The recent coverage of 9/11 commemorations seemed to avoid the basic fact about the war in Iraq, the war on terror, airport security, etc. We are in this mess because of our support for Israel. Yet, it seems that almost all analysis scrupulously avoids dealing with, or even mentioning, this incontrovertible reality. Why is this?
My point is not to debate the merits of U.S. support for Israel, but to ask why such a debate is taboo.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the last U.S. president who, despite Israeli efforts to bring the United States into the Suez crisis on its side, refused to be sucked in. Only Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush made a pretense of being honest brokers between the two sides. Every other president has promoted support for Israel as a given. In the case of George W. Bush, the results were catastrophic.
We defend Israel at the United Nations when no other country will. Again, my point is not whether this is good policy — simply that it is policy. The wisdom of this policy needs to be debated. Is the policy worth the fear of terrorism, higher gas prices, etc.?
Let's talk about the elephant in the room.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.