Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi

Very interesting book, that answered a lot of lingering questions I had about the whole Israel, US and Western world spiel.

Initially I got the book because of information on world weapons market during Cold War and how superpower proxies played their roles in the process. Israel, always being a very prominent US proxy, played a significant role during this period so I was more than interested to learn more. And oh boy, what a ride.

In a very concise manner author gives an overview of show more strategically positioned military garrison states that were and remain sponsored by US - Israel as a leader and stationed in the Middle East, then countries like Rhodesia and South Africa in southern parts of Africa, Taiwan and South Korea in Asia, Argentina in Southern America to name the few. Goal of these garrisons is to be exactly that - proxies for prolonged war with the Communists (at the time when book was written late 1980's, but even then this literary meant anyone opposing US) and also later to just be a pinprick to harass the enemies of the US in their given areas (and as they so say with full mouth of pride - defend The Free World (c)). They do not have any other role than that, and as long as they can be utilized they are useful and will be kept alive. But even within this alliance of Pariah states, not all are equal nor all have same level of influence.

Of all these states, only US ally (and ally in a true sense, because Israel does not make short term relations with anyone, they ally with whoever is power to give them edge, and then they stick with them to the very end) and standalone proxy - in a way that they actually dont give sh*t about US when it comes to any reciprocity or if they feel US approach is against their own policies - is Israel.

As I have noticed in many other historical books, Israel is very interesting country, for all means and purposes military camp, partly because of the need, but like 90% because they are aware what can happen to them if they fail. State of Israel is product of old times, at its core it is Old Testament, chosen people country, and thus shares a lot with other similar states like Rhodesia and South Africa. And yes, it seems to be contradictory, especially when one takes into account horrors of WW2, but as they say reality is stranger than fiction. What amazes is that political program and view of the world that gave birth to state of Israel was not different at all from Cecil Rhodes' politics, or general great power politics (to which Rhodes was nothing but extension) in 19th and early 20th century - bringing progress and "civilization" to the barbarians. This was a shock to me, but it shows how contradictions of state of Israel's international politics can exist to begin with. How all governments of Israel - right wing and left wing, from the beginning of the state of Israel 'til the demise of some of their partners - can work with likes of apartheid South Africa and especially nutcases like Stroessner or various juntas in Central and South America.

It is for all means and purposes story of highly militarized society, very patriotic, without a doubt, but one that has no stomach for any political solutions or conversations. Yes, it is always "approach of diplomacy?, but they lie, they want to destroy us, they are just waiting" .... in truth it is subconscious feeling of guilt (which as author says is something, although not much) because they know what they have done and how they would react if they were in place of their enemies. So why bother - chose eternal war and live with it, there will be no quarters given. But these societies, and history is full of them, dont ever live long, they always overstep and get bogged down and since they do not know how to stop things never end well.

These types of societies are for expeditions to the unknown, to places unsettled because they just cannot cope with anyone at their borders, like any normal state, because everyone is threat, everyone is enemy. Even allies cannot be trusted - it is not on single occasion that state of Israel worked against or just did not care about what US wants or needs. And this is another aspect of this very adaptable (politically) society - when they need allies, oh they are ready for anything. They will do any deed required, anything and everything and anywhere in the world as long as they can also profit in any way and they can be left alone to chose meas of action. I mean that discussion how actually US owes state of Israel because what they do for US is so much more valuable, I had to chuckle. But it works. It works as it worked with UK, then with France (until De Gaulle got a bit offended when it came out OAS was working with state of Israel). I gotta give it to them, they know who they depend on most and make sure they do not lose the grip. Does it always work - of course not (although to be honest it seems it was 50/50 'til end of Cold War with higher success rate after) but they try, they fight tooth and nail. But ultimate irony is that they do not solve anything but burn everything around - chapters on role and purpose of alliances with Turkey, Iran ad South Africa in 1960's were very eye opening, especially very hard links with Iran. It is not that they do anything to better their position and establish at least some type of relations with their neighbors - sole goal is to have everyone around them wither and die, no mater what it takes - neighbors just cannot be trusted.

When consistency is being discussed, state of Israel is very consistent, always was and will be - for them nothing changed form 1948.

To make things funnier, they soon became a role model to many [as author calls them] conservative states that saw state of Israel as a country of strong people, ready to go that extra mile, not worry about any international laws, and get the job done, as they say in the song "knee deep in gore" if required. Paraguay, Uruguay, South Africa [in the 1980s] ... is it strange that many monarchical Arab states that live in fear of their own populace use same services today? Cold-bloodiness and ruthlessness sells well, especially with all required equipment, so business is good but how long do these mimicking societies actually survive until threshold is reached and rulers are wiped out? Is Israeli model, true model to follow - Israel is homogeneous, while parties that mimic them are not, so how can they succeed?

Position of state of Israel today is basically come-back of 1980's. End of Cold War was an aberration and since 1990's US started on the same path (with rest of the Western world) as state of Israel - following the "exceptionalism" of US model (variation of chosen people paradigm - the light bearers to the wild barbarians). When big brother acts like his smaller and younger brother [from another mother] and with all high orality associated with it then everything is justified and made right - right?

Unfortunately US and West squandered period of almost 40 years same way state of Israel squandered their entire time post establishment. They all followed might-makes-right approach until they hit the wall ...... and now they find themselves isolated from their other allies and question is how should they proceed? Apparently solution is to integrate themselves more in - yes, you are correct - military and intelligence functions, for all means and purposes making them a single powerful military machine. Oh yeah, this will help.

Irony (one of many) is that dislike of soft power, of humble approach to life, of diplomacy - that eternal US model of winners vs losers, where the latter need to bow down and be used if they cannot react with might. Bleeding hearts are to be used and subdued .... but then again, weren't the bleeding hearts ones that tried to fix something in 1948 ...... weird .....

It is so sad, it is ..... catastrophic. But as they say wheel turns all the time, although I truly wish to be living in time without these evolutions. There is no more dangerous time than that when person-with-the-hammer to whom every problem is a nail is told that hammer is not answer to everything. What a crude awakening!

Hopefully we will survive.

Excellent book, shows that after intermezzo of few decades we are back to the late 1980's crazy timeline but this time without anyone at political helm in the West who knows what war and devastation are, and at the same time more destructive power available to everyone involved. You know - just to juice it a bit up......

Highly recommended. show less