I have received several responses to my articles wherein I take issue with President Bush and his plans for Israel as they appear in the "Road Map". The complaints are that I do not ?sufficiently? recognize that America has been Israel?s staunch friend - to which I do not agree. Take note, however, that I separate America at large from ?special? interests in America that are hostile to the future existence of the State of Israel.
For example, I often cite the US State Department as an institution that long ago adopted an anti-Semitic attitude, more common in Christian Europe for centuries. I also very often commend the American Congress for being supportive of a valuable, democratic ally in the Middle East. However, a few specific individuals I view as political/corporate Arabists, who have shown by their voting records that they are viscerally anti-Jewish and anti-Israel. I can say the same for political figures who do not share the general pro-Israel attitude of the American people, including most of the American Congress. There has never been a more generous nation than America, but then, not all Americans have a liking for the Jewish State of Israel. In the early 1990s, I believe that the Administration of George Herbert Walker Bush and James Baker III was very prejudicial when dealing with Israel. They reflected the corporate Arabists? attitude, primarily the Arab oil nations? point-of-view, while also having a typical locker-room anti-Semitism from restricted country clubs.
At the present time, I am more concerned that we are returning to an era of hostility against Jews that reflect both European style anti-Semitism, combined with 20th century greed for Arab oil and Arab markets. I am concerned when this Administration continues to defend Saudi Arabia, who subverts America by funding terrorist movements underpinned by radical Islamic intolerance. I am concerned when this Administration accepts Saudi guidance for how America should should deal with Israel, part of which is the return of Palestinians to all the cities of Israel. I am concerned that this Administration, in deference to a wide range of hostile Islamic rogue nations and the resurrection of European anti-Jewish history, is tabling a plan for the "Jewish Solution", entitled the "Road Map". I am concerned that our young President Bush, who at first appeared independent, has fallen back under the influence of his father, Jim Baker, Brent Scowcroft, Colin Powell and what could be called ?the oil syndicate.?
Granted, Israel has benefitted greatly from the generosity of America and the American people. Without America?s crucial vote at the United Nations, Israel would have been denied partition. But take note - it was at the American people and their Congress that guided the generosity of our democratic nation to the only democratic nation in the Middle East, albeit a small one.
For those unaware of Israel?s attempts to pay back America in the only way it could, it is worth recalling the statement made by General of the Air Force, George Keegan, that ?Israel is worth five CIAs.? He said this because Israel was able to capture advanced Soviet missiles, radar, and aircraft from the Arabs and shipped them back to America, saving US military industries billions of dollars in developing counter-measures. Furthermore, Israel votes with the US in the United Nations, unlike the Arab countries or the ungrateful Europeans. Israel has become an irreplaceable source of HumInt (on-ground human intelligence) for what the unfriendly, anti-American Arab nations were planning for us. Israel has offered to fight alongside America, whenever asked. Or, to put it another way, why can?t you see all the free nations of the world lining up to be allied with America when she takes on Iraq?
Israel is a small nation surrounded by a sea of anti-Jewish Islamic nations, who hate both Jews, Christians and the West generally. Israel is, no doubt, exceedingly grateful for American generosity and tries to pay back in whatever coin she has. That does not, however, mean that she must accept national suicide because she has been asked to do so in order to pacify Arab rage. No nation, regardless of how small or seemingly unimportant, must accept its dismissal from this planet because it satisfies the needs of others. At this time, based upon demand from the Bush Administration, Israel has shown restraint when a full scale attack against terror was warranted. For this "restraint", she has paid a high price in dead Jews, maimed and orphaned children, women and men.
With Iraq, Syria, Iran arming with "NBC" (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) weapons of Mass Destruction, Israel, as a matter of basic survival, should preemptively attack these concentrations of Weapons of Mass Destruction. But, at great risk, Israel has accommodated the Bush Administration?s plan to attack Iraq and restrained herself.
Again, Israel and all Jews are grateful to the American people and a great nation for their generosity. But, like all nations, great and small, each has their own interests and, sometimes, small nations like Israel can slip through the cracks.
Expressions of "Oops" or "Sorry" are gratefully received, but, sometimes, small nations do not survive the fall.
