Monday, August 07, 2006
Pundit RhetIraq: Pat Lang on Role of Israel to US
Who: W. Patrick Lang, Retired senior officer of U.S. Military Intelligence and U.S. Army Special Forces
Source: Sic Semper Tyrannis 2006
Quotes: From blog entry titled, "The Value of Allies"
... it is necessary to consider, ... whether the alliance with Israel is a net plus or a net minus for the United States from a strategic point of view. Countries live or die by their interests, not by their sentiments.
... Israel is an American political and strategic "investment." This latest expedition into Lebanon is just the latest in a long series of payments made into that investment account by the United States.
Like any investor, the United States expects to see that its "capital" is well employed.
If Israel wishes to be thought a good "investment" rather than simply a beneficiary of sentiment and good will, then the IDF had better win its war against Hizbullah, and "handily" at that.
Without the context of a crushing defeat of Hizbullah, the whole imaginary diplomatic "Potemkin Village" of; Resolution 1559, disarmament of militias, re-training of the Lebanese Army and international forces designed to protect Israel's northern border will come crashing down.
What then will be the estimate of Israel's strategic value as an ally?
Source: Sic Semper Tyrannis 2006
Quotes: From blog entry titled, "The Value of Allies"
... it is necessary to consider, ... whether the alliance with Israel is a net plus or a net minus for the United States from a strategic point of view. Countries live or die by their interests, not by their sentiments.
... Israel is an American political and strategic "investment." This latest expedition into Lebanon is just the latest in a long series of payments made into that investment account by the United States.
Like any investor, the United States expects to see that its "capital" is well employed.
If Israel wishes to be thought a good "investment" rather than simply a beneficiary of sentiment and good will, then the IDF had better win its war against Hizbullah, and "handily" at that.
Without the context of a crushing defeat of Hizbullah, the whole imaginary diplomatic "Potemkin Village" of; Resolution 1559, disarmament of militias, re-training of the Lebanese Army and international forces designed to protect Israel's northern border will come crashing down.
What then will be the estimate of Israel's strategic value as an ally?
