This week, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu's addressed Congress and basically rebutted President Obama's speech requesting Israel to draw back to it's 'pre-1967 borders'. I find it interesting that nearly every story I read or hear states that this is a long standing US stance while blatantly leaving out that the previous administration official reverse of this “stance” or “near policy”. Regardless of which side you fall on this issue, that's a pretty major thing to leave out and forget. Am I wrong?I do find it interesting that from the many instances of standing applause during Netanyahu's address, Republicans and Democrats seem to be giving Israel “carte blanche”. The US remains a staunch supporter of Israel. It doesn't mean it has to support everything Israel does. Many of this year's Republican candidates for President or Republicans simply positioning themselves in some sort of Republican hierarchy continue to cloak themselves in all things 'Ronald Reagan'. They forget that Reagan, while a good supporter of Israel, didn't approve of things Israel was doing in the early 80's. In other words, Reagan era support for Israel did not necessarily mean unconditional support for absolutely everything Israel did. At the time, the US was trying to establish good relations with Iraq and Saddam Hussein because of their war with Iran – indicating that US and Israel interests weren't exactly 100% mutual or exact at the time.
Conservative Columnist Jack Hunter recently wrote: Yesterday’s Cold Warriors might have wanted to defeat Communism and no doubt considered Israel an ally, but by and large their hawkishness reflected a desire to put America first. Yesterday’s religious Right was also thoroughly anti-Communist and they also considered Israel an ally—but their politics were primarily born of the belief that America was no longer putting God first. Now both groups put Israel first.
While I am not suggesting we abandon Israel at all, we need to act a little more autonomous and not be so quick affirm everything our dear brother/friend attempts, in my opinion. Mr Hunter brings up another good point later in the article when he asks "Can you imagine Republicans today—especially GOP hawks and Christian conservatives—opposing Israel on anything?" Blindly supporting an ally is just as bad as blindly supporting, or NOT supporting something. I suppose it's human nature to do so. What say you?
