WE’RE REALISTS, EXCEPT FOR ISRAEL, WHICH GETS OUR UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT: A realist would look at the Middle East and see that our interests are limited to preventing terrorism and keeping the oil flowing. The GOP, however (this is not limited to Trump) wants to give a blank check to Israel; Nikki Haley even argues that America needs Israel more than Israel needs us, which is ludicrous, as Iran only represents an existential threat to the Jewish state. Why are the Israelis so exceptional?
If the GOP position is based on the fact that Israel is an island of democracy in a sea of despotism, it violates the realist principle that I discussed in a previous post. I think it is more likely that Israeli exceptionalism is grounded in two things: first, the fundamentalist base loves Jews, as long as they are in Israel and not here; and second, the GOP admires swagger, and the Israelis are very good at kicking ass in their neighborhood.
It is worth noting that while Trump will give the green light to Israeli military adventures, it is far from certain that he will want to join them. Bibi clearly doesn’t want to take on Iran without active American involvement. As to that, we will have to wait and see.