is it because of the Israel lobby, or because Israel serves some sort of strategic purpose?
Mearsheimer seems to think that it's mostly because of the lobby. I think I agree with him; I really can't think of any unique strategic purpose that Israel serves for the US. if Israel disappears tomorrow, the US still has colossal military bases in the Gulf states, it still has friendly governments in Jordan and Egypt, it occupies Syria and Iraq, it has ISIS to stage crazy terrorist attacks, etc. what exactly does Israel do that's worth all the negatives for the US?
I watched Finkelstein's recent interview on Al Jazeera and he mentioned he disagreed with Mearsheimer. just curious what everyone here thinks.
Unlike other vassals outside of the anglo islands and frogland, the zionists have their own nukes (I know Japan and maybe the RoK have the capability to develop nukes quickly, but it's not the same as having preexisting wmds. Being under america's nuclear umbrella also isn't the same.)
That alone gives them tremendous leverage, in addition to the various reasons that others have commented on this thread