As ideological state the US is not tied to the petty self-interests of other states, but to its own political religion of democracy. To betray a democracy in favor of a dictatorship undermines the internal morality of the state, the reason for the existence of the US. All this is a fancy way of saying the US cannot betray Israel without at the same time betraying its own reason to exist.

BTW Comrade Obama has been trying to undermine the US political religion from day one. Just look at Honduras. George F. Kennan predicted that the Soviet Union would fall due to the internal contradictions of its ideology. I predict likewise for the US. Either we will get rid of the Marxists or they will set up a dictatorship of the bureaucrat (a benign tyranny) like they have in Europe.

But as Conservatives we should distinguish this from a reverential memory of where we came from, who our people were, what they considered worthy and honorable. Apart for those brief and cruel times, when we had to ask our German and Japanese countrymen to turn their backs on their old homelands, America has always respected this.

But for the rest of us, it’s OK to fly the Italian flag, the Irish flag, the Israeli flag, just fly ours higher. Everybody seems to get that. I hope that includes the Conco de Mayos and the Allah Uber Alles groups, but frankly I have my doubts.

So, there’s nothing suspicious in Koch’s sentiments, but like many good Americans he is being a naive fool about the president we saddled ourselves with. And if I were the Israeli General Staff (is there one?) I’d be planning the 6-Minute War.

That said, I regard Israel not only as an important ally but a vital stronghold of Western Civilization in the Middle East. If the U.S. government ever turns against Israel, I will have a serious problem with that.

As for Israel and America. I see it as the relationship between two families that have much in common and even some relatives by marriage. Israel is a family that lives in a tough neighborhood surrounded by a thugs that not only hate them, but hate us as well. We should do all we can to support our friend Israel because they are actually a proxy for us and freedom loving peoples everywhere. Some believe that if Israel ceases to exist, the trouble with Islam will go away. Most of us on the right disagree. Just because we don’t live in the immediate neighborhood of the thugs does not mean that we aren’t next if Israel disappears.

America and Israel can disagree but neither of us should take our eyes off the main threat. Too many lefties have done just that.

However, this question of loyalty to a nation state is, IMO, not straightforward. I have a longstanding, deep distrust of the people who are in control of the federal government. What they tell us is in the best interests of our economy or our security has not matched up to my POV on occasions too numerous to list. I am loyal to my own instincts before all else.

We humans can’t say never again about any atrocity. Sooner or later people are going to lose all sense of reason and do a repeat.

Mayor Koch, I have two words for you: Samantha Powers. And you’re surprised it turned out badly? I’m suprised you’re suprised.