I'm America-first but you're absolutely wrong here about diverging interests or that Biden is doing anything in America's interest (or, C'MON, Israel's interests.) It's a political calculation for him and a poor one, really, since his neither-here-nor-there policies are driving people on all sides away from him. The interests of our two countries are aligned, maybe not always but certainly right now. We're in a civilizational battle and Israel is taking blows meant for us all. Yes, Israel should always be ready to go it alone, and it might be in Israel's interests to eventually part ways with America or maybe in our interest to part ways with you, but it's not now for either of us.
I don't say here that our interests have diverged, only that Biden seems to have concluded that they have, and it's not Israel's place to tell America what its interests are. It *is* Americans' place, however.
I basically agree with you on the substance. That's just not what I was writing about.
Of course, America is going to do and has always done what is in its best interests. People who don't understand this don't understand world politics. However, I do think that Israel has a right to play this game as well, on any level that works. That's also part of international politics. If that means that signals to the American voter that by not sending arms to Israel, Biden is giving a victory to terrorists who rape and torture, then Israel should do that, if they think it will work and not backfire. If that means pulling at the heartstrings of American voters, then that's the job of the Israel political system. Most small countries must be aligned with someone these days, and if America doesn't support Israel others might (in return for whatever is in their interests). The only real question is how do you get others to help you.
I appreciate this perspective and probably should not comment, since it seems to essentially be about attitudes in Israel. Still, I am not sure how I feel about the assumption that friendship does not entail responsibility. Apart from that, I’m wondering why the image from “The Banshees of Inisherin.”
I'm America-first but you're absolutely wrong here about diverging interests or that Biden is doing anything in America's interest (or, C'MON, Israel's interests.) It's a political calculation for him and a poor one, really, since his neither-here-nor-there policies are driving people on all sides away from him. The interests of our two countries are aligned, maybe not always but certainly right now. We're in a civilizational battle and Israel is taking blows meant for us all. Yes, Israel should always be ready to go it alone, and it might be in Israel's interests to eventually part ways with America or maybe in our interest to part ways with you, but it's not now for either of us.
I don't say here that our interests have diverged, only that Biden seems to have concluded that they have, and it's not Israel's place to tell America what its interests are. It *is* Americans' place, however.
I basically agree with you on the substance. That's just not what I was writing about.
But I don't agree that Biden has concluded our interests have diverged, his behavior does not tell that story at all.
Of course, America is going to do and has always done what is in its best interests. People who don't understand this don't understand world politics. However, I do think that Israel has a right to play this game as well, on any level that works. That's also part of international politics. If that means that signals to the American voter that by not sending arms to Israel, Biden is giving a victory to terrorists who rape and torture, then Israel should do that, if they think it will work and not backfire. If that means pulling at the heartstrings of American voters, then that's the job of the Israel political system. Most small countries must be aligned with someone these days, and if America doesn't support Israel others might (in return for whatever is in their interests). The only real question is how do you get others to help you.
This really needed saying, and you said it well.
I appreciate this perspective and probably should not comment, since it seems to essentially be about attitudes in Israel. Still, I am not sure how I feel about the assumption that friendship does not entail responsibility. Apart from that, I’m wondering why the image from “The Banshees of Inisherin.”