Israel and Iran (and weapons, oh my!)

I got a nasty look from someone in London when I was introduced as American. I thought that was just because she was a Euro, I don't have a good opinion of them based on the ones I have met here in Japan. This girl was a friend of my teacher's daughter. I mentioned the look I got to my teacher, and she mentioned that the girl was Palestinian. Thus she hates America. I am slightly confused because my teacher also said she was Italian. One or the other, or both, she definitely gave me a nasty look and had a "Troops Home" poster in her bedroom. I think about her when I read articles about Israel.

Via Drudge I ran across this interesting article on Israel's policy toward Iran. The headline seems a little bit laughable to me. Israel does not have the resources, seemingly anyway, to mount a unilateral attack on anyone. They are already fighting off the Palestinian rebels and God alone knows who else. Thinking about it, you kind of have to feel bad for them regardless of your views. These guys are fighting rebels who are financed by Syria, Iran, and probably Saudi Arabia. I guess everyone hates the Jews. I thought that was passe. Of course, I thought that about socialism too but it seems that lots of people cling to played out ideologies.

But I did think of some interesting things while reading this article. Considering the Iraq war and its surrounding events a few things are important to consider. US allies such as Britain and Poland probably did not want to get drawn into the conflict (come on, who would? war stinks). But because they were allies they did what they had to do. Since the US is allied with Israel, if Israel decided to launch a unilateral attack- would we be obligated to follow? Does Israel think we would be obligated to follow? Does our obligation (or lack thereof) make a difference in their foreign policy?

I found this specific line to be interesting.

He [Sharon] said that Iran should be prevented from acquiring such arms, because "One should avoid development of nuclear weapons by irresponsible countries."

Ignoring the bad grammar of the quote (and the confusion that could arise from it), Sharon makes a good point. People criticize Americans for believing that other countries should not have nuclear weapons. Why should you criticize, they ask, when you are the world's largest nuclear power? Well, Sharon has an answer: it is disturbing when nations that finance terrorism and squash the liberties of their own subjects wish to procure weapons that could allow them to subjugate other countries. I don't think you can really argue that Iran is a more responsible country than the US. Sorry, but when you can burn your head of state in effigy and not worry about the repercussions, you live in a pretty responsible state.

Israel has a pretty legitimate fear of Iran. They are a tiny Jewish country in a hostile region of large, rich, Jew-hating countries. They are a tiny island of democratic self-governance in a vast despotic Ocean of sand (and oil). You have to admit, as an underdog they do pretty well. Well, I guess you wouldn't admit it if you were a European/Palestinian living in a very expensive 2 story condo in downtown London. Then, you can criticize anyone. And give them nasty looks. Because you have such a mature and well thought-out position and you deign to share it with your object of scorn. I wonder if she hates the Jews too. I will never understand the whole idea of anti-semitism.