02-07-2009, 02:42 AM
David Guyatt Wrote:To the extent that all nation states will do things which they consider to be in their national interest - but not necessarily in the interests of their allies - I agree with you both about Israel. But this only extends so far, I believe.
Israel is a client state of the US and depends entirely upon it financially and militarily. If the US were deadly serious about hindering a course of action Israel were taking, or planning to take, Israel would abandon that course of action or face the financial consequences and the likelihood of the weapons and intelligence tap being turned off. Of course, an independent sovereign state may still choose to proceed even with such threats hanging over them because it is felt that to do otherwise would be a greater jeopardy to their survival.
The point I am poorly labouring here, is the need always to focus on who is the true master and who is the servant. For me the US is the master. Whether this be with the presidents knowledge and blessing, or not, or with a nod and a wink at an intelligence level or with the Pentagon’s or State Departments blessing is arguable.
In regard to the USS Liberty incident, I was told years ago that there was more going on than met the eye. There was a US submersible (not submarine) in the area that recorded the attacks. US bombers carrying nuclear weapons were dispatched in a counter-strike - but were, thankfully, recalled at the last moment. A senior officer in the Pentagon stated “we were wearing brown underwear” for awhile.
http://www.deeppoliticsforum.com/forums/...645&page=5
Post 47
Quote:Only weeks after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Charles Krauthammer, the Washington Post columnist and mouthpiece of the neoconservatives, revealed the target list of the Bush administration as it set out on its post-9/11 war footing. The list included six nations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, and the Palestinian Authority. While the priority allotted to Afghanistan and subsequently Iraq was not in dispute, the remaining order was in flux.
Israel was given a free hand in dealing with the Palestinian Authority (PA). President George W. Bush completely shunned and isolated PA President Yasser Arafat, until he died under siege in November 2004. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was allowed to use brutal military tactics to crush the Al-Aqsa intifada, reoccupying much of the West Bank, and setting up hundreds of military checkpoints devastating Palestinian life and what remained of the PA.
From the foregoing it is apparent that it is the US who wields the power and Israel who tugs its forelock in obedience, even if that obedience is often grudging, sometimes petulant and in extraordinary cases withdrawn altogether.
David, I agree with you that the US has the power, in fact is the only country with the power to curb Israel's bellicosity but I think you're forgetting how difficult it has now become to achieve this.
Meirsheimer and Walt's book on the Israel lobby argues that the lobby has control over US foreign policy. Many agree with the analysis. Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert boasted that he forced the US to abstain from voting on UN Resolution 1860, which dealt with Israel's invasion of Gaza. The US Congress is stacked with Israel supporters. Politicians live in fear of offending the lobby and jeopardizing the all important funding from Jewish groups, who expect full value for their money. Worse still, they fear the wrath of the media, those unflinching accomplices to Israel's crimes, because they know the media can destroy their careers in short order.
In fact the Israel Lobby's influence extends far beyond the US, as the long line of subservient national leaders proves; Blair, Merkel, Harper, Howard et al. Watching John Howard's performances during the 2006 attack on Lebanon was quite amazing. When asked by repoters about the attack, Howard was almost hysterical in his defence of Israel, placing all the blame on "terrorists".
I'm afraid Israel tugs its forelock to no-one. They have a long history of assassinations to their credit, from UN envoys to Hamas leaders. They launch attacks on their neighbours with impunity, regularly killing civilians. Golda Mier once stated that the Palestinians don't exist. Gaza has become a concentration camp. Israel has no declared borders and leaders as far back as Ben-Gurion have expressed their desire for the realisation of Greater Israel --from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. War, killing, conquest and occupation have become part of their national identity.
It's probably a bit tough to expect Obama to clean up the mess from decades of neglect and poor leadership from his predecessors, but he's duty bound to start the process despite the grave political risks.