The Israel Problem

Andrew Sullivan on our problem with Israel.

Petraeus sees what so much of Washington refuses to see: that Israel's year-long contempt for Obama, initiated by the Gaza campaign, entrenched by Netanyahu's victory and compounded by continued settlements and last week's humiliation of Biden is a problem. More then a problem, Israel's total impunity for its intransigence is becoming a liability for the advance of US interests around the world. Petraeus was so disturbed by a recent trip to the Middle East that he asked a team of top CENTCOM officers to brief Admiral Mullen, and asked that the region be made part of his command:

In my reading of the Israeli reaction to the Biden dust up it seemed that the dominant meme was "the US should mind its own business."

That is indeed a consummation devoutly to be wished. Please and pretty please. All that we need to do is stop sending them several billion dollars each year, stop selling them weapons on any basis other than we would to anybody else, and stop carrying their water in the UN Security Council.

Such a path would be far better for us, and would blunt one of the biggest gripes the Islamic world has with us. It might even be better for Israel. Without us to protect their butts they might even figure out that it might be in their interest to make peace with their neighbors.

Israel is the obnoxious little brother that knows it can get away with anything because big brother is the cock of the walk. Just say: Time to fly on your own, little bro. We wish you well, but your fights are no longer our fights.

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