Reply #3: "Spin" I think is the word...

[shaayecanaan]

He argues that Israel is a hubbub of commercial activity and it comes up with all sorts of technological marvels - including, apparently, the bandage that was used to staunch the head wound of Gabrielle Giffords.

All well and good, but presumably the Israeli firm that makes the bandage sold it to an American hospital, at a market price, in an arms-length transaction. Most probably that same Israeli firm would sell the bandage to China, or to anyone else that asked for it. Presumably it is not necessary to have a military alliance with Israel in order to get their bandages.

He then goes on to quote a military chappie who says that Israel is the "most unsinkable aircraft carrier" in the middle East. I think "the most unusable aircraft carrier" would be more apt. The US does its utmost to refrain from Israeli involvement in its military endeavours in order to try and keep its Arab allies on board.

Moreover, if the Israeli economy is forging ahead at such a cracking pace, one would have thought it about time they stopped sucking on Uncle Sugar's sagging teats to the tune of $3 billion a year.