The author of a recent opinion piece strongly implies that it should be the policy of the United States to "support" a particular foreign country, in this case, Israel. As with many others in Washington, D.C., he seems to believe that American blood and treasure must continue to be expended to make the world a pleasant place for that nation.

It is sad that so much of George Washington's 1796 Farewell Address has been forgotten. Not only did he advise the avoidance of "foreign entanglements," he provided advice which would seem to match the situation at hand: "In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.

”So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.

”As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils? Such an attachment of a small or weak towards a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.

”Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.

“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities."

Just as Washington points out that the interests of Europe are not necessarily the same as our own, neither are those of any particular middle east country.

While the ancestors of many of the residents of Israel did indeed suffer grievous persecution in Europe 60 to 70 years ago, it is best to remember that the nation of Israel now fields the best conventional military force in that region of the world, and that it also possesses well over 200 nuclear weapons. As such, it is well capable of defending itself.

The author is also correct that our nation's security personnel have received training from Israel. That training is part of the reason for the torture noted in Cuba and the Middle East in our prisons. That training has also resulted in both British and American "antiterrorist" agents shooting down completely innocent men simply because they didn't act or look quite right.

He points out that Israel has provided the US with military technology. That road runs both ways, with most of the traffic going in the opposite direction. On more than one occasion, Israel has taken the American technology and then turned around and sold it to the Chinese.

There is no authorization in The Constitution for our Federal Government to rob its citizens and send the money to any foreign country. This includes Israel. As our Federal Government's debt approaches 8.5 Trillion dollars, the folly of ignoring the Constitution becomes ever more evident. Continuing to fund Israel also assures that native born Palestinians will continue to be driven out of their ancestral homes, thusly creating ever more resentment.

Enthusiasm for the well being of the nation of Israel is indeed understandable. Those who feel that way can best demonstrate their enthusiasm by getting out their own personal checkbook and writing a check to a charity active in Israel. Or, if they're that concerned about Israel's security, let them take their own money, buy an AR-15 and other related equipment, and personally go "help out" for a couple of years. Stop advocating that the Federal Government rob me for their sake, or that our Federal Government send my sons to bleed and die for another country.

Rich Beecher
Chattanooga
rbeecher@hotmail.com