Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid in our post-World War II sphere. I gleefully promote free trade with all nations, but, as our founders warned us, entangling alliances is no virtue. Nonetheless, any mention of international relations seems to be followed by two clear questions: how will it affect the United States, and how will it affect our diplomatic soul mate in the Middle East?
*
Ron Paul, however, is one of the lone politicians who wants to cut all foreign aid.
*
This hands-off approach to the Israel-United States relationship turns off a lot of neoconservative thinkers. Media and politicians alike have suggested his non-interventionist foreign policy implies 9/11 was "our fault" and this supposed anti-American stance is, through the transitive property, anti-Israel.
*
Paul's stance is hardly anti-Israel, though. As he once pointed out, "…remember, the Arabs would get cut off, too, and the Arabs get three times as much aid altogether than Israel."
*
Unfortunately, this explanation didn't convince the Republican Jewish Coalition, a lobbying group that chose to not invite Paul to its presidential candidate forum in early December. The organization's Executive Director, Matthew Brooks, noted Paul's "misguided and extreme views" as the catalyst for this decision.
*
Yet Paul has more in common with Israel's prime minister than any other presidential candidate. Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress earlier last May. Netanyahu said, "My friends, you don't need to do nation-building in Israel. We're already built. You don't need to export democracy to Israel. We've already got it…No one knows what this path consists of better than you. Nobody."
*
In the same month, Paul explained, "We should respect Israel's sovereignty and not try to dictate her policy from Washington."
*
Many people support aid to Israel under the false assumption they can't stand up to Iran and our own country wouldn't survive without this foreign stability. It isn't true.
*
Not only is Iran unable to attack Israel, but Ahmadinejad would never even consider this aggression for fear of relentless backlash from the international community.
*
Even Noam Chomsky, one of Israel's strongest critics, agrees Iran poses no problem. He cites a report by the Defense Intelligence Agency: "Iran's military doctrine is strictly defensive, designed to slow an invasion and to force a diplomatic solution to hostilities. Iran has only limited capacity to project force beyond its borders."
*
We can already see Obama—who has continued both Bush-era wars and militarily-engaged at least five other countries—is eager to enter Syria and will soon focus on Iranian land.
*
The president of the United States, whoever he or she may be, has nearly dictatorial control over foreign policy; it is why 75 percent of the American people want to leave Iraq while Obama was simultaneously pressuring the Iraqi government to extend*an allowance of US presence.
*
The problem Israel faces is not a nuclear Iran but a continued dependence on America. And, as political pundits attempt to scare our nation into supporting another war, it is absolutely imperative that we understand how to protect our "allies" all over the world.
*
We need to promote peace.
*
So who, out of every candidate, supports Israel the most? I say Ron Paul. He believes in Israeli sovereignty, has confidence in its self-reliance and already agrees with the country's leadership. What better friend could anyone ask for?
Reply With Quote
Connect With Us