Friday, March 06, 2015

Let us do what Bibi does - put our country's interests first

As I noted, I asked my Senators what they learned from Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress.  So far there has been no answer.
.
But I have watched the speech and the PM's responses before the speech and I did learn a lo.  One of my lessons was Prime Minister Netanyahu made perfect sense when he was asked to not give the speech.  He said, that while he respected the President of the United States (and waited for the laughter to die down) he needed to do what was in the national interest of Israel - not the United States.
.
Fair.  Fully fair.  That is his job.
.
Equally fair then to ask then, "What is in the national interest of the United States?"
.
Right?

.
I mean, we are NOT less patriotic than Israel, right?  What is in our national interest?
.
And, - to be honest, we don't have much of a horse in the race about Iran's nuclear weapons.
.
Have you noticed who is involved in the discussions, the "5+1" group?  France, UK, Germany, Russia, China and the US.  Of the six we are far and away the most removed from any threat.... Russia Borders Iran, the three European countries and China are a short missile ride away.  They should care a hell of a lot more than us.
.
We don't really need the oil from the Persian Gulf anymore.
.
We are, in fact, depending on Iranian forces against ISIS.
.
If Israel wants to go to war with them, fine.  Israel has more 100 nuclear weapons themselves, including those on submarines.  They have the "iron-dome" (which we paid for).  Fighter planes, bombers and the best weapons systems than can design, buy or build.  We send them 3 Billion dollars a year.  It may or may not be in their national interest to go to war with Iran, but it is not our national interest.
.
"But Scott," one might say, "they are our ally and we should treat them as such."
.
Of course we should.  We should treat them as an ally - not as a Republican or some Texas state politician trying to dictate terms. If attacked, we should help defend Israel.  But it is NOT in our national interest to provoke problems, to start conflicts or to piss off Iran as we are fighting next to against a common foe (ISIS).
.
You see - I did listen to Bibi in Congress.  I did take his advice.  Not to shut up when our national interests are at stake.  And they are not here.
.
The United States isn't on this map because - Iran's Missiles can't reach us. See not in our national interests