Firstly, I'd like to commend the Independent for publishing such an evenhanded article. On the other hand, some of the online comments are very extreme. I can't believe that these are coming from members of the local community.
I'd like to address the comments written by send2shepherd. send2shepard's basic thesis can be distilled down to two assertions: (1) 9/11 and the War on Terror (if not most of the problems that the US faces today) are the result of our relationship with and support for the state of Israel. (2) The benefits that the US receives from its relationship with Israel are not commensurate with the costs.
I believe that both of these claims are false.
Firstly, there is absolutely no connection between 9/11 and our relationship with Israel. Until relatively recently, Al-Qaeda had no interest in Israel. As per the Wikipedia article on Al-Qaeda, "Al-Qaeda's [primary] objectives include the end of foreign influence in Muslim countries and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate." Capturing Jerusalem and ridding it of non-Muslims has become an Al-Qaeda objective (or at least part of their rhetoric), but this fairly recent development appears to be part of the Al-Qaeda effort to recruit Palestinians to the cause.
Let me point out just two of the benefits that the US receives from its relationship with Israel:
(1) The United States nominally has four allies in the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey), but three of these four countries routinely vote against the US in the United Nations. Also, only Israel and Turkey permit US forces to use bases on their territory, and it is unclear whether Turkey will continue to permit such access in the future.
(2) There is currently a delicate balance between pro-western/pro-US and anti-western/anti-US countries in the Middle East. If Israel were to be defeated by her many enemies, this balance would shift decisively against us.
On the subject of foreign aid, it should be mentioned that the US has provided substantial foreign aid to both Israel and Egypt. In the case of Israel, the benefits are tangible. (For example, part of the US aid to Israel has been spent on joint technology development leading to improved US military systems). On the other hand, aid to Egypt has generated little or no benefit for the US. Even anti-US rhetoric in the official Egyptian press continues unabated.
I'm not sure where to send send2shepard; perhaps the public library would be a good start.
Previous Month
Posted on November 25 at 11:01 p.m.
Firstly, I'd like to commend the Independent for publishing such an evenhanded article. On the other hand, some of the online comments are very extreme. I can't believe that these are coming from members of the local community.
I'd like to address the comments written by send2shepherd. send2shepard's basic thesis can be distilled down to two assertions: (1) 9/11 and the War on Terror (if not most of the problems that the US faces today) are the result of our relationship with and support for the state of Israel. (2) The benefits that the US receives from its relationship with Israel are not commensurate with the costs.
I believe that both of these claims are false.
Firstly, there is absolutely no connection between 9/11 and our relationship with Israel. Until relatively recently, Al-Qaeda had no interest in Israel. As per the Wikipedia article on Al-Qaeda, "Al-Qaeda's [primary] objectives include the end of foreign influence in Muslim countries and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate." Capturing Jerusalem and ridding it of non-Muslims has become an Al-Qaeda objective (or at least part of their rhetoric), but this fairly recent development appears to be part of the Al-Qaeda effort to recruit Palestinians to the cause.
Let me point out just two of the benefits that the US receives from its relationship with Israel:
(1) The United States nominally has four allies in the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey), but three of these four countries routinely vote against the US in the United Nations. Also, only Israel and Turkey permit US forces to use bases on their territory, and it is unclear whether Turkey will continue to permit such access in the future.
(2) There is currently a delicate balance between pro-western/pro-US and anti-western/anti-US countries in the Middle East. If Israel were to be defeated by her many enemies, this balance would shift decisively against us.
On the subject of foreign aid, it should be mentioned that the US has provided substantial foreign aid to both Israel and Egypt. In the case of Israel, the benefits are tangible. (For example, part of the US aid to Israel has been spent on joint technology development leading to improved US military systems). On the other hand, aid to Egypt has generated little or no benefit for the US. Even anti-US rhetoric in the official Egyptian press continues unabated.
I'm not sure where to send send2shepard; perhaps the public library would be a good start.
PMF
On Teach-In On Israel