Reply #59: Simplistic

[Coastie for Truth]

If the US' policy in the Middle East was simply a result of the oil industry's lobbying, then Israel itself would have ceased to exist long ago. The US would have been allied with the Arab nations and would have assisted them to "wipe Israel off the map" in return for favourable oil concessions. The fact the US has NOT done this is due to the Israel lobby.

Israel's very presence serve a valuable purpose for the Arab potentates and dictatorships. They can scapegoat all of their problems -- lack of democracy, need for dictatorships and authoritarian regimes, women's issues, state religions and religious through police - on Israel. Id est - "We have to do things to protect (pick one:the Muslim world, the sanctity of Mecca, the Al Aqsa Mosque) from the Israelis."

Just like Bush is using "terra" to justify surveillance and the Patriot Act and tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% and destroying the safety net - "terra." It don't make no sense - but the sheeple buy it.