US National Interest
in the Middle East
The
US military is involved in a worldwide perpetual police action due to failed
Middle East policy. It is time to rethink
our national interest and foreign policy goals.
In exchange for a few million dollars of lobby spending, the US Congress
gives Israel military aid in the billions of dollars. The direct cost of this aid is a burden on
taxpayers and the indirect cost is harmful US foreign policy. Israel spends about 10% of its national
income on its military and losing US aid would raise taxes about 10%.
Another mistake is to support Arab oil sheiks in spite of their
repressive governments. One way or
another, this feudalism will become a relic of the past. The US and the world depend on the steady
flow of oil but US economic interest in the Middle East is not
overwhelming. US firms have little
direct investment in the Middle East, mostly in the oil industry but totaling
only 5% of US investment in that industry.
The US has very little investment in Israel, mostly in banks and small
scale manufacturing, and has more invested in the Netherlands Antilles.
One
rationalization for military aid to Israel is that it is the only democracy in
the Middle East. Around the world, more
countries are adopting a US style of representative democracy. The US should openly advocate democratic
reform and eliminate foreign aid to countries in the Middle East. The present national borders in the Middle
East are the result of Western wars during the past century. The people now in Israel and Palestine have
mostly immigrated there since World War II.
With jets to the “Holy Land” the tourism stakes are high and the locals
should be allowed to settle their borders.
These steps
would redefine US national interest in the Middle East:
· End military aid to Israel
· Promote democracy and economic freedom in the Arab countries
· Recognize Palestine