Stable Syria is a puzzle piece to a stable region. Israel is the odd man out, has been since its conception, and causes more trouble than it's worth. Syria's economy is pretty useless to us, true. That would also make its destabilization equally important. Fact is in this instance, protracting instability costs lives and not much else, something bombing is not going to help.
The middle east is actually decreasing in importance for oil, as our 20 year move is to become as energy independent as possible, hence expansion of upstream oil and gas in the US combined with alternative energy research and energy efficiency incentives.
You're right, Israel won't crack NATO, another fairly impotent international organization. However, Israel is also of little economic significance, their weapons research is a drop in the pale to anywhere else, and in fact, they are much more dependent on us for weapons research and funding. We also pay them a couple billion a year in foreign aid, also insignificant when looking at our greater economy, but when looking at their FDI and trade, they hardly make up the difference. Let's also remember that the given reason for 9/11 by Osama was our policy with Israel, and that much terrorism is directed at us because of our support for Israel. Compound that with displacing millions of people, Israel ignoring our directives for halting settlements, bombing Beirut's airport and the other thousands of deaths from bombing campaigns and Mossad raids, Israel does nothing for us. It has officially cost us. Don't pretend like it's of any value anymore.
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09-06-2013, 02:08 PM
Hybrid Mode
