If you are a patriot, and truly care for America, then why would you back Israel? At a minimum you should be impartial. Turkey has NATO troops in Afghanistan. It has the 16 largest economy in the world, and the second largest standing army in NATO besides the U.S. Its influence in the Arab world is far better for American than Iran's influence. And 9 Turkish citizens were killed. Israel has no U.S. bases, a small standing army, no natural resources and little strategic significance. America already has close oil alliances with the Suadis. Other than creepy Biblical prophecy there is no reason for us to support Israel unconditionally. There are strategic interest for America in Israel, but not the 3 billion dollars in aid annually, 42 U.N. resolutions blocked, Israel can do no wrong type of interests. And definitely not the throw Turkey aside as ally interests. There are two sides to the conflict you don't know obviously. There is the terrorism against Israel on one side, and the 43 year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian home demolition and land confiscation, settlements etc. on the other side. And General Petraeus said "The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel." Or are you the "Bless the Jews and you will be bless end of times type where the Jews will be converted to Christianity." If so you need no strategic understanding of foreign policy. The Bible told you beforehand.

Turkey's turn is not religious it is strategic. Turkey sees a vacuum in the Middle East because America has weaken American Arab allies Jordan, Suadi Arabia,and Egypt. We weakened them so much by unconditionally supporting Israel Iran tried to fill that vacuum. But Iran is Shia. Turkey is Sunni. Most Arabs are Sunni. The idea that America can continue to unconditionally back Israel in that troubled region, and this would work long term for American interest has been one of the biggest debacles in America foreign policy since we won the Cold War.

...the slow insidious rebuilding of the caliphate by way of chinese water torture, one drop at time. The "West" slowly melts away as the slow, patient, unspoken caliphate reemerges. Wake up and read history as it attempts to repeat itself right before your eyes.

Those who are obsessed with history decide on how far back in history to go to underline their own agenda. If you read the Bible, then READ IT. Muslims have no claim on Israeli territory unless it's because the Jews turned the desert into a garden, something those backward Muslims could never do. Turkey is no ally and should be treated as an enemy like Iran. This administration doesn't have the stomach or the ideological bent to do so. It's obvious. Obama likes the Muslims. Probably because of their totalitarian religion. Like you "patriot?".

Amen Mr Stryder!!!! Patriot, you sound like a true Muslim.

Israel is a long time trusted ally. The U.S. was the first to recognize Israel. It is a democracy like Turkey and it has been under siege since the day of it's founding. I contend that Israel has been hurt more by their association with us than we have been.

When doing the right thing and supporting Israel is right, just and the moral thing to do, you do not access the impact of your actions. To support Israel is the right thing to do, period, and to do anything else is to have your moral compass pointing south.

I contend that Israel has been hurt more by their association with us than we have been.

I wonder what would happen if Israel sent a flotilla of aid to the Turkish Armenians and Kurds.

Hanson demonstrates that Turkey has been gradually changing course for some time. I submit that this has been at least partly caused by the Turkish realization that they will never, ever, be admitted to a Europe containing France and Germany. More recently, they, like virtually all the world, have realized the weakness and inanity of US policy under Obama. The US is systematically kissing up to its oponents -- and worse, its declared enemies --while insulting and picking quarrels with friends and allies. While we pretend that "soft power" and "willingness to reset" are, at least someday, going to be winning strategies, Iran and NKorea understand they can do as they like... and the Turkeys and Brazils understand that the once mighty USA can be snooted with impunity. Nothing demonstrates the irresponsible idiocy of Obama than his de-nuke program. Has anybody listened to Russia, whose defence minister proclaims that, first, a world in which the great powers have abandoned nuke weapons is infinitely more dangerous than the current one, in that the smaller, less responsible nations (think NKorea, Iran, and-- Venezuela, Syria, et al) will hold all the blackmailers cards --- and second, get this: Russia will never under any circumstances abandon nuclear weapons, because if conventional weapons are all anybody has the United States would win any war easily and rapidly. Repeat: Russia is convinced that posession of nuclear weapons is indispensible to their very existence as a nation.

ANYBODY HEAR ME UP THERE IN DC?

Victor Davis Hanson is, as usual, right on the money.

His detractors are semi-literate pamphleteers.

Patriot?

Quite obviously you're a Turkish Patriot, and, that might be commendable, but, having studied the Koran does not make one a historian, nor, does it trump the judgement of a historian like VDH, who specializes in ancient and modern armed conflicts.

VDH can tell you why no army in ancient history would take the field without a contingent of 'Slingers' in the ranks: Slings have turned the tide in more battles than Swords, besides being a sure cure for Giants.

There has been a Jewish presence in Jerusalem for more than 5,000 years (they've owned it that long), and, no part of the land of Istael has ever been occcupied by Muslims prior to the British Accord which established both Jordan and Israel as nation states.

To claim it as rightfully or historically belonging to Muslims, is the definition of Hubris.

Yes the original article is right on target. Turkey is important, but it is being allowed to slip away. The current government of Turkey supporting an intrusion against Israel should be firmly rejected. Israel certainly reserves the right to blockade the insanely hostile neighbor (Gaza).

I recently visited Turkey and from what I saw the people appreciate their National Founder Attaturk and the 1923 revolution which delivered them from the Muslim Caliphate Ottoman Government.

My business hosts shared:

1) Concern about "conservatives" (their term for "Islamist") who have increased political and cultural power there. This situation has little to do with Israel, but was blamed on increasing lack of attention and influence by the USA (by both parties over the past 2 decades)

2) A overwhelming burden of illegal immigration (from Albania, Iraq, and others) and their influence.

3) The impact of "Globalist" Banking and Industry resulting in destruction of their economy, sending their industry out and allowing poor quality products (including food) in.

So looking at these 3 items it seems that we have many concerns in common with this ally of 80 years. It appears that there are some in our government who may relate to the totalitarian direction and posses no will to discourage a slide away from a "pro western" Turkey.

Name me a country whose land (either in part or in total) was gained by war that is hung with the misnomer "Occupied". Israel was attacked and in defending themselves regained regions that originally belonged to them. When the Zionists were granted Israel in 1948, Jerusalem was a part of Israel. When they were attacked by all the surrounding muslim countries they gained their freedom, but the cease fire left Jerusalem in the hands of Jordan. The Jewish inhabitants of that city lost their homes, business', and their temples were destroyed.

When they later recaptured it in 1967 they became owners of all Jerusalem. The arabs living in East Jerusalem are living in areas stolen by Jordan and retaken by Israel. Turkey needs to tend to their own indiscretions and it's history of occupation, torture, and horrible treatment of it's enemies and indeed it's own population. If Erdogan thinks he is convincing anybody with his hysteria, he is fooling only himself.

Political movements are often built on hate, a great energizing force. Societies in the region all hate and fear each other. They hate whatever they can see, and the US is the most visible nation in the world, so their endemic hatred can be easily directed toward us.

Those nations which turn to prosperity channel their energy to more productive purposes. Those which do not have prosperity have plenty of unemployed, with the spare time to hate someone new. Hatred is a self-limiting disease, like diarrhea. They will eventually turn on each other, as they have in the past.

History teaches us that we learn nothing from history.