4 ms·

The US treats Israel like an intelligence/military base in the Middle East. Why wouldn't you support your soldiers? A bonus is that Israel is still a sovereign

by dimitar 15y ago

The US treats Israel like an intelligence/military base in the Middle East. Why wouldn't you support your soldiers? A bonus is that Israel is still a sovereign nation and if it for example bombs Syrian nuclear reactors, the United States has zero responsibility. Which can leave the US to pursue détente with any country it likes, regardless the Israel protest. A nations power is measured not only in its military capabilities but in its allies. The US has many, many allies but not that many loyal ones especially in the Middle East. The benefits are way too many, but very few of them are international-PR-related. Except of course domestically, which is much, much more important to any politician.

ComputerGuru 15y ago
But that's exactly what the parent was asking — how are you defining "loyal?" His question was, what are we getting out of it that would cost us more if we didn't do it ourselves.
- dimitar 15y ago
  Well, does it have unwavering strategic, political, cultural, ideological interest to continue the relationship, whatever the government? In contrast the surrounding allies always warn that the relationship or balance of power may change if the current government goes out of power. The state department may lose some hours of sleep when there is a change in power in Egypt or in Yemen, but does it have to when the same happens in Israel?
  - ComputerGuru 15y ago
    Honestly? I think so. Look at how much tension there is between Obama and Bibi. Bibi point-blank says he couldn't give a damn less what Obama's ideas are for peace, there will be no halt of construction in occupied lands and there will be no negotiation for Jerusalem. That's quite a stretch from what his predecessors once said.
cstavish 15y ago
In theory, you are correct about the US having "zero responsibility" for actions of Israel. In reality, however, the US gets a ton of flak for supporting Israel, despite some of their questionable practices. Most of Israel's antagonists effectively equate Israel to the US. Is such a sentiment unfounded? Not entirely, considering that our politicians bend over backwards for Israel. I respect Israel, and I see the value in a healthy relationship with it. However, the US should be looking out for the best interests of Israel, which are _not_ the continued oppression of the Palestinian people. Many Israelis understand that a two-state solution is the only sustainable solution...unfortunately, Netanyahu does not realize that. The US needs to push Israel in the right direction, for the sake of our shared relationship (and Israel itself).
- maratd 15y ago
  Exactly what is stopping the Palestinians from having a functional state? They have been left to their own devices for quite a while now ... and what have they come up with? A militant party sworn to the destruction of their neighbor and another party so weak, it has no choice but to support the militant one. Yup! There's a recipe for peace! There is nothing Israel/US/UN/Europe/etc. can do to make the Palestinians create a decent government. Only the Palestinians can do that.
  - jbm 15y ago
    While I won't bother bringing this topic onto the forum, you should be intelligent enough to know that this is an exaggeration and slanted view of the more complex reality.
    - maratd 15y ago
      I'm intelligent enough to know that if it there was a "more complex reality", you would have astutely pointed it out. The truth is that the situation is very simple and that those who try to veil reality in complex sophistry are simply parasites who wish to benefit through the misery of others. Shame on you!

by dimitar 15y ago

ComputerGuru 15y ago

But that's exactly what the parent was asking — how are you defining "loyal?" His question was, what are we getting out of it that would cost us more if we didn't do it ourselves.

dimitar 15y ago
Well, does it have unwavering strategic, political, cultural, ideological interest to continue the relationship, whatever the government? In contrast the surrounding allies always warn that the relationship or balance of power may change if the current government goes out of power. The state department may lose some hours of sleep when there is a change in power in Egypt or in Yemen, but does it have to when the same happens in Israel?
- ComputerGuru 15y ago
  Honestly? I think so. Look at how much tension there is between Obama and Bibi. Bibi point-blank says he couldn't give a damn less what Obama's ideas are for peace, there will be no halt of construction in occupied lands and there will be no negotiation for Jerusalem. That's quite a stretch from what his predecessors once said.

cstavish 15y ago

In theory, you are correct about the US having "zero responsibility" for actions of Israel. In reality, however, the US gets a ton of flak for supporting Israel, despite some of their questionable practices. Most of Israel's antagonists effectively equate Israel to the US. Is such a sentiment unfounded? Not entirely, considering that our politicians bend over backwards for Israel. I respect Israel, and I see the value in a healthy relationship with it. However, the US should be looking out for the best interests of Israel, which are _not_ the continued oppression of the Palestinian people. Many Israelis understand that a two-state solution is the only sustainable solution...unfortunately, Netanyahu does not realize that. The US needs to push Israel in the right direction, for the sake of our shared relationship (and Israel itself).

maratd 15y ago
Exactly what is stopping the Palestinians from having a functional state? They have been left to their own devices for quite a while now ... and what have they come up with? A militant party sworn to the destruction of their neighbor and another party so weak, it has no choice but to support the militant one. Yup! There's a recipe for peace! There is nothing Israel/US/UN/Europe/etc. can do to make the Palestinians create a decent government. Only the Palestinians can do that.
- jbm 15y ago
  While I won't bother bringing this topic onto the forum, you should be intelligent enough to know that this is an exaggeration and slanted view of the more complex reality.
  - maratd 15y ago
    I'm intelligent enough to know that if it there was a "more complex reality", you would have astutely pointed it out. The truth is that the situation is very simple and that those who try to veil reality in complex sophistry are simply parasites who wish to benefit through the misery of others. Shame on you!