YORAM ETTINGER: US-ISRAEL: A TWO WAY STREET MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP
US-Israel Ties: A Two Way Street Mutually-Beneficial Relationship
Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought: A US-Israel Initiative”
Passover Hymn, Da’ye’nu: “How many degree of beneficence hath the Almighty
conferred upon us?! If He had brought us forth from Egypt, and had not
executed judgment upon the Egyptians, it would have sufficed (Da’ye’nu)…
If He had inflicted justice upon them…, it would have sufficed
(Da’ye’nu’)…”
If Israel were merely the most effective battle-tested laboratory available
to the USA, the source for over 600 modifications of the F-16, and thousands
of cutting-edge modifications in hundreds additional US military systems,
enhancing US national security, while providing the US defense industries a
unique mega-billion dollars competitive edge in the global market, expanding
US employment, research & development and export infrastructures – Da’ye’nu
(it would have sufficed to crown Israel as a unique two-way-street ally of
the USA);
If Israel were merely the source of breakthrough battle tactics, which were
the first to penetrate/jam/destroy the most sophisticated Soviet/Russian
surface-to-air missile batteries and radar systems, in addition to
transferring to the US the first Soviet MIG-21 and 23 and other Soviet
military systems, which tilted global balance of power in favor of the USA,
providing the US defense industries with mega-billion dollars bonanza –
Da’ye’nu;
If Israel were merely the source of intelligence – shared with the USA –
which exceeds the scope of intelligence received by the US from all NATO
countries combined (according to Senator Daniel Inouye, former Chairman of
the Senate Intelligence Committee and current Chairman of the full
Appropriations Committee) and is equal to five CIAs (according to retired
General George Keegan, former Chief of US Air Force Intelligence) –
Da’ye’nu;
If Israel were merely the country which destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor in
1981 (in defiance of global opposition), thus providing the USA a
conventional option in the 1991 Gulf War, sparing the US a potential
traumatic nuclear confrontation – Da’ye’nu;
If Israel were merely a source of battle-proven experience and military
systems – combating IEDs, car bombs, suicide bombers and generic terrorism –
shared with US Special Operations units, which battle Islamic terrorists in
Iraq and Afghanistan, thus minimizing US losses – Da’ye’nu;
If – as stated by the late General Alexander Haig, former Supreme Commander
of NATO and former Secretary of State -Israel were merely the largest
American aircraft carrier which does not require a single American
personnel, which cannot be sunk, which is the most battle-tested and
cost-effective, and located in a region, which is critical to vital US
economic and national security interests – Da’ye’nu;
If there would not be an Israel in the eastern flank of the Mediterranean,
and the US would have to deploy to the region real aircraft carriers with
tens of thousands of American servicemen, costing the US taxpayers $20BN
annually and possibly dragging the US into local and regional conflicts –
all of which has been spared by the existence and capabilities of the Jewish
State – Da’ye’nu;
If there would not be havoc in Arab lands, highlighting the Jewish State as
the only stable, reliable, credible, capable, predictable, democratic and
non-conditional ally of the USA – Da’ye’nu;
If Israel were not the place where- according to Warren Buffett – hundreds
of major American companies and investors shop for innovative ideas, which
they transform into technologies, products and manufacturing lines,
benefitting both American and Israeli employment, trade, research &
development and exports – Da’ye’nu;
If Israel were not the source of hundreds of revolutionary medical device,
healthcare, telecommunications, Internet, laptops, cellular and social
networking technologies/products.- enhancing quality of life in the US and
throughout the globe – Da’ye’nu;
If US-Israel covenant were not uniquely based on shared values (dating back
to the Pilgrims and the US Founding Fathers), joint interests and mutual
threats – Da’ye’nu (It would have sufficed to crown Israel as a unique
two-way-street ally of the USA).
Happy Passover!
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