Evangelicals and Israel

A system of biblical theology known as dispensationalism is premised on the continuing validity of Jehovah's promise to Abraham of the land of Palestine to his physical descendants, the Jews. This paper demonstrates to what extent this theological system informs the thinking of very significant figures on the American cultural and political scene, potentially subordinating legitimate US strategic interests to a dogmatic worldview based on a flawed system of biblical interpretation. It further demonstrates that America's pro-Zionist policies have significantly influenced Usama bin Laden to wage his jihad against the United States. The author concludes by making recommendations designed to remove US interests vis- -vis Israel from the realm of sentiment and dogma to that of realpolitick, with the potential for significantly reducing the terrorist threat to US citizens.