Israel must decide what is good for Israel - and the US must decide what is good for the US

Submitted by Sully (United States), May 19, 2006 at 02:41

The arguments in this article are interesting and even persuasive, but that doesn't change the fact that the US can and should advise, but it cannot and should not attempt to guide Israel in a matter central to its own survival.

And I wonder about some of the arguments.

Re Gaza - How is it worse now that Israel has withdrawn? And for whom is it worse? It's worse for Palestinians and a little angel sometimes comes into my head and makes me feel bad; but then this nagging picture of Palestinians dancing in the streets on 9/11 and granting pensions to the mothers of suicide bombers comes into my head. . . and a little devil reminds me that what comes around goes around and maybe folks even learn something from that.

Re Jordan and the Hashemites - Nicer folks than most middle eastern tyrants. They marry modern sounding and sympathetic women and they employ sharp public relations folks; but I'm remembering Gulf War One and 1967 and thinking they look out for themselves and try to grab for themselves when it suits them, so they should look out for themselves now.

Re Supply lines across Jordan - If American army planners have made forces reliant or exclusively dependent on a significant supply line across Jordan I wonder about their sanity, just as I would wonder about their sanity if they don't have contingency plans to guard against potential treachery (or the sudden destabilization) of any other Arab regime.

Israel is a real democracy and the vast majority of its population has been a staunch friend of the US. Advise them, yes. Help them, yes. Coordinate with them, yes.

But as to directing them or coercing them - that's not how friends treat friends. And anyway, trying to do so isn't even practical or realistic because Israel is right in the crosshairs and under the gun, so there is no way it will agree to something that is not in line with its judgement as to its long term best interest.

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