America Not Responsible for a Foreign Government

I read with much interest Marvin Peyser's letter "If You Don't Have Logic" in the July 12 issue of The Voice. It was a response that contained much emotion, but little logic. Mr. Peyser, you should consider going back to college to continue your study of logic because I don't think you got the lesson the first time around.

Now, of course, I have probably been put on Mr. Peyser's long list of people he considers anti-Israel simply because I had the audacity to exercise my Constitutional right to freedom of speech and declare that I am for cutting aid to a foreign country. I am also for cutting what little aid America sends to Italy. Mr. Peyser, does that make me anti-Italian? If Mr. Peyser is so concerned about providing aid to Israel, why doesn't he send some himself? Perhaps he can get some of his friends to do the same, but don't ask me to send my money (tax dollars) to support something that I don't believe in and don't want to endorse.

Mr. Peyser, I don't want to see Arab armies invade Israel; but I also don't want to see Israel invade the West Bank and Gaza or Lebanon, or attack Iraq because they decide to build a nuclear power plant. After all, Israel has nuclear power plants, and America has them. I would like to see peace in the area, but most Americans are tired of subsidizing an area that naturally can support only from two to four million people. Now there are some eight million people (Israeli and Palestinian) in the area. Additionally, under the premise of an ancient religious Biblical prophecy agenda that says that the Jews will return to Zion and then their Messiah will arrive, Israel is transporting Jews from Russia and other parts of the world to Israel. This is increasing the population of Jews in Israel, an area that cannot sustain the people who are already there. Much of this is being accomplished with American support.

Consequently, the need for more land in Israel is obvious, to resettle these immigrants and non-indigenous people. Much of this resettlement is occurring in occupied Palestinian lands. The Israeli government is driving out Palestinians who were born in the area and have rights. Their rights are being ignored because they are Arab. This is discriminatory and racist. It is also one of the reasons why radicals like Osama bin Laden have declared war on America.

As to the Jonathan Pollard affair, Mr. Peyser wrote that "Jonathan Pollard was not spying against the United States, he was spying for Israel, to help them in their fight against terrorism. He was also never charged with spying, but with furnishing information to a foreign government [Israel], a much lesser charge."

Mr. Peyser, the U.S. government and legal system thought Jonathan Pollard's actions were serious enough to give him a life sentence, which he deserved. He is a traitorous American guilty of stealing tens of thousands of sensitive documents from his country (America) and delivering them to a foreign country (Israel). The U.S. government asked for the documents back, but the government of Israel refused. Is this the action of an ally? Were Mr. Pollard's actions the acts of a loyal American? That is why he has been incarcerated now for almost two decades in federal prison despite attempts by the Israeli government to have him released. Even President Clinton, during the last days of his administration, refused to pardon this traitor, while liberally pardoning hundreds of other criminals, including murderers.

Mr. Peyser, America is not responsible for the actions of a foreign government (Israel), nor are we responsible for the repercussions that occur because of their actions. Certain Jewish people chose to immigrate to Palestine and create the Israeli state. It is not America's responsibility nor obligation to support them in their battles with their enemies. Mr. Peyser, you can wrap yourself in as much red, white, and blue bunting and American flags as you choose, but from your letters, it is obvious where your loyalties lie. As for me, I will close with two words—America first!