"... some don't seem to understand what it means when one says Israel is vital to American security concerns in the region - this does not mean it's vital in the sense Japan is vital in the Pacific for instance - what it means is that if Israel declines there will be war, and that's bad - but even if an immediate war is somehow avoided, you'd still have a situation where in the wake of an Israel decline extremists will revel in a perceived victory, which will be bad and probably lead to war - and malingering at the end of any Mideast war is the threat of China being forced to support and align with our 'enemies'. So, vital interest in that sense.
Now, one can also argue that supporting Israel in the face of the international rabble calling for its head leads to unpleasant complications too - that's certainly a valid argument - but I don't see how we're anywhere near the point where dread of this latter scenario outweighs dread of the former
Regardless, it is possible Israel will be forced to make some dramatic gesture to reduce tensions - I doubt it, but possible - something like disengaging from Gaza entirely - but if they do that it will be out of spite, not compliance with left wing idealism, because Israel knows full well what evil a 'free Gaza' will let loose - and be rest assured if that day comes Israel will reduce Gaza to rubble.
So, again, it's in this sense Israel remains a linchpin to American security in the region ..."
