We American Jews will oppose any US troops defending you. Do not count on America defending you if you withdraw from the West Bank or the Golan.

I find it hard to watch the groveling, dependency and self-abasement on the part of Israel's prime minister. Weren't ben Gurion and Golda Meir better despite their short-comings? Sure does not make me proud to be a Jew in the midst of all this schnoring!

But if we had real leaders with a very clear & realistic vision, who had the support of the Israeli public (unlike Olmert) & who were determined to defend our interests, we are perfectly able to influence policy in Washington. Unfortunately, our political elite is trapped in the "Oslo" mentality, for lack of a better term. Perhaps worse, none of our politicians have any real vision, any strategic thinking, perhaps not even the intellectual level, to formulate policies in our interests. They don't even have the intellectual honesty to learn from past experience (like Barak & Peres). Our political system just does not produce capable politicians. Instead we get unprincpled political hacks with only short-term self-interest to guide them. So, we do not act, we only react. More than anything else, this is why we are so dependant.

"In 18 months time, in January 2009" The elections take place in November 2008!!!!

I would like to hear your analysis.. thanks

Dear Nachum Barnea shelanu, Only Kissinger makes sense in how best to deal with current Iran. Bush and Olmert would be wise to get his advise, and quickly! Let's not act foolishly as in Iraq and Lebanon. Respectfully, Bill

B"H The real danger of Gaza is it is Iran's land bridge to Israel. Iran has no need for fancy ballistics if it can wage its proxy war via Gaza. Yet Israel has no counter-land-bridge to Iran. Gaza is also a land bridge to Egypt, so Egypt, Jordan, and Israel face a mutual threat.

Of course we are not such the linear people we are portrayed to be. We can and will think for ourselves but, "defending" Eretz Yisrael if the situation warrants is nearly 100% guaranteed. The government of Israel is not always perfect and sometimes appears to function a little outside of Torah on the periphery of the law but, I can honestly say that I am proud of the honor and courage the people display almost daily just look at the situation and you will see that in so many ways what it is obvious. Israel, to it's own peril - many years ago stopped conducting security operations globally and has nearly focused 100% of its attention on internal stability, defense and prosperity. Can you honestly point to any other countries surrounded by adversaries that has such a lack of concern for utilizing an expeditionary defense apparatus? Just examine all the compositions of these UN expeditionary coalitions. I am just afraid that "we" in the never ending pursuit of a collective soul of decency and correctness and the battle against seemingly insurmountable negative perceptions have become naught except beggars to our own demise. There is a line in the movie (Last Samurai) that I feel is Apropos to the situation "as I perceive it". The Character of Emperor Meiji "I have dreamed of a Japan strong and Independent and modern! But, we cannot forget who it is and where it is that we come from. (substitute Japan with Israel for my example) Now I know this may seem a bit Wagnerian but, for the last 20 years of US military service I have endured daily expressions of arrogance, supremacy and anti-Semitic rants and tirades by Service members to include senior officers that are not capable of acknowledging even the smallest significance of anything other than their own cultural norms and anything even sightly different is met with hostility and bigotry. This whole jaded attitude permeates the entire decision making process and creates conditions that are exceedingly dangerous. Coming to the aid of Israel if needed is a minor concession and one worthy of admiration P.E.R.I.O.D. Am Yisreal Chai Shalom