America Cannot Afford to Confront Israel

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jun 3, 2010 at 19:23

In observing the half-empty, half full glass analogy for defining the distinction between Dr. Pipe's understanding and this reader's, the policial actions of the current American Administration's attitude towards Israel, versus the attempted continuation by Israel of having to deal with the latest missteps taken towards the government of PM Netanyahu by the American Administration should be more than enough for going beyond cautious worry and going to DEFCON X.

If all one had to worry about was the former association the American President had with the Rev. J. Wright and the anti-Israel influences that may bode, then one could hope that a process of disassociation (thrown under the bus) and a relearning of the truth in developing a more understanding position when it comes to Israel might be anticipated. Unfortunately, this is not the case; Dr. Pipes half-full glass is ready to shatter because one cannot put something hot into a chilled container.

The series of hot provocations in deepening the mistrust of intentions against Israel is not by circumstance or happenstance, but of a direct result of a progressive misunderstanding of the relationship America SHOULD be having with Israel; and the deterioration of that understanding, caused not by negligence, but by a determination to undermine Israel's position in the world venue, that in doing so the destabilizing effect will allow for the continued promoting of an agenda in the Middle East that does not recognize the sovereignty of Israel on the one hand, or the legitimate possession of Jerusalem by the Israeli government on the other. That Israel has managed to maintain a relative cool in the face of all the hostilies directed toward her is amazing, yet has come to its breaking point.

Enough has been seen that should be a warning of things to come, and though it seems like it has been dragged out, the results are forthcoming. The suggestion that American troops be deployed in the area is troubling, for if we maintain a back-up position to the defense of Israel without our occupation, then the deterrence is sufficient to keep things from going totally catastrophic. In-theatre American operations, however, presents the temptation that could force a different response if American troops are included in the targeting in order to evoke a greater hostility towards Israel (like the United Nations in Lebanon, where Israeli aircraft were chracterized as hostile to the UN). We need only look at the marines lost in Lebanon in the eighties to realize how bad that can go. Again, unfortunately, this too may be the result of not realizing the position the enemies of Israel place America in. We are irretrievably interlocked in the enemies' eyes, and not understanding this for the sake of continuing the bad politics of a two state solution will result in a price we cannot afford to pay, even if there was no multi-trillion dollar debt.

The American Jewish sector may have been a definitive factor in the last election, but eventually some of that group have to come to the realization that all is not as it seems. Hopefully that realization does arrive before it is too late, and the relationship with Israel is stabilized enough until a better understanding of our common community is reacquired.

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