--------------------------------------------------------
Emanuel A. Winston is a Middle East analyst and commentator with the Gamla and Freeman organizations.
For example, I often cite the US State Department as an institution that long ago adopted an anti-Semitic attitude, more common in Christian Europe for centuries. I also very often commend the American Congress for being supportive of a valuable, democratic ally in the Middle East. However, a few specific individuals I view as political/corporate Arabists, who have shown by their voting records that they are viscerally anti-Jewish and anti-Israel. I can say the same for political figures who do not share the general pro-Israel attitude of the American people, including most of the American Congress. There has never been a more generous nation than America, but then, not all Americans have a liking for the Jewish State of Israel. In the early 1990s, I believe that the Administration of George Herbert Walker Bush and James Baker III was very prejudicial when dealing with Israel. They reflected the corporate Arabists? attitude, primarily the Arab oil nations? point-of-view, while also having a typical locker-room anti-Semitism from restricted country clubs.
At the present time, I am more concerned that we are returning to an era of hostility against Jews that reflect both European style anti-Semitism, combined with 20th century greed for Arab oil and Arab markets. I am concerned when this Administration continues to defend Saudi Arabia, who subverts America by funding terrorist movements underpinned by radical Islamic intolerance. I am concerned when this Administration accepts Saudi guidance for how America should should deal with Israel, part of which is the return of Palestinians to all the cities of Israel. I am concerned that this Administration, in deference to a wide range of hostile Islamic rogue nations and the resurrection of European anti-Jewish history, is tabling a plan for the "Jewish Solution", entitled the "Road Map". I am concerned that our young President Bush, who at first appeared independent, has fallen back under the influence of his father, Jim Baker, Brent Scowcroft, Colin Powell and what could be called ?the oil syndicate.?
Granted, Israel has benefitted greatly from the generosity of America and the American people. Without America?s crucial vote at the United Nations, Israel would have been denied partition. But take note - it was at the American people and their Congress that guided the generosity of our democratic nation to the only democratic nation in the Middle East, albeit a small one.
For those unaware of Israel?s attempts to pay back America in the only way it could, it is worth recalling the statement made by General of the Air Force, George Keegan, that ?Israel is worth five CIAs.? He said this because Israel was able to capture advanced Soviet missiles, radar, and aircraft from the Arabs and shipped them back to America, saving US military industries billions of dollars in developing counter-measures. Furthermore, Israel votes with the US in the United Nations, unlike the Arab countries or the ungrateful Europeans. Israel has become an irreplaceable source of HumInt (on-ground human intelligence) for what the unfriendly, anti-American Arab nations were planning for us. Israel has offered to fight alongside America, whenever asked. Or, to put it another way, why can?t you see all the free nations of the world lining up to be allied with America when she takes on Iraq?
Israel is a small nation surrounded by a sea of anti-Jewish Islamic nations, who hate both Jews, Christians and the West generally. Israel is, no doubt, exceedingly grateful for American generosity and tries to pay back in whatever coin she has. That does not, however, mean that she must accept national suicide because she has been asked to do so in order to pacify Arab rage. No nation, regardless of how small or seemingly unimportant, must accept its dismissal from this planet because it satisfies the needs of others. At this time, based upon demand from the Bush Administration, Israel has shown restraint when a full scale attack against terror was warranted. For this "restraint", she has paid a high price in dead Jews, maimed and orphaned children, women and men.
With Iraq, Syria, Iran arming with "NBC" (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) weapons of Mass Destruction, Israel, as a matter of basic survival, should preemptively attack these concentrations of Weapons of Mass Destruction. But, at great risk, Israel has accommodated the Bush Administration?s plan to attack Iraq and restrained herself.
Again, Israel and all Jews are grateful to the American people and a great nation for their generosity. But, like all nations, great and small, each has their own interests and, sometimes, small nations like Israel can slip through the cracks.
Expressions of "Oops" or "Sorry" are gratefully received, but, sometimes, small nations do not survive the fall.
--------------------------------------------------------
Emanuel A. Winston is a Middle East analyst and commentator with the Gamla and Freeman organizations.