India, Aug. 9 -- The Japanese solution was to diversify and not divorce. It maintained the American connection at the core and constructed a tentacle structure of other connections around it.

American alliances are following a familiar pattern. The smaller party puts all its security in the hands of Washington and thrives under its protection, but at some point, the umbrella loosens and dabbles in American priorities. The experience was first played out in Japan. Israel seems to be in the process of entering into it.

The Japanese Precedent

Postwar Japan made a purposeful deal. The Yoshida Doctrine was that Tokyo was to hand over its security to the United States, limit the growth of its military and concentrate on economic reconstructi...