Israel’s “Friends in Strange Places”

by Tom Brennan,

There’s an American Country and Western song, “I’ve got friends in low places”. The constantly changing scene in the Middle East reminds me of that song every day. The recent and sudden (at least to the White House and mass media) upgrade and activity of Russia in the Syrian War shows how quickly previous alliance and assumptions about leadership can change. After trying to influence Israel’s elections, snubbing the visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu and boycotting President Putin, Russia has moved advanced weapons, aircraft and ground troops into support for President Assad of Syria. Russia has the legal advantage of having been invited in to assist a legitimate but brutal government, while America has worked to undermine that government by supplying ground forces and air mission support. It is regularly acknowledged that American weapons are moved into the eager hands of Al Quaeda and other officially listed terrorist groups. Russia’s purposes in intervening in Syria are outright: support for a client state, adding another warm water port for its expanding and modernized blue water Navy, and confronting a continually vacillating and weak United States. Russia is now in a position to even dominate Iran to an increased situation. Arms sales at over $21 billion are in progress, the money coming from the assets released by the Obama “deal”. But the bright side of this has been the direct talks between Putin and Netanyahu. Russia respects Israel’s abilities, determination and dependability and will most likely use its control and power to keep Hezbollah in check. Iran seems to be moving into a more client-state relationship as well. Russia respects the strength Israel consistently demonstrates in a way that it no longer regards the United States as presenting.

Israel has always found “friends in strange places”, to paraphrase the song. Pharaoh’s daughter who rescued the boy Moses is a critical example. Rahab the prostitute who hid Joshua and Caleb; she saved her family, repented her past and became an ancestor of Messiah. Balaam the pagan prophet who listened to his donkey (I work with donkeys and wise people will listen to them). Cyrus the King who released the captive Israelites to rebuild Jerusalem remained a pagan. The jailer who had Pete and Paul in custody and asked to be saved when the prisoners were freed from their shackles knew when to make a change. In today’s 24/7 world, enemies become allies and one time friends become betrayers, every day is full of the “mysterious ways” of The Almighty.

Believers of The Word and supporters of Israel can take confidence, comfort and some amusement at how The Almighty confounds the proud and uses unlikely resources like former KGB chiefs and Saudi Kings as defenders of Israel.

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