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Israel may be a Jewish state but the biggest problem with those who would defend her is that they inevitably label her opponents anti-Semites. Israel is a multiethnic state. To support or oppose Israel is not to support or oppose the Jewish people, but the people of the modern state of Israel. Israel is a recently established country, not ancient Israel, and certainly not the Vatican City of Judaism whence all Judaic opinion flows, as many of her more ardent supporters would have us believe.

I don't recall (honestly, I don't) what Mr. Shear said that made him seem anti-Semitic to Siggy to begin with. I've certainly seen no substantiating Shear quote in subsequent Siggy posts to back that charge up.

But that Mr. Shear, or anyone, would consider Israel vital to our national security, leaves me stunned. How a postage stamp sized country on the Mediterranean with no national resources short of a regional military can best vital to OUR national security is beyond me!

Now, how the U.S. is vital to ISRAEL'S national security, I can see in spades...but the biggest question for Mr. Shear and his cohorts is, how they imagine the 'backing' of Israel does anything to add to the military defense of the United States? Those 'levels' of national security, those U.S. interests he speaks of, in Israel, are far beyond my comprehension--I look forward to further enlightenment.

But that Mr. Shear, or anyone, would consider Israel vital to our national security, leaves me stunned. How a postage stamp sized country on the Mediterranean with no national resources short of a regional military can best vital to OUR national security is beyond me!

It is most certainly a legitimate point of debate. I believe Israel is vital for our security for two reasons:

1. The more philosophical approach that I outlined earlier whereby our ultimate security, that is, what it is we need to defend, is our freedom. To the extent that enemies of freedom gain strength and friends of freedom become weak, it is to our detriment.

2. In this specific case, I view the arab world similar to that of the soviets. I believe they are an expansionist, and evil empire. This battle is not about the way some borders are drawn in Israel. This is about freedom, and the Islamists desire to conquer the world and enslave all non-islamist males.

If your interest in purely one of short-term self interest for the U.S., then at least look at it this way: Israel is the first line of trenches. When they are overrun, the battle will take place at the second line, and ultimately the third. We already know that they have their eyes set on Spain, and some would say that they already have their eyes set on the U.S.