Why is Israel worth an American Life or Dollar?

Question

Michael Scheuer, head of the CIA "Bin Laden Unit" said on the Bill Maher show that he didn't think either American life nor Dollars are worth spending on a policy that increases the risk to the American people. Since polls show that 90% of the Middle East doesnt approve of Bin Laden's vision for their region but roughly 70% approve of his attacks on American policies in the region (Including but not limited to Israel), one can safely say that Mr. Scheuer's implication has at least some basis. Our policies towards Israel does not bring us friends there, I would add however, that it is regardless of Al Quaida.

Mr. Maher believed both American dollars and lives are worth paying for Israel, as he cited it was a democracy. He on other occassions readily admits that we allow the most brutal of dictatorships to flourish with our approval if convenient for us, so I take democracy to be a weak argument.

It appears to me to bring more bad than good, so Y is it worth it?

Once again, since we still pump money into Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are NOT democracies but shun Hamas for example who is democratically elected, I see the Democracy standpoint as bankrupt. Next, Allies are allies for reasons not just unconditionally. Just because we supported them from the beginning of the movement does not mean that was a good decision. We had no ties with anyone in the Arab world, good or bad at the time, so likewise the thought they are a western bulwark against the Islamic threat is to start history in a vacuum and change cause and effect. As for protecting our oil interests, using Israel as a base for that makes as much sence as protecting ice in Alaska by using the Amazon! Common sence knows Islamic extremism can only be defeated by Islamic moderates not an outsider so that is bogus too.

I don't want to beleive we are all suckers so can I get an answer without these mentioned!?

As for bigotry lol if the question has no other answers besides the ones I mentioned are not viable than it leads to the assumption that it is not worth it, it doesnt make the question a bigoted one! If you cannot give an educated response doesnt make the asker bigoted or anti-semitic! Typical...

Answer 1

Because the US Government represents the interests of Israel, and not of the USA. Therefore, from their point of view, Israel is worth trillions of dollars of US tax payers money and tens of thousands of American lives.
On the other hand, what kind of a democracy Israel is, you can tell from the fact that the marriages between Jews and non-Jews are legally forbidden in Israel. Then again, from what I've heard, in USA its legal for black students to beat up a white student in high school (Jena), while it's not legal to persecute them afterwards. So, if USA is a democracy, then Israel is also a democracy. And "democracies" stick together, don't they?

Answer 2

We spend money and lives defending most of our allies -- Israel is no different in that regard than most.

We give money in the form of foreign aid to most of our allies -- again, Israel is no different than most.

We have chosen to ally with Israel because they provide us with intel and resources in the region -- intel and resources that we consider valuable to our goals. So, we are doing nothing more than protecting our investment when we insure that continued flow of that intel.

And I honestly don't think that if the US suddenly stopped being allied to Israel -- and even left Israel entirely alone -- that everyone in the region would suddenly start liking us.

So, either the damage is done and there's nothing to be lost (and much to be gained) by continuing to have Israel as an ally -- or we can at best slightly reduce the amount we are hated by cutting ourselves off from those resources -- which in the grand scheme is going to cost us more than it saves.

Answer 3

Israel was created by American zionists, the very same neocons , the so called Christian zionists... the clique of Pat Robertson and the rest of the Evangelist charlatans.
Now.
The question should have been asked as follow, how long will it take for Americans to remain duped into believing the support of Israel is the support to prevent "Doomsday"?

It is a fact. Most American when hearing the word of Israel , they utter "hallelujah"... automatically.
It's a big lie.
As big as Dubya lies about Iraq WMD and Iran "kneekleah" ambitions .
Many Americans believe a dying US soldier for an immoral zionist entity is a wast.

Answer 4

Simple. Israel is an ally. The only real ally we have in the region. As a rule, we don't abandon our allies. (unless a Democrat is calling the game) You take democracy to be a weak argument? Can you tell me a better reason to support a nation? Particularly in that part of the world? While we're talking about 'worth it', how is it worth the billions we have pumped into the U.N. over the years? Where's the return on that money? How about the countless dollars poured into such garden spots as Columbia, Eastern Europe, etc... Basically every hellhole that can't help itself, we bail out with food, money, or American blood. Bosnia leaps to mind. We waste resources on much less worthy causes than Israel. At least they know who their friends are. Many ingrate nations around the world could learn something from Israel.

