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I've shared extensively in prior posts on this forum, the origins of US foreign policy in support of Israel in the late 1940's...the shift in the direction it has taken us to now, originated in the exchanges between Harry Truman and his former business partner, <a href="http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/jacobson.htm">Edward Jacobson</a>, and it's progression into the influence on US policy from lobbying entities such as <a href="http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1061.html">JINSA</a> and <a href="http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?p=2262025&highlight=aipac#post2262025">AIPAC.</a>

The information I have shared has shaped my opinion. I think my thinking is close to including Harry Truman's priorities in deciding what policy to pursue about whether to support the creation of the modern state of Israel, or not.

The posts in this forum showcase how we in the US today, as far as public opinion on relations between Israel and the Palestinians, are almost unanimous in our nearly unquestioning support for Israel, and condemnation of the actions and rhetoric of the Palestinians.

Truman was persuaded, with great reluctance, to start the US down the road towards unqualified support of Israel that we in the US have been immersed in since the 60s.

If Truman were able to read the comments posted on this forum, and post in reaction to them, do you think he would exhibit opinions closer to those of roachboy, willravel, and one or two others, or those of the rest of you?

Do those who disagree with roachboy and willravel satisfy themselves that their support for Israel as thoroughly takes into account what truly is in the interest of the US, as far as the degree of official policy in support for Israel, as Truman had to, before he acted on the advice of his friend, Edward Jacobson?

I know my support for Israel does, because I keep a leash on it. It isn't unqualified, and Truman's support wasn't either. He started from a point where he refused to lend US support to the creation of the modern state of Israel, at all. Truman reversed himself. I, too, support Israel's right to exist, it's right to defend itself. I also vehemently believe Israel must practice restraint commensurate with it's now collossal strategic and military force advantage.

I believe the US must distance itself, firmly from Israel, until Israel demonstrates that it will restrain itself in it's reaction to Palestinian attacks, and in it's efforts to influence US middle east policy. I think I describe Truman's reaction to what he "let out of the bottle", in a nutshell.

I cannot comprehend the vehemence behind most of your opinions. I don't see how your vehemence, since it has no accomodation for skepticism, is good for the US, but it is great for Israel, unless Israel is committed to mitigating the crisis in it's relationship with the Palestinians.