What's Israel Got to Do With It?

Townhall.com ^ | September 3, 2009 | Cliff May

[Kaslin]

Bill Gates famously called George Gilder "very stimulating even when I disagree with him, and most of the time I agree with him." The issues on which Gilder has staked out stimulating positions over more than 30 years as a writer and public intellectual are wide-ranging. They include the causes of poverty and the creators of wealth; the consequences of modern feminism; and the possibilities opened by the high-tech revolution. His arguments are often surprising, always provocative and generally controversial. His latest book is titled "The Israel Test." Much of what he says is dramatically different from what just about anyone else is saying. In particular: "Either the world, principally the United States, supports Israel, or Israel, one way or another, will be destroyed. There are no other realistic choices. And if Israel is destroyed, capitalist Europe will likely die as well, and America, as the epitome of productive and creative capitalism spurred by Jews, will be in jeopardy."

At this juncture, it is probably not just useful but necessary to note that George Gilder is not Jewish. In other words, the case he makes for Israel has no basis in religious or ethnic affiliation. At the same time, not being tethered to Israel or to Jews allows him to be blunt in a way few of Israel's Jewish defenders dare.

For example, he says that people "who obsessively denounce Jews have a name; they are Nazis." He does not hesitate to apply the term to Arab and Iranian leaders who exhibit such behavior. He contends, as well, that the "most dangerous form of Holocaust denial is not rejection of the voluminous evidence of long-ago Nazi crimes but incredulity toward the voluminous evidence of the new Holocaust being planned by Israel's current enemies. Two Iranian presidents have resolved to acquire nuclear weapons for the specific purpose of ‘wiping Israel off the map.' "

What can be done to prevent a second Holocaust and to beat back the jihadis at America's gates? Gilder believes, first, we need to recognize the nature and gravity of the threat; second, we need more resolve; and third we need more technology of the sort America and Israel have been most adept at producing.

It will require comprehensive missile defense and other high-tech means to prevent our sworn enemies from "infiltrating nuclear weapons into American cities, exploding them offshore near American ports, or detonating bombs above America's critical electronic infrastructure" - destroying that infrastructure with an EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) attack, an offensive capability that Iran, for one, is known to be developing.

"No nation in history has succeeded in preserving its integrity and sovereignty without meeting the challenge of ever-advancing armaments," Gilder points out. "But many American intellectuals still imagine that the United States is different, that it is possible or desirable for us to negotiate an ‘end to the arms race.' Our enemies will always want to end the arms race because they know only free nations can win it. ... An end to the arms race would deprive the capitalist countries of their greatest asset in combating barbarism."

Gilder is convinced that the forces targeting Israel and America also are "targeting capitalism and freedom everywhere." Capitalism, he says, requires freedom - for entrepreneurs, workers and consumers alike. All benefit, because, "under capitalism the achievements of one group provide markets and opportunities for others."

He goes on to make this unfashionable observation: Any democracy not resting on a solid capitalist foundation is doomed. "Without an expanding capitalist economy," he writes, "democracy becomes dominated by its zero-sum elements - by mobs and demagogues."

Over the centuries, such mobs and demagogues have, many times, turned against Jews. Today, Gilder adds, "they have turned against Israel." Sometimes, the root cause is simply greed and envy. But often it is the belief that "social justice" necessitates the dispossession of the "haves" and redistribution to the "have-nots" in the interest of "equality of outcome."

Over time, this can only lead to expanding poverty because it is based on a misunderstanding of what wealth is. Fundamentally, wealth inheres not in material resources but in "human minds and creations that thrive only in peace and freedom. In particular, the immiseration of the Middle East stems chiefly from the covetous and crippling idea among Arabs that Israel's wealth is not only the source of their humiliation but also the cause of their poverty."

Gilder has much more to say - more challenging arguments and perplexing questions than I can summarize in a brief column. But his underlying thesis is straightforward: The future of freedom, democracy, capitalism, America, the West and the tiny state of Israel are all tied together in a single knot. Israel is "not only a major source of Western technological supremacy and economic leadership - it is also the most vulnerable source of Western power and intelligence."

Israel is, Gilder contends, "not only the canary in the coal mine - it is also a crucial part of the mine." If Americans will not defend Israel, they will "prove unable to defend anything else. The Israel test is finally our own test of survival as a free nation."

[Quix]

EVEN NON JEWISH SECULARISTS

GET IT.

There’s Absolutely NO EXCUSE

for CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE FREEPERS

NOT getting it.

Thankfully, he’s wrong about Israel being destroyed.

GOD ALMIGHTY IS FAR FROM SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISES.

[fishtank]

Get ready to hear that RCC tradition or Genevan-Westminsterian tradition trumps Romans 9-10-and-11.