Answer 5

its not worth it, if another country doesn't want 2 be like us then let them live the way they want to live.

To me whats wrong with this country is the government cares to much about what the countries think about them! they would rather take care of another countries people then there own so they will "LIKE US!"

Answer 6

This question is one sided bigotry. The way it is written does not allow different opinions. Therefore, I won't waste my time trying to respond.

Answer 7

This website makes the strongest case I've found:

http://www.factsandlogic.org/ad_02c.html

Israel and Egypt are the two largest recipients of U.S. aid. For its“participation” in the Gulf War, Egypt was forgiven its indebtedness of $9 billion. Israel pays its bills. It receives $2.8 billion every year. Of that amount, $2.0 billion is for military aid and $0.8 billion for economic aid. It’s fair to ask whether this is a good deal for the American taxpayer.

What are the Facts?

The only democratic country in the Middle East. Israel is the only genuinely democratic state in the Middle East. It is committed to freedom and equality, and the rule of law. It embodies the fundamental values that are in tune with those of America and that America has traditionally supported. Israel’s military and political importance in the Middle East and its strategic position stabilize the entire area, including the oil fields of the Persian Gulf. During the Cold War, it was America’s indispensable rampart against the inroads and expansionist ambitions of the Soviet Union. It is now a western bulwark against the aggressive intents of Iran and other bellicose nations that threaten the interests of the United States. It is a most reliable partner in the promotion of Western strategic interests and in the stabilization of the Middle East. Over 20% of its budget goes for defense, compared to 7% in the U.S. and less than 1% in Japan. Israel has one of the best armies in the world. Its navy and air force are the major deterrent forces in the eastern Mediterranean.

Israel effectively secures NATO’s southeastern flank, without having a single American soldier stationed in its territory. Still, the superb military installations, the air and sea lift capabilities, the equipment and food storage capacity, and the trained manpower to maintain and repair sophisticated U.S. equipment are instantly at hand in Israel. It is the only country in the area that makes itself available to the United States, in any contingency.

Only fraction of aid stays in Israel. There is no other country in the Middle East except Israel that can be considered to have a stable government or populace friendly to the United States. There is much danger that any military aid to Arab countries, and military equipment given or sold to them, will suffer the same fate as the untold billions of dollars and priceless military secrets that were lost to our enemies in the debacle of Iran. Is Saudi Arabia more stable? Egypt? Jordan? Kuwait? Judge for yourself!

Only a fraction of the aid given stays in Israel. By far the largest share remains with American defense contractors. Peter McPherson, former administrator of the Agency for International Development, estimated that every billion dollars of aid to Israel creates 60,000 to 70,000 jobs in the United States.

Compared to the $2.0 billion yearly military aid to Israel, the U.S. contributes more than $130 billion(!) every year to the defense of Europe and more than $30 billion to the defense of Japan, Korea, and the Far East. Over 300,000 U.S. troops are stationed with NATO and over 30,000 U.S. troops in the Far East. In contrast, not one single U.S. soldier needs to be stationed and put at risk in Israel. U.S. military analysts estimate that the U.S. would have to spend the equivalent of $150 billion a year in the Middle East to maintain a force equivalent to Israel’s.

There are many other benefits that the U.S. military derives from Israel. Israel is the only country that has gained battlefield experience with U.S. weapons. This experience is immediately conveyed to the U.S. Enormous quantities of captured Soviet weapons and defense systems were turned over to the U.S. military for analysis. Israel, in the light of its experience, continually modifies U.S. weapons systems. For instance, Israeli scientists have made over 200 improvements in the F-15 alone and similar improvements, mostly in avionics, in later-generation planes. It would be more in line with reality if military aid to Israel were classified as part of the defense budget, rather than as “aid”. Israel is truly America’s unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East. Former President Reagan put it well: “The fall of Iran has increased Israel’s value as perhaps the only remaining strategic asset in the region on which the United States can fully rely.” American aid to Israel is a two-way street. Aid to Israel is America’s greatest defense bargain.


Facts and Logic About the Middle East
P.O. Box 590359
San Francisco, CA 94159

Gerardo Joffe, President

Answer 8

Because were a christian happy nation.

Answer 9

its not

Answer 10

It's not ;o)