The US focus should be on protecting Israel

Submitted by Michael S, Dec 20, 2016 at 06:03

Hi, Robert

I wouldn't trust a Kurd, any farther than I can throw him. They participated in the genocide of the Assyrian Christians during WWI, putting them in the same league as the Turks, Iranians and Arabs.

In my opinion, American policy in the Middle East should focus on one thing only: the survival and safety of Israel. Even oil reserves are no longer a sufficient motivation for us to get involved in the donneybrooks there.

Donald Trump seems to be persuaded along these lines as well. He is, of course, disgusted by ISIS -- all the more so, because they are essentially a US invention kept in power by our Turkish allies -- and had said that since the Russians would like to clobber them, we should let them. The only danger there; is that if the Russians win, so do Iran and Hizbullah (Israel's most dangerous local enemies). That seems to have been the tack of Obama and Netanyahu, who have tended to support Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The result has been a confusing, hard-to-explain US policy in the area.

The good news, is that the situation is so fluid there, and the players so treacherous, no commitments that we or anyone can make are taken seriously: Today, we are supporting the Rojava Kurds against ISIS; Tormorrow, we may be supporting the Turks against the Rojava Kurds. Today, the Russians have a hudna with the Turks; but this can fall apart at a moment's notice. The only constant, is that Israel must fight for its very survival, against numerous enemies: That is where we should be focused.

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