Better to Be Xi Than Bibi

Xi is building islands, and a missile system with which any rivals’ aircraft carriers can be sunk. Since ours are the only such vessels within reach of the missiles, one would expect the president to take it rather personally, since it is difficult to pivot to Asia when a missile might catch you mid-pivot. Israel is a testing ground for U.S. military technology, would not prepare to defend against a sensible U.S. pivot to the chaotic Middle East, and has not proclaimed its desire to reduce American influence in the region. Yet, America maintains a Strategic Economic Dialogue with China, Obama on his visit to China was effusive in his praise of Xi, while the U.S. State Department hurls obscenities at Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and unnamed administration officials call Netanyahu “chickenshit” and a “coward”.