[joOEMcheapSOFTWARE]

No material benefits seem to accrue. Combination of guilt and spiritual things got/keeps us engaged. From a Civ game perspective, they are way more trouble to prop up than the benefits for doing so. Not that any politician in national office would ever say so.

[infelconi]

It pisses off Eurocommies. How is that not a plus?

I tought we Eurocommies where irrelevant?

[violalmina]

The answer is we don't need them. They cause more problems than they solve.

But in the event Saudi Arabia doesn't allow us to use their land for staging air strikes, then their land may prove more useful. But I don't even think we have a single air base there, unlike in Saudi Arabia.

[fedelwet]

Well, them Islamnazis. Whatever, it is fun to watch all the ranting when those countries know they will be obliviated if they fool with th Holy Land in a serious way. (Think that might explain Iran's nuclear weapons program?)

But seriusly is this worth the money you are spending?

[MilenaJaf]

there's your first mistake

Trying to set a rational course for US foreign policy?

[homerdienru]

Where would you put all your jews?

[Giselle]

Where would you put all your jews?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Autonomous_Oblast

[Saispapedlimi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Autonomous_Oblast

I doubt russia would want that now.

[Dayreive]

ovens

tsk tsk tsk.

[wrbwrbwrb]

True but is that worth a constant strain on relations with the Arab League?


Also isn't Turkey just as reliable?

Let me frame it this way: what possible benefits to you stand to gain from the arab league?

Oil? It is depletable, used as a political tool, and soon enough the world will move to alternative energies.


I'm not sure about turks. They're a possiblity though riskier than Israel. Iranians could also be a great ally once the grow over their mullahs in power stage. I think that any Islamic country is a weaker option for you, because they're more volatile, less predictable, and have a different culture and mindset.

I would expect christian arabs in Lebanon to be a viable option but they are too weak and too small in number.

[janeemljr]

tsk tsk tsk.

c'mon, you knew that was coming

[giturbewan]

ovens

Isn't such a statement technically illegal in many countries?

[BitStillrhile]

since when?

stable? predictable?

I know each day that the sun is going to rise and set with the Saudis being a repressive regime that wants to get rich on oil money. They don't invade anybody, they don't occupy other people. They don't kill thousands of civilians on a whim. I can eat, sleep, and **** on the stability of the Saudis. They are stable and predictable. Evil, sure. But stable and predictable.

You are vastly under informed.
The house of Saud is weak. An over throw there is much more likely than an overthrow of the Israeli democracy.

Saudis have been for years not only excusing, but as a matter of policy financing the people who bombed you, provided them with ideological justification and indoctrination.

Now Israel? God only knows the next time they'll send tanks into Gaza or start some shitstorm in Lebanon... or do God knows what else that will further piss off the Muslims. If you think this is done without consulting the US, or in the context of a mutual understanding, you're similarly under informed about your own foreign policy.

Not to mention we're always very foreseeable - if we're attacked, we strike back hard. Your trouble is the nations that spurt random terrorist attacks, against Israel or against you.

[Opinion_counts]

the German government can suck my dick

This is completley unrealted but your avatar's hot, who's the girl?

[Seilehogshell]

are you sure you want it?

after a few beers, I'd tit**** the hell out of those

[Uvgsgssu]

i dunno
something random i saw

i like female asses

Female asses saving manking from extinction since 75000BC

[janeloveslifenow]

ovens

[lidersontop]

America gains very little from having Israel as an ally. Of course, America gains very little from the NATO alliance, as well. Very few of America's allies are actually worth much.

Drake is rather incorrect here. He's only looking at things from a direct benefit point of view. In the case of NATO, the United States benefits very much from handling Europe's defense, as it means Europe won't become a military rival to the United States, even though it is not only more than capable, if it wanted to, it could build a bigger and more technologically superior military.

In the case of Israel, the U.S. benefits from Israel's ability to keep the Arab nations divided. If the if the oil producing Arab countries had united, as they were attempting to do, it would have given them much greater control over their oil. Instead of a dozen countries competing with each other, you'd have one. In addition, Israel can law down the smack down when the Empire needs it done without getting its hands dirty directly.

[soydaykam]

as it means Europe won't become a military rival to the United States, even though it is not only more than capable, if it wanted to, it could build a bigger and more technologically superior military.



The Euros are far more likely to engage in another arms race and destroy themselves in another great war before they ever unite to build a military that could threaten the U.S.

[Pmeidstc]

They are unified against Israel. They are not unifying with each other. Israel's regular trouncing of them helped cause the United Arab Republic to fall apart, for example.

Funny, US-Israel relations weren't nearly as close at the time as they are now.