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Entry: A Patriotic Thought Experiment Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/a_patriotic_thought_experiment#2090 Post contents: As an isolationist, I'm not in favor of any U.S support for Israel. That being said, I'm still "on their side". Israel has offered land for peace. It gave up land, but it did not get peace. Israel's neighbors have repeatedly attempted to destroy it ("Drive the Jews into the sea", I believe is the phrase), but it was beyond their capability. Israel has such a military advantage over Palestine that it could drive them into, if not the sea, other Arab muslim countries (these countries, of course, while denouncing Israel for creating refugees refuse to allow the refugees to settle as normal citizens in fear that would legitimize Israel's holding of Palestinian land). Israel is a liberal democracy, where Arab muslims can vote, hold seats in the Knesset and denounce the policies of the government of Israel. Politics in Palestine consists of Fatah and Hamas shooting each other in between launching rockets toward Israel. Rather than causing starvation, Israeli occupation has, if anything, <a href="http://volokh.com/posts/1153141591.shtml">raised the standard of living</a>. If Israel had not occupied those territories, they would still be part of Egypt and Jordan, where things are worse. If Israel disappeared, the region would be devoid of anything resembling a functioning country with any freedom. If Palestine did (let's imagine all the Gazans wind up in Egypt and the West Bankers in Jordan), what would be the loss? I hope for Israel's sake that they get the proposed wall built quickly and then stay the hell behind it, but I doubt the Palestinians will be able to improve things for themselves. To any of you who say my points here could have applied to the British Empire, I say so what? I'm glad that my country of birth and residence (the United States) was a colony of the British and I'm glad that of my ancestors (Ireland) was occupied by them as well. The English knew how to run a livable place, and a great many of their former subjects have done a lousy job of governing themselves. Sent at: 2008 11 23