Subservient Superpower
My view of the lopsided and unnatural relationship between the United States and Israel has been spelled out in some detail over the past few years: there is nothing in it for us Americans but grief and the possibility of yet another unwinnable war in the Middle East. The Biden visit to Israel in which he was deliberately given the step-and-fetchit treatment should convince every American that the Bibi Netanyahus of this world will always regard U.S. interests as being of no concern whatsoever. Anyone who reads what happened last week differently is being delusional. Even the Israeli media is arguing that finally the Israeli government has gone too far.
The real indication of whether or not the White House will or can begin to break the chains that bind will come at the end of this week when AIPAC holds its annual conference. AIPAC is keenly aware of the need to pull the American colossus back in line and will do so by playing the evil Iran card over and over again and by demanding obeisance from a long line of politicians and media pundits. The AIPAC lovefest will conclude with an address by Hillary Clinton next Monday. If Hillary actually talks tough to the assembled Israel Firsters it would be a genuine hallelujah moment. But I’m not betting on it. Most likely it will be a “let us reason together as friends” speech and we will move on to the next phase of wag the dog.
For once Obama’s leftist background may be of help. There is no love lost between the hard left and the Zionists. Even the opportunist left of Emanuel and the other Chicago cronies can see the damage done by this dysfunctional attachment of this parasitic power.
And before the Israel apologetics begin, how about this? Even if our “relationship” with Israel served some purpose, Does this purpose counterbalance the harm caused by the appearance of a craven, absolute subservience to another country? There is no doubt in the minds of friends and enemies alike that we are a power who can be rolled. How can anything the Israelis offer be worth that terrible cost? And if they were and ally, why would they foster rather than soften that impression.
The Israelis are high stakes gamblers and they will press their advantage until the end. I hope that end is harder for them than us.
Phil Giraldi said:
“If Hillary actually talks tough to the assembled Israel Firsters it would be a genuine hallelujah moment. But I’m not betting on it. Most likely it will be a ‘let us reason together as friends’ speech and we will move on to the next phase of wag the dog.”
Probably. Indeed almost certainly. But a very big cat has nevertheless been let out of the bag in the form of Obama’s administration now openly observing that the I/P issue is of enormous consequence (“dangerous” was Biden’s reported word to Bibi) to the U.S. in our Middle East affairs.
Changes in things like this normally move slowly, but if there’s a change of any importance it’s officially acknowledging this by the U.S. even if it was obvious otherwise. Let no-one talk now in a vacuum about the right or wrong of … Gaza, or Israel keeping its settlements or giving them up, or the same with East Jerusalem, or … whatever, without confronting the *only* relevant question to us as to where *our* interests lie.
Israel is entitled to pursue its own, what’s been most starkly missing in action is the strange amnesia forgetting that the U.S. has the same right. The dream of Israel and AIPAC and etc., but maybe no more, or at least not so much.
Hard to put this toothpaste back in the tube. (And how satisfying that Biden apparently pulled it out and squirted it right on Netanyahu’s phiz too, in person. Never thought I’d like He of Hairplug Infamy, but there it is: The Democratic Party standing up for U.S. honor and rights.)
Quincy Jones told a story of how when he started in show business, it did not take him long to realize that “schwatze” was not a compliment. Does Obama realize that Netanyahu really does not want a change in the status quo? Maybe it is time Obama made a public statement about the Gaza blockade, which is continuing despite the cessation of rocket attacks.
AIPAC, AEI, and other Israeli shill organizations in the U.S. are now hurting, more than helping, Israel; and abetting, not diminishing, genuine anti-Semitism in America.
[...] Subservient Superpower Today the path of total dictatorship in the United States can be laid by strictly legal means, unseen and unheard by the Congress, the President, or the people. Outwardly we have a Constitutional government. We have operating within our government and political system, another body representing another form of government – a bureaucratic elite. – Senator William Jenner, 1954 [...]
One can only hope that the standard shibboleth, ‘anti-semite!’ hurled at those who critize Israeli politics, has finally lost most of its potency.
But AIPAC is still ready to wave that flag, and to finance campaigns of retribution against members of congress who don’t fall into lock-step with policies they approve.
Sometimes it seems that many of the most ardent Zionists live here in America, perhaps easing their guilt at living outside Israel?
PS In a few days I and my Israeli-born wife leave again for her native country. It’ll be my 36th visit and I look forward to visiting relatives and friends, playing chess on the beach, and relishing the wonderful cultural life of that amazing country.
[...] Subservient Superpower My view of the lopsided and unnatural relationship between the United States and Israel has been spelled out in some detail over the past few years: there is nothing in it for us Americans but grief and the possibility of yet another unwinnable war in the Middle East. The Biden visit to Israel in which he was deliberately given the step-and-fetchit treatment should convince every American that the Bibi Netanyahus of this world will always regard U.S. interests as being of no concern whatsoever. Anyone who reads what happened last week differently is being delusional. Even the Israeli media is arguing that finally the Israeli government has gone too far. [...]
Secretary Clinton need only utter two words to put US-Israeli relations back on a more appropriately-leveled playing field: “Symington Amendment”.
That federal law renders much of US foreign aid for Israel illegal, and it’s high time somebody reminded our administration of that all-important fact.
Prediction: This latest episode was theater worked out at the highest level in both governments to give the Obama administration domestic cover to publicly chastize Israel (while still supporting it with money), so we can claim to be att odds with them and still be on the same side against Iran.
As I mention in one of Larison’s posts, Israel is trying to get 100 of our latest aircraft, the F35 Joint Strike Fighter. If the administration was serious, they’d tell the Israelis to go build their own instruments of aggression. That would get their attention,…fast.