Bodolza wrote on Aug 7, 2012, 15:34:
As for Israel, I'm not sure what you're referencing, but can someone explain to me the hard-on conservatives have for Isreal? I honestly don't get it. We, the American taxpayers, give them billions of dollars of aid every year, and I don't know why.
Because, shut up! That's why!
Joking aside, Israeli issues have a stranglehold on US foreign policy for a couple of reasons. First, AIPAC (Israel lobby) is a huge donor to both parties and almost every campaign. Second is that a lot of congress folks, being older, still wax nostalgic about the Great War and what happened to the Jews during that conflict, and feel a special obligation to protect them.
Israel has a pop of 8 mil. We give them 8 bil in aid, or $1000 per man, woman, and child. It's ridiculous. What's best for Israel isn't what's best for America, but many politicians conflate the two, as do many countries. It's very dangerous, and doesn't serve our interests.
EDIT: What Cutter said.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!