Which candidate do you think will support our only ally, Israel, in the Middle East?

LTC Thomas Tennant — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:03:35 -0400

I think when push come to shove, if they want the Jewish vote they all will say just about anything. However, Cruz and Trump would do the better job in supporting Israel.

Response by SPC Corbin Sayi made Mar 22 at 2016 3:05 PM

SPC Corbin Sayi — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:05:54 -0400

Agree with Trump. He knows it already works. Israel isn't our only ally, btw. There are Kurds and Turks (provided Erdogan and his extremist party gets eliminated).

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 22 at 2016 3:08 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:08:07 -0400

Because clearly the right wing evangelical Christian candidates would be more supportive of Israel than the lone Jewish candidate?

That makes sense....

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Mar 22 at 2016 3:11 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:11:03 -0400

What "real" ally do we have in the ME? When I look at a map of that area, all I see is a series of "evils". Which one is the lesser of the other? Out of the candidates listed, ALL of them would pledge to do whatever to get a vote. So ALL of them are on equal footing.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 22 at 2016 3:14 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:14:34 -0400

LTC Thomas Tennant I think that Ted Cruz would support Israel as well as the Kurdish Peshmerga and I expect he might be tough on Turkey as long as they are pursuing a hardline intolerant policy on their own non-Sunni Muslim citizens and the Kurds. I expect he would also support Egypt to the degree that they are assisting us with Libya and the Sinai.
2nd best I think that John Kasich would treat our long-term ally Israel as well
3rd best I believe that Donald Trump would do a much better job than Hillary or Bernie Sanders.
I concur with SPC Corbin Sayi's assessment of the Erdogan-led government of Turkey.

Response by CMSgt Bill Ford made Mar 22 at 2016 3:24 PM

CMSgt Bill Ford — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:24:04 -0400

Define support?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 3:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:30:44 -0400

Sort of a trick question as this only allows one selection. The only candidate that I believe would not support Israel with military force (if Israel were to be attacked) is Bernie Sanders. The other four I have no doubt would come to Israel's defense.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Mar 22 at 2016 3:32 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:32:00 -0400

Easy choice.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Mar 22 at 2016 3:32 PM

MSgt Stephen Council — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:32:55 -0400

Please define Ally. I do not want to seem belligerent, but we have more than one ally in the Middle East. I respectfully decline to name a candidate as I don't think any of them tell the whole truth on the campaign trail. We will only know when/if they get elected.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 3:43 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:43:10 -0400

I hate to quote films, but I love that line from Bond, "Oh, that's right...we only do business with NICE people!"

Let's be honest-We've learned little from how the Brits managed (or rather, mis-managed) the Middle East after the Turks. We want to try and view millennia old feuds through a lens that is focused only on the world post 1948. We forget how the "Arabs" came to be...instead of the panoply of tribal identities they emerged from. We forget that "Israel" sits on land that was conquered many times...Babylonians, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Muslims...Christians...but still, the Hebrews came back.

Mostly, we forget that Israel is a state that was formed by displaced Europeans, and therefore "thinks" like a Western nation...has a Western cultural link. Our airmen went from fighting the Luftwaffe to fighting in their war for Independence. American money and arms has kept them secure against repeated attempts at incursion. For decades, they've held the first line of defense against extremism. We've earned the right to be their benefactor, and they, our client.

But the next President should be warned-Israel has a lot in common with Russia too.

Our feud with the "Bear" has cast a false light on the fact that Russians and Israelis have common heritage, common enemies, and common sentiments. Whereas we seem to struggle with the hard facts, Moscow and Jerusalem seem to understand that old Bedouin saying, "I against my brother, my brother and I against my cousin, and my cousin and I against the stranger". Trump, Cruz, Clinton...whoever...If we're not careful, or if we, like the British, believe we can ever truly "stabilize" the Middle East...we may wake up one day as a second-string player in the region.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 22 at 2016 3:46 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:46:26 -0400

Since there wasn't an all of the I chose the most likely. They all will support Israel. The question is, which will be a friend to Israel, rather than doing what is necessary to bet by.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 3:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:48:47 -0400

What happened to Jodan, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia as being our allies?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 22 at 2016 3:55 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:55:56 -0400

The question on its face is flawed.

