Imperial Russia, Redux

It says much about the immaturity of American discourse that before one can say anything at all that might somehow, in some way, be construed as anti-Israel, you need to assure the readers of your pure heart, that you do not have a secret stash of Nazi paraphernalia hidden in the attic and get up to some goosestep late at night when the world is asleep. So here it goes: Fear not, I have nothing at all against Israel, harbor no ill will towards her, and the collection of totalitarian paraphernalia in my home has a decidedly communist bent. (My Chairman Mao collection grows daily.)

That being said, I find it strange how American politicians have such a mindless bent towards supporting the Israelis regardless of their actions, support of a fervor usually seen only in sports fanatics or Ayn Rand acolytes. Such unconditional love was put on display during the recent little hiccup in our relations with Israel. It started when the Obama Administration suggested that, to help along the eternally elusive goal of peace between the people of Israel and Palestine, perhaps the Israelis should stop building settlements on Palestinian land. Or at least land that the Palestinians claim.

So then, to add a chuckle to the entire farce of"peace" talks, during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joseph Biden (who spent much time during his latest campaign assuring anyone who would listen that he cherishes all that is Israel) the Israeli government announced that, peace talks or no, they are going to build more settlement housing in the face of Palestinian opposition. This makes sense as after all, how many F-16 fighter jets do the Palestinians possess? The Obama Administration issued a squeak of protest, said squeak instantly answered by a disapproving roar from Congress.

Both John McCain and Joseph Leiberman put in their two cents, each separately referring to Israel as “family”. When was Israel voted into our union as the 51st state? Reading the above linked article is telling in that nobody, anywhere, is quoted as thinking maybe it’s a bit odd and irrational for the United States to attached itself so whole heartedly to a small country on the other side of the globe, one plopped down right in the middle of history’s endless bar brawl.

Almost without exception every candidate for U.S. Congress crawls through the doggie doors of AIPAC, barking loyalty. Such groveling is on every American politician’s campaign agenda. Nobody at all seems to find this lurid, dangerous, or, let’s be blunt, treasonable. What are we to become by hitching our wagon to the bloody havoc of the Holy Land?

Russia entered the useless carnage of World War One over a fatal attraction to a small country (Serbia) far from its frontiers. That war ended with Russia in shambles. Modern America is often compared to Imperial Rome – we keep up this blind support of a foreign country and Imperial Russia may become the more apt comparison.