/sigh

[Quix]

PLEASE
PRAY FOR ISRAEL
AND FOR THE USA
OVER THE NEXT 20 DAYS
ANY EXTRA YOU CAN MANAGE.
EVIDENTLY
BIBI NETANYAHU
WILL BE DECIDING
WITHIN 2 WEEKS
WHETHER OR NOT
TO ATTACK IRAN.
I don't see how he
can avoid doing it.
IF he does it,
It will set off WWIII
escalatingly afterwards.
BLESSED BE
THE NAME OF THE LORD.
BLESSED BE
THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.
GOD HAVE MERCY ON ALL
LOVE HIM.

[Captain Kirk]

If he wants to attack leave us out of it. It is time to take both Israel and Arab countries off U.S. taxpayer welfare.

[DollyCali]

prayers for guidance & wisdom for those who decide... strength from God to do the right thing. Many of us see the age closing, not to be melodramatic, but things are so ripe for events to take place

[Quix]

. . . I see it more as . . .

certain . . . vacuous orbs on short stalks on robotized frames . . .

are ensconsed within OThuga et al’s oligarchic dark places.

Having been deprived of the light of day for sooooo long . . .

all their mouths and fingers can mutter is . . .

we see nothing.
we know nothing.
we do nothing but murmmer and mutter irrationally and incoherently.
we think nothing.
we are suicidally ignorant.

[Quix]

Biblical ignorance is suicidal.

[Quix]

INDEED.

Overripe, even.

[Captain Kirk]

Where is the United States and its obligation to provide tax support for Israel mentioned in the Bible? Hey....if you want to DONATE your paycheck to Israel, that's your right. Just keep your cotton pickin' hands out of my pocket!!

If folks who write about this topic here devoted even 1 percent of their energy to publizing the plight of Iraqi Christians who have been disappearing since 2003, they would strike a great blow for justice.

[Sender]

I would agree with this author on almost every point except one; that if Israel does not have America's help, it will ultimately be destroyed.

Certainly the loss of America's help would bring untold troubles and aggression toward Israel. However, if one has faith and believes in the covenant with Israel, it is not America who will ultimately prevent the destruction of Israel. I would be more worried about the fate of America if she deserts Israel.

Forces are arrayed across the globe who want to invade and occupy Israel and the oil-rich states. They have tried several times, with Soviet backing, and yet failed. Each time, David slays Goliath. Is this due to divine intervention, American aid, inferior Arab forces or what? I tend to think it is due to the superior Israeli forces who are fighting for their very survival. They have no other option but to win every time.

If America deserts Israel and the big war comes, I believe there will be some form of divine intervention. Israel may be invaded and ravaged, but will not be destroyed. Something Big will happen. Faith is the evidence of things unseen.

[Quix]

Iraqi Christians and their plight are horrific and the USA is complicit in their troubles.

That said . . . how we treat Israel is crucial . . .

when we finally force Israel to divide Jerusalem one more time . . .

you can expect the USA to be divided dramatically and wholesale.

The Great Lake above Chicago will empty into the new Gulf of Mexico extension all the way up the Mississippi valley.

That’s just for starters.

Life in the USA will never be the same. The USA will be disciplined with in a hair’s breadth of being obliterated.

[Quix]

GOD ALMIGHTY
SAID
THOSE WHO BLESS ISRAEL
WILL BE BLESSED.
THOSE WHO CURSE ISRAEL
WILL BE CURSED.
I've NEVER found it
WISE
to argue or disagree
with
ALMIGHTY GOD.

[fishtank]

Are you sure that you aren't Jean-Luc Picard, instead?

[Joya]

See “The Vision: The Trigger” dated Aug. 25

http://www.prayersforthepeople.com/

[Captain Kirk]

Thank you for agreeing about the plight of Iraqi Christians. Of course, the U.S. continues to be complicit because it is protecting the Shi'ite government in Iraq which was responsible for cleansing many of these Christians. Please note that Israel is ALSO complicit because it ALSO supports this govenrment.

I note that you did not quote a Bible verse describing any of these things that will happen to the U.S. if stops forking over tax money to a government dominated by agnostics and atheists. Besides, Israel is perfectly free to do whatever wants on ITS OWN DIME.

[Captain Kirk]

LOL....and your point is....what?

[Quix]

THANKS.

[Quix]

A Bible verse was down thread shortly.

There’s another verse where God notes that He’d trade all Creation for the children of Jacob.

Yes, Israel is apostate secular rebellious and Godless.

God notes all that and declares HE WILL CLEAN THEM UP; MAKE HIMSELF REAL TO THEM.

