October 26 , 2004

The other day I was reading another one of the countless articles out there that ‘explain’ why the United States should spend so much financial and political capital defending the state of Israel. Simply put, I don’t buy it.

Now mind you, depending on what topic I’m writing about, and the angle I’m coming from, I’ve had people call me a Zionist as well as an anti-Semite. I believe I clearly do not fit in either of those two categories. Just because I hope for the total failure and annihilation of Muslim terrorists, and believe Islam to be a bogus, pagan faith, not related to Christianity or Judaism in any true sense (Mohammed made it all up, borrowing a lot from Judaism), or that I believe Israel has a right to exist does not mean I’m a Zionist in the true sense of the word. On the other hand, just because I think Israel is perfectly capable of dealing with its own problems, and should do so without dragging us into it, and it’s none of our business and we shouldn’t be involved in matters over there doesn’t mean I’m an anti-Semite.

For all the meddlers, busybodies, interlopers and arrogant, egotistical blowhards that think the U.S. should be hip-deep in the manure of the Middle East, I’d like to make a suggestion: Do it yourself.

Everyone, neo-cons as well as do-gooder, idealistic Christians and the rest, who want heavy involvement in the Middle East and want the U.S. to defend Israel, should all pack up and go volunteer to serve 18 months in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). They need some recruits. Put your money where your mouth is instead of encouraging our federal government to take my money (via taxes) and put it out there for a use that is not in line with the Constitution. I say it isn’t constitutional to interfere as we have concerning Israel because no matter how one tries, whether by extremely twisted logic or distorted extrapolation of events and cause-and-effect issues, our involvement in Israel cannot be justified as an issue of national security. And national security would be the only reason for involvement.

Saying that those who believe in serious, active engagement in Israel should go and volunteer for military duty in the IDF isn’t some idle comment. I’m serious. Americans freely volunteering to fight for other countries and causes they believe in is a bit of a tradition. Have you ever heard of the Lafyette Escadrill? What about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade? This group is appropriately named, as it was made up of communists, fighting for a communistic cause in Spain during the Spanish Civil War in the early 20th century (not that their fascist opponents were exactly the good guys). And let’s not forget the Flying Tigers.

These are examples of ‘international minutemen.’ I’m all for volunteerism and people standing up for their personal convictions. I encourage all those who are spoiling for a fight on behalf of Israel to have at it. Just leave those of us who honor the Constitution and its intent of ‘political neutrality and economic engagement’ on the international level out of the mess you want to step into.

Now, keep in mind that as free individuals you would be acting on your own convictions and, therefore, if you get into trouble (say, are captured) you should rely on the Israelis to help you, not the U.S. So please don’t go around saying idiotic things like, “I’m an American, you can’t do that to me.” Your personal politics of interventionism shouldn’t be a determinant on the part of the country as a whole so that we all end up in the Middle East tar baby concerning the right of Israel to exist and to defend itself. Please note, once again, that I’m for Israel’s right to exist, but believe they should defend it themselves rather than our politicians sticking their official noses into the mess.

In fact, I believe that as much as the U.S. government claims to be a friend of Israel, it has acted as much to hinder Israel in settling its differences with its Arab neighbors as it has helped. Israel probably would have already had a knock-down drag-out fight that would have settled things instead of this 20-plus years low level war of terrorism and counter attacks it has endured thanks to the U.S. insisting on Israeli restraint. Again, this is all none of our business, and Israel hasn’t been any kind of serious factor in U.S. security since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Any reason that might have existed for our involvement over there is dead and gone.

Now, I have the utmost confidence that American advocates of interventionism in Israel will not personally answer the call to volunteer for duty in the Middle East. They are more than willing to send other people’s sons and daughters off to die, but they are hardly likely to take the chance themselves. They don’t have the courage of their convictions, unlike past volunteers, as mentioned above. They are long on talk, but short on personal courage. Besides, too many of these advocates of intervention would have to leave their cushy, powerful positions in Washington D.C., and the last guy I can recall to have that kind of guts was Teddy Roosevelt. I’m not exactly a fan of Teddy’s, but I can at lest respect the fact he backed up his talk personally. I can’t say that for the neo-cons.

At most, the United States should mind their own business. I don’t care if American businesses want to sell arms to Israel or to other countries in the Middle East, but there should be no forced U.S. government involvement in the Middle East. If somehow the interested parties (meaning Israelis, and the Arabs referred to as ‘Palestinians’) should mutually decide they want a U.S. mediator to help solve their internal problems, then the Secretary of State, or someone he delegates the duties to, should go and act as a mediator. That means no promise of American funds, equipment, or personnel, just our representative acting as a facilitator/negotiator helping two peoples settle their differences. Beyond that, it’s none of our business. For those who want more active involvement, go do it yourself by signing up for duty with the IDF. Leave the rest of us alone and the terrorists will leave us alone as well.

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