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Turning Point For U.S.-Israeli Relations?
No matter what course it takes, it’s clear that the U.S. -Israeli relations are at a turning point — with yet another factor added just today with news that Iran has announced a new surface-to-surface missile test — a missile that can reach Israel.
RealClearWorld’s Associate Editor Gregory Scoblete writes:
Typically a meeting between an Israeli Prime Minister and an American President would not generate such voluminous commentary as the one that kicked off this week between Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama. But the punditry is anchored in a very real issue: after decades of fruitful partnership, American and Israeli interests are diverging.
For decades, American support for Israel has rested on three pillars: political affinity, religious sympathy, and strategic logic. Each pillar represented a clear convergence of interests. Both nations are democracies. Both nations have a deep tradition of religious faith rooted in Biblical traditions. And during the Cold War, both nations came to see the merits in exerting strong military power over the Middle East. Two of those three pillars remain as strong as ever, but the third, the strategic, shows signs of stress.
The strategic pillar has been creaking ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union eliminated the U.S. need for powerful proxies. It groaned still further as the U.S. discovered its vulnerability to transnational terrorism – a terrorism nurtured, if only in part, by America’s steadfast support of Israel in its territorial dispute with the Palestinians. Real cracks, however, are developing over the viability of the Arab-Israeli peace process and the threat posed by Iran.
In both cases, Israel and the U.S. are faced with different security concerns.
Read his analysis in its entirety…
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post said the test was for a surface-to-air missle. That was wrong. It was for a surface-to-surface missile. TMV regrets the error.
8 Responses to “Turning Point For U.S.-Israeli Relations?”
Joe – The CNN article is about a surface-to-surface missile, not a surface-to-air missile. SAM batteries are defensive and rumor has it that the Russian are supposed to supply Iran with it's S-300V system.
But like Iran's nuclear program, these missile systems are strictly for peaceful civilian purposes.
AR – Surface to surface missiles are dual use, both offensive and defensive. I was just pointing out the error and not proferssing my “Liebrul luv of Iran”.
Rudi – I actually wasn't replying to you directly – I was just making the general point of the military ambitions of Iran in the Middle East, and the silliness of believing anything they say about their intents for missiles, their nuclear program, etc.
AR,
Is the argument now that Iran must be completely disarmed?
I'm all about making the world a safer place through disarmament, but Iran isn't going to back down from building up its military without security guarantees. They are surrounded by two American invasion forces, and within the umbrella of Israels nukes. They'd be idiots not to build their own deterrent.
Chris -
AR,
Is the argument now that Iran must be completely disarmed?
Where, exactly, did you see me make that argument, even even something close to it? Talk about creating your own strawman to knock down.
AR,
That's why I asked
I agree with this. We can't be expected to make Iran disarm when we won't and Israel is threatening attack if negotiations aren't complete. Obama would not give a deadline for negotiations, which is good, because Israel wants that deadline to know when to act. (CNN article)
Also, this video (link below) presents content from Russia Today and The Jerusalem Post claiming Iran is merely trying to keep their civilians safe. http://www.newsy.com/videos/iran_launches_poten…