FOR HIS GLORY.

IT’S HIS GIG.

Folks need to be very cautious about dinking around with

GOD’S GIG.

God will reward all the Iraqi Christians more than abundantly for all their suffering as well as be with them in the midst of it . . .

as He will all the USA Christians in the midst of looming suffering coming down the Pike to neighborhoods near . . . everyone???

[Tolik]

Cliff May reviews George Gilder's book "The Israel Test."

... Gilder is convinced that the forces targeting Israel and America also are "targeting capitalism and freedom everywhere." Capitalism, he says, requires freedom - for entrepreneurs, workers and consumers alike. All benefit, because, "under capitalism the achievements of one group provide markets and opportunities for others."

He goes on to make this unfashionable observation: Any democracy not resting on a solid capitalist foundation is doomed. "Without an expanding capitalist economy," he writes, "democracy becomes dominated by its zero-sum elements - by mobs and demagogues."

Over the centuries, such mobs and demagogues have, many times, turned against Jews. Today, Gilder adds, "they have turned against Israel." Sometimes, the root cause is simply greed and envy. But often it is the belief that "social justice" necessitates the dispossession of the "haves" and redistribution to the "have-nots" in the interest of "equality of outcome."

Over time, this can only lead to expanding poverty because it is based on a misunderstanding of what wealth is. Fundamentally, wealth inheres not in material resources but in "human minds and creations that thrive only in peace and freedom. In particular, the immiseration of the Middle East stems chiefly from the covetous and crippling idea among Arabs that Israel's wealth is not only the source of their humiliation but also the cause of their poverty."

Gilder has much more to say - more challenging arguments and perplexing questions than I can summarize in a brief column. But his underlying thesis is straightforward: The future of freedom, democracy, capitalism, America, the West and the tiny state of Israel are all tied together in a single knot. Israel is "not only a major source of Western technological supremacy and economic leadership - it is also the most vulnerable source of Western power and intelligence."

Israel is, Gilder contends, "not only the canary in the coal mine - it is also a crucial part of the mine." If Americans will not defend Israel, they will "prove unable to defend anything else. The Israel test is finally our own test of survival as a free nation."

Nailed It!
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[fishtank]

Kirk never ran from a fight.

We need to stand with Israel.

[geologist]

Nothing is too hard for God.

I trust God will protect His people. It may be only a remnant is to be saved; but His will ... will be. Earthquakes, the second coming of Jesus, in Jerusalem could happened at any moment.

First the number of gentiles must be reached. Perhaps there are only a few more to come to the Lord.

If you do not know Jesus ... if you have not surrendered your life to Him ... time is short. When He comes ... you want to be ready.

Read the Bible ... God will meet you there.

God bless Israel and bring peace to them.... In the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

THANKS.

[Captain Kirk]

Kirk never picked the pockets of other people to pay for his “fight.” BTW, speaking of not “running” from a fight, when do you plan your trip of Israel so you can put your OWN body on the line?

[Captain Kirk]

God bless Israel and bring peace to them

Even as you are asking God to bless the secular and atheist government of Irael, perhaps you can also ask Him to bless the Iraqi Christians who have been decimated from their land since 2003.

[geologist]

God choose Israel and called Israel “the apple of His eye”.

Many are secular now. From the beginning they were and are a stiff necked people. Disobedient and for the disobedience they were time and again taken into captivity and other distresses. They tend to live worldly, fleshly, every man deciding what is right in his own eyes.

Nevertheless, there is a remnant to be saved. Read the scriptures including ... of the last days.

Watch and see.

I pray for God to bring/draw all people to Him that follow Jesus Christ and believe in Him. No matter the nationality. Thank You, Father that You hear us always. Thank You Father for the Holy Spirit in us. Forgive us our sins and have mercy on us. Amen

[Captain Kirk]

God choose Israel and called Israel “the apple of His eye”.

That was in the Old Testament. A lot has happened since then. Some 2000 years ago, the Christians (including the oppressed Christians cleansed with OUR TAX MONEY IN IRAQ) also became the apple of his eye. Regardless of what you think, what have you done to publicize their plight???? Anything??? If not, why not?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[geologist]

Foreign Aid is largely misspent and not used for the reason given for America to send aid ... starving people in plight, AIDS treatments, education, etc. Yassar Arafat had billions of Dollars in his bank accounts ... that was money given to support his causes for the Palestine's,...

America is unwise to not have requirements for what happens to the money given ... though it seems , no matter where we give it ... Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, etc. they continually allow a very small part of the aid to reach the people.

