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Politics : World Affairs Discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (471)	7/16/2002 9:03:31 AM
From: Scumbria	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3959

The reason that the US lines up behind Israel is because Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East, it is the only country in the Middle east that shares US values, and because it is the only country in the Middle East that the US can count on. As Salman Rushdie pointed out, much of the Arab world celebrated publicly on Sept. 11, while the rest of the world watched in abject horror. They are a deeply disturbed culture. BTW, India is the world's largest democracy, so I'm not sure what your point was in mentioning them.

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (471)	7/16/2002 7:53:43 PM
From: Thomas M.	Respond to of 3959

are there other instances where the US lines up behind countries because they are democratic? No. Good point. Tom

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (471)	7/16/2002 11:02:17 PM
From: Brumar89	Respond to of 3959

..other instances where the US lines up behind countries because they are democratic? What is Nato? I note Japan, S.Korea, and Taiwan are now democratic nations. Ditto Turkey and others. US lines up behind Israel is because of the US Jewish lobby. That is a factor but only one. US foreign policy is complex - it is not accurate to say the US simply supports Israel and opposes Arabs. Note - in '56, the US leaned on Israel, Britain, and France to give Egypt back the Sinai and Suez Canal - and was rewarded by Egypt aligning itself with our then enemy, the USSR. In '73 the US pushed a ceasefire when Israel had Egypt and Syria on the ropes - at least Sadat made peace. The Carter administration urged restraint on the Shah when the revolution was threatening his power. When this policy resulted in Khomeini taking power, we were rewarded for out tying the Shah's arms by having our diplomats held hostage. The US rescued the PLO from the Israeli army in Beirut in the '80's allowing them to withdraw to Tunis - despite Arafat's role in the murder of US diplomats in Khartoum in '73. The PA exists to a large extent because of American support. And the US supports the eventual formation of a Palestinian state. But most Palestinians cheer if we are attacked. The US has done much for the defense of Moslems - protecting Bosnian Moslems and Kosovars in the former Yugoslavia. Protecting Kuwait and SA from Iraqi take-over. Providing the military assistance that allowed Afghans to resist the Soviet invasion. Plus humanitarian aid to countries like Bangla Desh and Somalia. Seems to me we gotten mostly a slap in the face in return. PS - in the past you've shown an interest in and knowledge of Indian-Pakistani relations. Don't know if you're aware but there is a Pakistani SI poster who seems pretty well informed - Iqbal Latif: Message 17741104 I see his son has a weblog. latif.blogspot.com