Still, the value of the Israeli military to American interests goes deeper. Its joint ventures with the US military have been essential in developing such high-tech weaponry as missiles, drones and Tactical High Energy Laser systems. Israel’s defense industry excels in the kind of innovation, creativity and efficient just-in-time delivery that’s too often missing from our own megadefense contractors and keeps both them and us on the leading edge of military technologies.
Just as our Patriot batteries protected Israel during the first Gulf War, so may Israel’s new tested “Iron Dome” anti-missile system be the shield that protects American cities from rogue-nation and terrorist missile threats in the future.
By the way, that innovation and creativity go far beyond the defense industry. Israel’s growth rate consistently outperforms bigger developed nations; its per-capita capital investment is 2.5 times bigger than America’s -- and 80 times China’s.
Israel is now the Start-Up Nation, a major crucible of innovative companies and breakthrough industries, from microchip design to medical technology to software and network algorithms. Israeli companies supply Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and others with key technology.
So who needs Israel? We do. Our military and defense industries and even our biggest high-tech companies all depend on a strong and independent Israel.
The forces of darkness are gathering, both in the United Nations and the Middle East. If we abandon Israel now, it would be worse than a crime. To paraphrase the French diplomat Talleyrand, it’d be our worst national blunder since Vietnam.