Israel is not our "only ally" in the Middle East. Jordan is a prime example or a long standing "ally" in the Middle East. Technically speaking the days or Allies and Enemies are long gone.

We have Nations whose "current and specific interests" either align or do not align with ours. Israel is one of those, just like Saudi Arabia. Every sovereign nation looks out for THEIR own interests, and if those happen to align with OUR interests, more the better. If they don't, they will sell us out. Just like we will to them.

We got caught spying on our "friends" or "allies" or whatever you want to call them during the Snowden fiasco, and although everyone got huffy about it, you can be sure everyone knew it was happening, and everyone would do the exact same thing in the name of Diplomacy.

We don't have Friends. We have Nations who we are currently "friendly" with. Israel is one of those Nations, but if we can get a better deal out of Iran, we will, and if that means Iran gets screwed... that's Diplomacy.

As for the Jewish vote, it's 1.4% of the US population, and leans HEAVILY Democratic Party (70%+) in the US.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 4:06 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:06:14 -0400

John Kasich has a long record of support to Israel; the other candidates do not.
Having said that, Israel has been unhelpful with the current gong show in the middle east, save for staying out of the way. The solutions to the ISIS and other issues in the area lies with other partners.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 4:52 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:52:26 -0400

I'd pick any of the Republicans, but Trump seems to be the most willing to use foreign and understands not tipping your hand. Under Clinton's watch, we lost Egypt as an ally, Yemen began slipping (before it finally went under), and we stood silent as coup d'états ravaged Central America. Not to mention that she has a special contempt for the military (accounts from military members serving around her and even the JCS under her husband found her to be less than cordial. She demanded the Chiefs not wear their uniforms to the White House). Sanders doesn't have the balls or stomach for military action and he flat out doesn't understand security constructs or the military (or basic economics).

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 22 at 2016 4:56 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:56:39 -0400

2012
Speaking at the Saban Forum, Clinton says Israel lacks generosity and empathy in its approach to the Palestinian issue. “So, look, I’m not making excuses for the missed opportunities of the Israelis, or the lack of generosity, the lack of empathy that I think goes hand-in-hand with the suspicion,” she says. “So, yes, there is more that the Israelis need to do to really demonstrate that they do understand the pain of an oppressed people in their minds, and they want to figure out, within the bounds of security and a Jewish democratic state, what can be accomplished.”

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2016 5:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:15:59 -0400

I believe Bernie Sanders would be the best ally to Israel, not just because he himself is Jewish but because he can align himself with Israeli political moderates without being considered anti-Semitic. The right will still call him a self-hating Jew, however I don't believe the public will buy into that nonsense.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Mar 22 at 2016 5:43 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:43:42 -0400

First, want to get off my chest, the fact that the poster did NOT put the "p" on Trump. Sad. I agree with you, LTC Thomas Tennant, that Trump or Cruz would support Israel in any capacity in the Middle East.

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 22 at 2016 7:41 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 19:41:14 -0400

I find the question a rather curious assertion as we have US military bases and or installations in Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, P'Stan, A'Stan, T'Stan. While I know such a presence doesn't always equate to an ally (Gitmo in Cuba) some of those that do are considered major non-NATO supporters. In fact there are five countries that the US has designated as such: Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain and Morocco. As well there is Turkey a member of NATO. The apparent insinuation in the question that Israel is the only Middle Eastern ally that counts – whether deliberate or accidental – would be a strange rejection of the eight countries in the region that certainly look like American allies. Personally I don't feel that any of the candidates have a grasp of the situation - I would bet if asked with out any preparation to name the county, leader and ruling sect all candidates would find this equally difficult. None of them have a poli sci background and I would consider them all equally dangerous mucking about in the region.

Response by Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 8:59 AM

Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:59:49 -0400

Israel is a waste of our time and money. We are spending billions of dollars protecting a country that isn't even our own and what do we get back from them. Israel is stealing information from our country and we haven't done anything. We also have a trade defeceit with Israel that no one is talking about. So why should we supporting Israel like we are today.