In 1973 they could count on Nixon, described by then Prime Minister Golda Meir as "my President". I remember working in a warehouse on a part time job while in college when the news came over the radio that Nixon had raised DefCon as a warning to the Soviets to keep their noses (and troops) the f*** out.
Later on, in the early 80's, when I was in Amman I met a Palestinian who had served in the Egyptian Army in the Suez. He said the Egyptian troops could see US cargo planes in the distance flying into Israeli airfields just behind the lines dropping off supplies, one after the other in what seemed to be an endless stream of planes.
But now? GW Bush may have been the last unless we elect someone like Palin.
I cannot wait until 2012. If this a$$hole tries to suppress our voting in anyway, we'll be the “Egypt” covered around the world.