Posted on 11/13/2006 5:53:07 AM PST by jome
There used to be a time when Israel had no other "superpower partner" to align herself with other than the US.
Today, that is not the case. Although few Israelis realize it, Israel has strategic options that it didn't have 15 years ago. In many respects, Russia is a much more suitable partner for Israel than the US.
If Israel switched her alliance to be more politically and economically friendly with Russia -- and less dependent on the US -- Russia might be less inclined to support the regimes in Iran and Syria.
This will strengthen Russia and enable Israel to find more common ground with its neighbours. The moment Israel aligns herself away from the US towards Russia -- American influence in our region will diminish.
Today, Israel pays a heavy price for its close alliance with the US. Israel is perceived as "America's sidekick" rather than an independent nation which serves its own interests. During the end of the second week of July 06, Arab Knesset member Talab El-Sana was quoted in the Israeli press as stating:
"The war in Lebanon is an American war. The Lebanese, Palestinians and Israelis are paying the price. Israel is nothing more than a US subcontractor, doing America's work in the Middle East," said, one of the rally organizers." The United States is using Israelis and Lebanese to further its own ends. The US has nullified Israel's ability to make independent decisions."
He's absolutely right, but it doesn't have to be this way.
The events that transpired after 911 following the US's declaration of its "war on terrorism" didn't make Israel stronger -- despite the bear hug it got from the US ruling elite. Today Israel is more isolated and its domestic security situation more precarious than every before. Nearly six decades after the state was established, one of the reasons why Israel is still at war with its neighbours is as much to do with the need for the US to "intervene" into the domestic affairs of the region -- than due to "radical Islamic fundamentalism."
The US's sole global interest is the steady secure of oil. To attain this goal, it needs to have the Middle East kept in a constant state of turmoil.
Israel's interest is peace with its neighbours. Peace is not in the interests of the economic interests that dictate US Middle East foreign policy. This divergence of national interests has never been presented to the Israeli public. Despite the claim that "Israel and the US share the same interests" nothing could be further from the truth.
It is time Israel considered its other "superpower option." The way to neutralize Israel's main enemies in the region is to convince their backer that Israel is more valuable of an asset than they are. Israel could do this by moving away from the US and towards Russia.
Nobody hates the Russians -- nor should they. By contrast, many countries in the world (except Israel and Tony Blair) hate the US -- and by extension -- Israel. The US is economically weak -- devoid of energy sources. The only question is how long it will be able to cling to its superpower status.
In any new future alignment of the world's superpowers, it will likely be Russia, China and India against the US. In that scenario, Israel definitely has a much brighter future aligned economically and politically with these rising powers, especially Russia, than with the Americans.
While the US is a crumbling empire, Russian is doing very well economically, blessed with rich deposits of all natural resources and basic and precious metals. Unlike the US, Russia doesn't have to play games to ensure the flow of oil. Unfortunately, Israel gets sucked into the American orbit because of the "war on terrorism" that it has foisted on the world to justify its imperialistic goals.
In short -- Israel has been backing the wrong horse.
Russia, on the other hand, can be a real partner for Israel -- on many fronts. Firstly, New York is more than twice the distance to Tel Aviv than Moscow and thus it is easier for each other's business community to meet and share ideas.
As a market for Israeli goods and services, Russia is much more attractive than the US. The future of Russia's consumer market will be valued by how much Russia earns by selling its natural resources in world markets. For Israeli businesspeople, entrepreneurs and industrialists, Russia represents a very attractive future market. Whatever Russia needs, Israel can provide. Israeli expertise and technology are of greater value to Russia than to the US. Israel can be instrumental in raising the quality of life of everyday Russians by upgrading Russian industry and helping that country develop higher quality and more efficient services to its people. In the areas of science and technology, the two countries strengths are completely complementary.
From a commercial and economic perspective, a partnership of Israel and Russia is more valuable to Israel and whatever the US can offer Israel.
Israel will never be as equal of a partner to the Americans as it can be with the Russians because the Russians need Israeli expertise and know-how. America does not.
It's time for a change, for a fresh start with a new partner. Israel should tell the United States: "It was nice for a while, and thanks for the memories. But you and I together doesn't do much for me anymore. You are stunting my growth. I want a divorce so I can marry Russia."
All it is, is letting off steam..... In this case, it is probably becuase of the resurection of Mr. James Baker III (maybe it should be said the IV?) and his report which is supposedly telling the US to dump Israel.....
There is NO way that Israel cold do this - even if it wanted to.
In the end, without going into the subject too much, it is a non-starter. It is so full of wholes that it cannot stand in any kind of real analysis.
Like one reply here said... Israel and the US are natural allies.
Why not divorce the nations of the world and "remarry" HaShem?
It's the stupid idea that Israel is just another country like any other (and the realpolitik policies flowing from this assumption) that are the cause of all the trouble.
This guy is a putz. He doesn't realize that:
Israel has nothing for Russia in comparison with the Arabs. No oil, no geostrategic position, no willingness (or ability) of its leaders to really screw the US.
Russia suddenly switching sides on an issue of this importance isn't going to happen - not after 50+ years of backing the Arabs. Their credibility would be destroyed, and they'd make automatic enemies of over 20 nations.
Further, Russia is already embroiled with a bunch of Moslems in a very nasty war, and that they've got some 50-60 million Moslems within the borders of the old USSR - these are not things that make it in Russia's interest to suddenly screw the Arabs in the one area where they are unified - hatred of Israel.
This guy is either some ultra-right wing fanatic, upset that this country actually has its own foreign policy and interests, or some ultra-left wing fanatic who just hates he US. Either way, he speaks for an incredibly small number of Israelis.
What a wonderful idea. Israel tells America good bye and saves the US much cost and grief. They then get the Russians to send 4 or 5 billion dollars a year in aid, park several aircraft carriers in the region to keep the Muslims in line, supply military high tech, and constantly go to bat for the Israelis around the world. Oh wait. Russia does not do foreign aid any more, they do not have aircraft carriers or even a Black Sea fleet, they lack military high tech, and they are not a superpower any more. Israel would not last a year without US support and the Israeli government knows it.
This is being posted with uncanny regularity and being discussed in all earnesty, while being a sheer provocation. This is not the opinion of the Israeli government or the people of Israels. Why do people get so agitated over a figment of somebody's imagination?
There won't be any such thing as Israeli life if they partner up with these two despotic regimes.
This guy is freaking nuts.
dude.......why did i post this?????????????[:O]
Are you having a laugh????
Same thing with the Chinese.... But I don't see it happening.
Russia, China, and India would side with the Mussies in any conflict.
Yes, I have to eat humble pie here. I read some of his other contributions and he is absolutely nuts.
I have been to Israel several times on business and I have never encountered an ungrateful Israeli. If this guy wants to team up with Russia, Israel will soon look like Cuba. The US provides $4 billion of aid every year to Israel plus Americans of Jewish and Christian faiths provide hundreds of millions in private donations.
Russia is losing population. He should at least hitch his wagon to a country with oil that is gaining in population and has lots of oil and is even closer than Russia, maybe Iran.
"Russia, China, and India would side with the Mussies in any conflict".
well russia and china...YES..
INDIA....HELL NOOO..
Yes. That is already apparent. The transparent desperation of the opinion piece shows the characteristic liberal flight from reality. Russia is no friend of Israel. And never will be.
I'd rather support an alliance of the US-UK-Australia-Japan-Russia-China-India-Europe against the Islamic world.
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