I assume you would also deny US protection to Korea, the Saudis, pull out of NATO...
Foreign aid has to be evaluated in view of what we get for it. I'm not in favor of throwing money around to everyone who shows up with his hand out.
I would pull US troops out of Korea, gradually, although I certainly would not cut ties. And I would help them build them build up their military, much as we have helped Israel (the distinction is that Israel already has a second-to-none military).
Why should we risk the lives of US troops defending them? Their economy is strong, and they can build their own military (over time, I emphasize).
The joke is that we are over there to keep them from invading North Korea. They resent being an occupied country anyway. Fine. Let them fend for themselves.
As for the Saudis, I am not convinced we need their oil. Why hang around over there making enemies?
Our involvement in NATO has been measurably beneficial to the US, and I would not pull out (although, again, I would pull our troops home). I would even expand membership in NATO to Israel (yes, I know it stretches the definition of "North Atlantic" a bit, but that's ok).
...pretty much hide under the bed.
I don't consider what I've outlined as "hiding under the bed".
Aid does not make an iota of difference to the Federal budget. It does however, when it is used to purchase American goods, create American jobs.
Agreed. This is not a budget argument I am making.
Now lets suppose aid is pulled and Israel- vastly vastly outnumbered, fights valiantly, but to save themselves from certain death, resort to a nuclear option- would that be a positive for the US?
Why would Israel nuking Arab terrorists be anything but postive for the US? I know the Israelis have the cojones and wherewithal, and it would not bother me one bit. As I've said, I don't think we need middle eastern oil. If Israel wants to nuke Saddam (or whomever), let 'em.
I don't think you give Israel enough credit...I think the reason Israel has not yet wiped out the Arabs is because the Americans hold them back with threats of cutting off aid. Unlike South Korea, the Israeli military is damned good and the Israeli intelligence community is arguably the best in the world.
It's a Catch-22. The US is unable to use the aid as leverage to get Israel to do anything - as much as Israel may wish, and be able, to do so - because any threat to cut off aid raises the alarms of the American Jewish lobby. At the same time, I think Israel's hands are tied because of the threat of the aid being removed. Catch-22.
The end result is that the US continues pouring money into a hole without getting anything back (except the occasional Jonathon Pollard; how's that for gratitude?), generating enmity, and Israel is unable to properly deal with her enemies.
This knee jerk "pro-US, not pro-Israel" sentiment is so much garbage.
I am more confused by American Jews who put Israel's interests ahead of the US.
The thing I find most strange about it, is the intrinsic inferiority complex it manifests. Jews are less then 3% of the US population- it implies that we Jews are either Supermen (in which case it would be smart to be on our side) or that Gentiles are easily manipulated mindless idiots (is that your opinion). Neither is true.
I'm not sure how you drew that conclusion from anything I've written. Perhaps you should be less paranoid.
You don't get it.
Cojones yes, wherewithal is something else.
Without American military aid, Israel could not compete in an arms race with the Arab nations. The Arabs would attack and Israel would likely need to defend itself with the means at its disposal.
American aid, allows Israel to keep the potential war conventional. It is an American interest to do so.
Note this, if the Arabs were not bent on Israel's destruction, Israel would not need a dime of military aid. Civilian aid is already on the way out by agreement (bet you didn't know that).
I agree with you about the catch 22. American aid brings pressure on Israel which gives the Arabs hope of victory which requires a stronger Israel which requires American aid and on and on.
Put the blame where it belongs...on the Arabs. If they meant for peace, there would be peace and the US would need be only involved with Israel as a place Americans enjoy visiting.
I draw the conclusion you refer too by the inference from Buchanan and you that American support for Israel is not because of some sinister "amen Corner"(read Jewish) force manipulating the Congress.
I'm not sure how you drew that conclusion from anything I've written. Perhaps you should be less paranoid.
We must be speaking different languages.
You see paranoia in my writing? You should look in the mirror.
Maybe you should read it again. Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
What I thought I wrote, was that all this garbage from your side about an "Amen corner" that influences American policy is paranoia considering the fact that Jews are an insignificant number in the population. If you believe this infinitesimal number can bend the 97% majority to it will....paranoia may be an appropriate description.