I don't think it has anything to do with guilt either, but I think the holocaust is key to some of their support. Its a sound bite for liberals who don't like to think much. Mention the holocaust (never again), and you have their unquestioning support. Maybe we need a counter sound bite for the Palestinians?
> I think it was and is the thin end of the wedge for Imperialism in the
> Middle East...
Except it doesn't really make much sense. America gains very little from supporting Israel, whereas it loses a fair bit. Strategically Israel is useless. Ideologically its a millstone (as shown in the current desperate attempts to attack Iraq). Why do the neocons support Israel? Thinktank links? Or just a shared insanity?
The Christian Zionists seem to be the main force supporting Israel these days. Does anyone know which of the current administration are Christian Zionists? Ashcroft obviously, and a good search suggested that Rumsfield has links of some kind (though what they are seemed a bit vague). What about the other two defence guys?