It's Never Been About Anything Else

My son walked in as I was watching the news the other day, and he asked me, "So, now that bin Laden is dead, does that mean the War on Terror is over?"  I shook my head, "no," and said, "bin Laden was just one man.    We didn't cut the head off of a snake, we just cut one off of a hydra."  He gave a quick nod of understanding, then said, with an annoyed sort of confusion, "why do they want to kill us, anyway?"  Well, I could have given him the old George Bush line, they're jealous, they hate our freedom, blah blah blah...but that isn't it, not truly.  No, it's because we support Israel. Groups like al Qaeda  launch attacks on Americans because they think if they kill enough Americans, America will change its' policies in the Middle East, that we will forsake the only democratic nation and our only real friend in the region, Israel.  To put it bluntly, they hate Jews.  There will never be any successful peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians because the Palestinians do not now, nor will they ever recognize Israel's right to exist.  Up until 1948, the land that is now Israel was under British rule.  When Israel declared itself an independent nation in may of that year, the were attacked the very next day by a total of four different nations- Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.  Yemen would have attacked, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have an army.  That ought to tell you something.  In fact, everywhere from the streets of Hell's Kitchen in New York to the Warsaw ghetto in Poland, everywhere Jews have tried to live in peace, they are persecuted, blamed, threatened, and killed.  They were enslaved by Egypt. They were thrown out of Spain.  They were murdered by the millions in Germany and across Europe. Why?  Because they are Jews.  Palestinians and other Arab Muslims will tell you that America and Great Britain have been interfering in Middle Eastern affairs for far too long.  What that really means is, "throw the Jews under the bus and we'll stop flying planes into your buildings."  It doesn't matter how much land Israel gives up, or what any President of the United States says.  The Arab Muslim world will not tolerate a Jewish state, and any friend of Israel is their enemy.  It's not about oil.  It's not about American Imperialism.  America has been a shield and protector of Israel just like the archangel Michael. They hate us for that. It really is that simple.  "Why should we care," you ask?  Why not just mind our own business?  Well, what kind of friend are you? Do you stand up for your friends?  Do you defend people who are weaker than you when you see them being shoved around by a bully?  If someone threatened to beat your friend to death, would you step in and help them?  Would you watch as your neighbor was dragged from his home and shoved to the ground and kicked, as long as you thought you were safe?  And who moves in when your neighbor is gone?  Someone who beats his wife because she tried to drive the car, or read a book, or because her bare ankles were exposed for a brief moment in public?  None of your business, right?  You're a good German.  Not me.  I stand with Israel.  I've been criticized here because I "oversimplify."  No, I don't.  I break things down to their most basic components.  What is golf?  Hit the ball with a stick until it goes in the hole.   That's how I see things.  I guess I'm simple, but that's the path to truth.  It's all about Israel.  It's never been about anything else.