Ok, I should be working but let me respond a bit. Overall you're right on most things but on some points your argument is a bit weak.

Sure Israel lobbies our government and has for decades, but so does other nations including arab states, china, etc. Further, we exert huge influence on other nation's governments constantly, including Israel's. Use of the term "insidious" is unfortunate at best.

I have no facts and figures (I'm sure someone with time on their hands could fill them in) about the relative degree of influence each of the countries you name have based on things like money spent, bills passed that favor them, public statements of support, citizen support, etc. but my guess is that Israel would win that battle hands down.

As far as the huge influence we exert on other countries, (depending on the style of exertion) I'd argue that was equally as "insidious". Nation building comes to mind.

I think the "core of instability for this very volatile region" is Islamic extremism, not Israel's nukes. Ritter's comment lacks any depth of thought. As if Israel not having nukes would stop Islamic extremists from wanting to acquire them?

I'm not sure what Ritter was saying is that Israel should be disarmed of its nukes. I think what he was implying was that if other potential enemies of Israel also had them Israel would be understandably humbler. Our last 50 years have shown that both sides having nukes tends to make mortal enemies fight even less for the fear of escalation. (Now before you think I'm advocating giving nukes to whacky Arabs to stabilize the area, that's not the case)

Granted this is true for a large segment of our population, but that doesn't n and of itself make it a bad policy to suport Israel. They are not a puppet but they are a solid ally and a democratic nation. As has been pointed out in the past there has never been a war between democratic nations. If the monarchies and authoritarian regimes in the Arab world were also democracies we'd see a very different middle east.

I really didn't read Ritter's article as saying we shouldn't support Israel. It seemed his concern was when their government leaned too much towards the militant side that we should let them know that the support isn't blind and unconditional. Supporting the people and democracy in Israel isn't the same thing as supporting the Likud Party just as I'd hope people still have a respect and liking for the citizens of the US despite the wrongs of an occasional wayward administration.

All in all good dialog though. Sheesh some flame. I haven't called anyone an asshole yet.

Art