Israel 'Suggests' F-35s for Normalization – With Conditions, Of Course
Axios breathlessly reports Israel 'doesn't oppose' an F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, so long as it's 'conditioned' on normalization. How benevolent. This isn't diplomacy; it's a shakedown orchestrated via Washington, where Israel effectively dictates U.S. arms deals in the region. Remember when Riyadh was buying weapons unimpeded to commit atrocities in Yemen? Apparently, those were the good old days
before Israel needed a new diplomatic chip. This 'concern' over qualitative military edge (QME) is a well-worn cudgel. Congress, thanks to relentless lobbying efforts (see: AIPAC's $3.5 million spent in Q1 2024 alone, according to OpenSecrets), codified this obligation into law in 2008. So, while Washington hemorrhages billions to maintain Israel's military dominance, U.S. geopolitical strategy in
the Middle East remains subcontracted to a foreign power. One might wonder, whose interests are really being served by these 'conditions'?