Israel, the world’s firewall

Most anyone who uses a computer knows the importance of having a firewall, a network security system that protects against outside attacks from malicious predators. Not to have such a safeguard in place, is to risk the loss and corruption of one’s crucial information and valued documents, making one’s assets vulnerable to invaders.

In this way, Israel is no different. Over the course of the last 76 years, we have painstakingly developed a military that is second to none, and an intelligence network which, up until October 7, worked well to stop or prevent planned offensives against us. We have also strategically shared this type of relevant knowledge with our allies, helping them to stave off disasters, within their own borders, and that is why it is incomprehensible that anyone would look at Israel in a manner that places them on par with other countries which, sometimes, need help or assistance as they fight wars.

Tucker Carlson, generally, an astute observer of world events, their potential threats to democratic values and their ability to hurt or help others, has, in the case of Israel, decided to lump her in with other countries, such as Ukraine, which is presently fighting a war with Russia and has continuously asked for financial assistance and weapons. 

As an ex-pat American, I can certainly understand Tucker’s backing of the America First agenda, making it a priority to care for the well-being of its citizens and all that concerns the safety, security and economy of the U.S., but supporting Israel very much fits into those considerations and here are several reasons why.

Since Israel is already positioned in the midst of the location where Islamic terrorism is rife, it stands to reason that their army is in better striking distance than anyone else’s. Given their understanding of Middle-East culture and the mentality, it also makes sense that no one knows better than Israelis, how Palestinians think, process information and events as well as formulate responses and reactions. We’ve lived among them for nearly eight decades, so there’s no guesswork involved.

We also know that, sadly, the only language they understand is force. History has shown us that appeasement, overlooking infractions or prematurely extending an olive branch, often results in what is perceived to be a sign of weakness, thereby sending the message that it’s worth taking advantage of the naïve and ill-informed, which they often do. 

This is why so many of America’s strategies have not panned out. In their attempt to relate to terrorists, as they would to anyone else, they miscalculate, underestimate and foolishly believe that kindness, consideration and selflessness will yield the type of cooperative behavior they hope to achieve. To the contrary, it generally results in a contemptuous disrespect rather than mutual admiration.

Israel knows this all too well, and it also understands that in order to keep things in tow, it must be unequivocal in terms of who wields authority and who is the boss. It is the only way that the peace will be preserved, and only temporarily at that!  Because, among Palestinian extremists, there is an unrelenting impulse to conquer, no matter how great the odds are against their succeeding. While they may delay or put off the battle, they will never relinquish it. For them, it is their raison d’etre, which defines the meaning and purpose of their lives.

The fight to eradicate the terrorism, which emanates from radical Islam, is not one that even the best soldiers are able to confront. A case in point is the Soviet-Afghan War, a conflict that was ongoing for a period of over nine years, ending in total victory for the Afghani Mujahideen. Although the estimate of casualties among Afghani fighters is believed to have been in the range of between 162,579 – 192,579 – far exceeding the Soviet estimates of between 86,470 – 98,017– for the Mujahideen, including the estimated death of an additional 3,000,000 Afghani citizens, Afghanistan, nonetheless, won. 

Why? For one thing, they had the help of many foreign powers who assisted them as proxies. But mostly, it was the tenacity and indomitable persistence of these tribal people who eventually wore down the Soviets as their “military, economic and political resources became increasingly exhausted.”

In short, the fearful Russian fighters were no match for the likes of these folks. The same is true today as Israel foolishly employed a doomed strategy to appease and mollycoddle Hamas, a plan which bitterly backfired on us as we tried to do it “American style.” We won’t make that mistake twice!

But here is the reason Israel is worth supporting monetarily and through the provision of needed weapons. Because given our know-how, military power and cultural understanding, coupled with our proximity, we will be able to successfully fight a war for which no one else is equipped or even wants to attempt. It is a conflict that will suck the life out of any nation that believes that they are a formidable opponent who is able to outsmart the enemy. Because, in the end, they will end up walking away in defeat just as the Russians – but only after many young men are lost.

Israel is not only an unbeatable warrior, but we are also loyal friends to those who stand with us in our time of need. We have proven our faithful allegiance in so many ways, including the sharing of our innovative defense and weaponry technology along with our vital intelligence capabilities, giving a heads up to other nations when we discover a plot in the making. 

It was only in January, that Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies claimed to have uncovered Hamas terror network planned attacks in Europe, warning specific countries such as Denmark, Germany and Holland of impending attacks, making it possible for Hamas cells in those locations to be arrested. 

It is this kind of “cooperation with foreign partners, which has been able to build a ‘comprehensive and in-depth’ picture of Hamas’s efforts to carry out attacks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It also goes without saying that Israel, as a democracy, shares the values, ethics and moral code of civilized countries that strive for peace and work together in cooperation to help one another. 

Despite all of Israel’s present governmental challenges, we do not have a dubious president who has not given an account of how massive foreign aid funds have been used in fighting this war. With no oversight as to what has happened to the already $14 billion invested, just by the U.S., some lawmakers, who had supported Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in the past, no longer want to do so in the future. As stated by Tim Reiser, “long-time foreign policy aide to the Senate Appropriations Chief, Patrick Leahy, Ukraine has a history of corruption.”

Since there is no similarity between Israel and Ukraine in this case, it is, therefore, wrong to somehow lump these two countries together, both of whom happen to be fighting a war, but have little else in common. 

When it comes to the America First agenda, supporting Israel has to be right up there on top, with all of the other priorities, because if we don’t complete the job of an effective firewall, wiping out terrorists like Hamas, then the job will eventually and inevitably fall on the good ol’ USA.