Israel, America's greatest ally?

[DanieltheDragon]

PM Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that America and Israel are indivisible as allies and that Israel is America's greatest ally.

Question for debate is Israel America's greatest ally?

If so why? If not why not?

While strategically Israel is a valuable asset in the region it is not the most valuable asset in the region. It's airspace is limited and it is limited geographically speaking with its port access. Egypt and Turkey both have larger airspace and greater access to ports. Yemen and Somalia strategically are much more valuable as they control the access to the red sea.

A significant portion of Israel's military budget comes from the US, most of which primarily goes directly into Israel's defenses.

There are some less tangible benefits no doubt. Israel through our help has become a stable and influential country. Israel also represents a potent military presence in the area.

However, when it came to the Iraq war Israel was no where to be seen. Certainly Israel wanted us to invade. Netanyahu was an ardent supporter of the Iraq war. Yet 0 troops where committed to the cause. In the Afghanistan war again Israel committed no military aid to our cause. Turkey proved to be a more valuable ally in this instance.

When it comes to allies our relationship with Israel is a one way street. We give considerably to the nation both through military support and financial support. However, we get very little in return.

Israel represents an ally that we have in the middle east. Perhaps our most stable ally in the region. However, Israel needs us more than we need Israel. An ally yes I will not disregard that. Should we keep up and maintain our alliance? Yes it would be silly to throw things aside.

Our greatest ally, appears to be Great Britain. Economically we share a stronger more robust relationship, militarily they are independent of our support. Great Britain's navy is stronger and more widespread than Israel. More importantly they have stood by us in nearly every war this past century.

Our greatest ally is Great Britain not Israel. Israel is a strategically valuable asset not an ally.

[Danmark]

I reject completely this "greatest ally" business. Our allies should be constantly reevaluated in the light of cold hard facts and objective evaluations. The sole issue for American foreign policy re: allies should be 'what is currently in the best interest of this country?' I would expect all nations to engage in the same analysis. We have very long term allies in Canada and the UK, with whom we share much of our culture, but no one should get an automatic pass.

What really chaps my hide is this ideology that seems to have taken hold of great swaths of fundamentalist Christians in the U.S. whereby they appear to be putting the interests of Israel ahead of the interests of their own country. McCulloch has touched on some of this. The really frightening thing is this agenda of theirs seems to have something to do with bringing on the final Armageddon and 'the rapture.' My tolerance of religious freedom ends where religious beliefs begin to translate into advocacy for misguided, dangerous and dysfunctional social policy.

Israel gives the appearance of being 'our ally,' only when it suits their own purposes. That this is true should surprise no one.

[Osonlife]

[Replying to post 10 by DanieltheDragon]

Answer = yes

In fact without USA there would be no Israel. USA controlled the UN.

What I don't understand is this.

Given the bible is correct and Abraham was named the chosen one along with his offspring (seed) then why do descendants of his two brothers consider themselves to be 'chosen' too.
The chosen people ere Israelites and they perished for 500 years until Judaism reared its head. Were there any descendant of Abraham in existence?

Judaism killed Jesus, strange for believers in the ten commandments. Or is it that persuading the Romans to kill him was ok.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 21 by Osonlife]

Just because we helped establish Israel does not mean they are our greatest all. We also helped establish Iraq Afghanistan. That doesn't make them ur greatest allies either.

No I don't grant that the bible is true and it doesn't support the idea of Isreal being a great ally of the US

[Osonlife]

[Replying to post 21 by Osonlife]

Just because we helped establish Israel does not mean they are our greatest all. We also helped establish Iraq Afghanistan. That doesn't make them ur greatest allies either.

No I don't grant that the bible is true and it doesn't support the idea of Isreal being a great ally of the US

Excuse me but surely their is a difference between invasion and doing the deeds of the wealthy and powerful families of the USA

[Danmark]

[Replying to post 21 by Osonlife]

Just because we helped establish Israel does not mean they are our greatest all. We also helped establish Iraq Afghanistan. That doesn't make them ur greatest allies either.

No I don't grant that the bible is true and it doesn't support the idea of Isreal being a great ally of the US

Excuse me but surely their is a difference between invasion and doing the deeds of the wealthy and powerful families of the USA

What does "doing the deeds of the wealthy and powerful..." mean?

[Osonlife]

[Replying to post 24 by Danmark]

Well I know a lot of very wealthy Jews in USA and I also know I am a gentile that would never be employed by many. That is USA and If that is what people want then that is democracy. To me it is racism and the people put up with it, not that they can do much.

USA invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, they bought Israel through UN power.

There is a big difference.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 25 by Osonlife]

What does any of that have to do with Isreal being a god or bad ally