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Hi Gary, I have to disagree with most of what you write (or what you agree with what Waistline wrote). First (in reverse order) Israel is not a 'colony' of the US. I'm not sure why you state it is, perhaps you can explain. Israel itself is an Imperialist power, albeit a small one economically, not so small militarily. We can discuss this as I'd be interested in your POV on this and will reserve comment on Israel's relationship with the US until you reply. I think it is most definitely NOT a liability. If it was you'd see some move away from support, unconditional support, for Israeli actions, beyond the historically "Arab lobby" folks that are still a politically isolated sect of the US ruling class. There is no fundamental change in Israel's relationship to the US as a close, important ally. It's the one area I agree with Zionist analysis of: There is no better ally of the US than Israel in the Middle East. As America's stationary aircraft carrier for all it's imperialist machinations, Israel is there for the US when ever the US needs a friend. Placing oneself in the imperialist mindset, while distasteful, is objectively and important exercise. Waistline is wrong to think that the 'problem' of US-Arab relations stems from US support for Zionism. It does not. Imperialism still relies on regime relationships. Since Camp David, Jordan and Egypt are not *allies* of Israel. What the Arab street thinks is wholly irrelevant so long as these regimes remain above US criticism of their repressive apparatus. They are toady-capitalist counties that have done just fine repressing their own masses and parleying their new international stature and friendship with Israel into 'respect' among NATO and other imperialist institutions. This means that US imperialism benefits as well. Israel always represents the 'unknown' wild-man card in Imperialist politics there. They represent a constrained threat (constrained by the US, see US 'holding back' the IDF from attacking Iraq in 1992 during the first gulf war) that is easily unleashed on Arab countries that pull to hard on their puppet strings. See Iran today. How is this, *at all* a 'liability'? David ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
