Not true. It is inconceivable that we would not want a US-Western world friendly democracy on the doorstep of the worlds oil supplies. I recall when the former Soviet Union wanted to control the worlds oil supply. There are many scenarios then and in the future (China) where oil supply could require a response of such magnitude, that operations involving the State of Israel would be vital. Iran is also a threat to more than just Israel. Should we take out Irans nuke capability, Israel will be flying sorties as well, you can bet on it.
"Things only started going south for us really in 1967"
Oh, when we supported Israel (very little) against Arab aggression.
"I never saw Israeli troops in Somalia, or the Balkans.."
Oh and where were the Arabs you support?? Didnt see them there. On the contrary, Arabs have been engaging in genocide on the African continent and in the middle east. Funny, No Israeli genocide. But you would rather have us care what the Arabs think?
"We are seen as Israel's puppet master.."
By Arab nations who are ruled by tyrants, oppress their people, deny the most basic of human rights, commit genocide on sometimes their own people as well as neighbors, deny women basic rights, deny freedom of speech, religion and whose culture hasn't advanced beyond the 14th century. The tyrants maintain control of the Arab street by diversionary hatred of Israel. 1/4 of the world hates us because they live in oppression. So, this is no reason to bend over for them. GWB is right, freedom is the correct prescription.
Pakistani M48 tanks helped rescue the Rangers and 10th Mountain Division soldiers were carried in Malaysian APCs
The Jordanians and Pakistanis sent troops to the Balkans and the UAE deployed a helicopter lift battalion to Kosovo
If the arab nations hadn't needed the Soviets as a source of weapons the Russians would never have gotten a look in. The Russian influence in the area was zero before the creation of the State of Israel. Athiest communism was more of an anethema to Moslems than other religions. What makes you think Russian influence would have been any greater in the second half of the 20th century had Israel not existed.
I doubt seriously that Israel would be flying any sorties against Iran. To get there they have to fly over Turkey, Saudi or Iraq. I don't see the first two giving permission (their air forces would contest any overflight) and we own Iraqi airspace. If you flew over Iraq it would mean we (the US) acquiesced to it and that would probably cost us basing in Arab countries we badly need to prosecute our war
As for "Arab aggression" I believe that Israel started the 1967 war, and the 1956 war for that matter
And I'm sure that the state of Israel had all sorts of plans to power project to the Gulf to protect energy supplies on behalf of the US and the west during the cold war...yep, sure I am.
Look guy let me clarify my position. Whether Israel survives or not is a matter of complete indifference to me. Fight your neighbors forever, make peace with them or kill them all.
Strategically you are a dead loss for the United States. We get nothing out of you, No bases, no allies in war, no help diplomatically because you're kryptonite to most of the world.
We have taken insane strategic risks for you (denuding our divisions in europe in 1973 to make up your losses)
Those arab "Untermenschen" you so froth at the mouth about are important to the US national strategy. Who knows how far we might have brought them or helped them towards some kind of more representitive democracy if it hadn't been for the fact that none of them trust us because of you
Get them to back UN resolutions? - "What about the resolutions to get Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories?" Always gets thrown in our faces
You'd set the whole middle east on fire as long as you can settle the west bank and keep Jerusulam
And we're tied to you.
We need to cut the cord. Save about 4 billion a year. Establish normal diplomatic relations. That's it. We're your enabler. We need to stop
It won't change much initially, but it would be a start