced.”  Initially, I welcomed his statement, but in the days that followed, I began to have doubts.  It was difficult to express these doubts while in Israel, and more difficult to do so now that I am back in Oaxaca.  In the eyes of many Israelis, it is inappropriate for me, an outsider, to discuss security matters.  However, perhaps I am allowed to ask questions.  I'll present them in reverse order.

1.  Does the conduct of this war by the IDF, an army that prides itself in innovative thinking and technical knowhow, meet your expectations?

2.  Is the cost of the war, 100 Israeli soldiers, 20,000 Gazan civilians and counting, acceptable to you?

3.  Will a war achieve permanent security for Israel?

4.  Will the war insure the release of all the hostages?

5.  Were you presented with alternatives solutions to war?

If the answer to some of these question is not a clear 'Yes!', ask yourself  'Why?' 

It could be evidence of a leadership failure to think.

I know that Israel's political and military leaders are smart and have good intention, so I will venture to guess some causes for their failure.

a.  Shock.  It is hard to think under attack

b.  They accepted and joined the national urge for revenge.  

c.   A deep personal burden of guilt may cloud rational thinking and drive one to strong violent action.

I am afraid that unless the current leaders are dismissed now, the underperformance will continue.  It is the Israeli voters turn to pause and think.

P.S.  I am often asked  "Then, what do you propose?"  All I wish to say is that I have heard many anecdotes of action that could have been taken or  action that should have been avoided, to prevent the massacre.  Those hypothetical actions are an indication that there are other options.