It is a scandal and Shame and a farce ... including the UN... the whole mess ought to not receive such unfettered aid. MO

[epow]

Romans 11

The Remnant of Israel

1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? 4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

"God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." 9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

"The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

[Captain Kirk]

too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Bingo. He is describing Christians, including, of course, Iraqi Christians (who have remained loyal for 2000 years!) Why not shed a tear or too for them as you are promoting the atheists and secularists in Isael?

[Sender]

Most of the atheist and secularist Jews are here in America, voting for Obama and railing against Jewish settlements.

Do you really think that most of the population of Israel, the holy land itself, is composed of atheists and secularists?

Your concern for the Christians in the area is commendable. We should all learn more about their plight. But never give up on Israel.

[Captain Kirk]

Your concern for the Christians in the area is commendable. We should all learn more about their plight. But never give up on Israel.

Thanks but its is not just caring about their plight. It is opposing the policies that caused and perpetuated their plight such as an unnecessary war with a regime that was relatively tolerant of Iraqi Christians and the proping up the current Shi'ite regime. Please note that Israel was a major cheerleader for both these policies which led the decimation of one of the oldest Christian populations in the world. Do you think that the Israeli leadership cares about the fate of these Christians? I see no evidence that that they do.

[Outership]

“What’s Israel Got to Do With It?”

Everything.

Blessed be the Name and Word and Will of Yahweh.

[Sender]

I have no guilt or second thoughts about getting rid of Saddam and his bloody regime. I was always doubtful that a peaceful, democratic state would emerge from the Muslim rubble in Iraq, since the Sunni and Shia hate each other, and all of them hate Christians and Jews. Saddam only kept them from killing one another through sheer terror. If there was a relatively tolerant atmosphere for Iraqi Christians, it was only because Saddam saw them as no threat, and the more radical Islamic groups feared the wrath of Saddam. Everyone feared the wrath of Saddam.

I don't think the Israeli government had any particular desire for Christians to suffer in their calculations. Regardless, it is not the Israeli government that I care about, it is the people.

[Outership]

You should have called your Screename: Code Pink.

[SunkenCiv]

George Gilder... latest book is titled "The Israel Test." Much of what he says is dramatically different from what just about anyone else is saying. In particular: "Either the world, principally the United States, supports Israel, or Israel, one way or another, will be destroyed. There are no other realistic choices. And if Israel is destroyed, capitalist Europe will likely die as well, and America, as the epitome of productive and creative capitalism spurred by Jews, will be in jeopardy." At this juncture, it is probably not just useful but necessary to note that George Gilder is not Jewish. In other words, the case he makes for Israel has no basis in religious or ethnic affiliation. At the same time, not being tethered to Israel or to Jews allows him to be blunt in a way few of Israel's Jewish defenders dare. For example, he says that people "who obsessively denounce Jews have a name; they are Nazis."

[SunkenCiv]

---

The Israel Test by George Gilder Kindle edition

---

[Shadowstrike]

Not being smart or snarky, just asking....
You do realize that all christians are descended from the tribes of Israel right?

IF Israel attacks, it is our DUTY as Crhistians to support that decision.

[Shadowstrike]

Crhistians = CHRISTIANS.

Forgive the typo

[Just mythoughts]

Israel is, Gilder contends, "not only the canary in the coal mine - it is also a crucial part of the mine." If Americans will not defend Israel, they will "prove unable to defend anything else. The Israel test is finally our own test of survival as a free nation."

Given who Americans have elected to be their leaders I think there is more than one canary in the mine. At the rate this bunch of liberal communists are destroying US we are on the horizon of not even being able to defend ourselves let alone anyone else.

[Marysecretary]

America will suffer some kind of disaster, as she did when the Jews were moved out of Gaza (Katrina) if we do anything to hurt Israel. We have been joined at the hip by God to protect Israel. If Israel goes, so do we.

[Marysecretary]

You’re right.

[Marysecretary]

Before the war started over in Iraq, I spoke about how those Christians whom for the most part were left alone by Hussein (who was not a religious man) would be persecuted and killed by the islamis.

[Marysecretary]

I agree, Sender. Katrina happened because the Jews were forced to leave Gaza. Can’t help but wonder what else will happen here if we don’t back Israel. I don’t see our president doing that.

[Marysecretary]

I’m afraid you’re right. I’ve read a number of prophecies regarding that earthquake dividing the US. WAKE UP FOLKS.

[Marysecretary]

Amen, Geologist.

[Marysecretary]

How do you know we don’t Captain? All we can do right now is pray for them. It’s coming to America as well, if Obama has his way.

[Quix]

THX FOR YOUR KIND REPLY.

[Captain Kirk]

Just a quick question: how many times by comparison have you prayed in the last years for a change in our policy which has led to decimination of your Christian brothers and sisters in faith in Iraq?