The Washington Institute study argues, however, that -- in the event the U.S. proceeds to station troops in the Golan despite the risks -- some steps could be taken that would minimize the dangers to U.S. policy and to American troops.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A US force for the Golan Heights? A roundtable discussion

Others preferred the old arrangement, devised for the cold war, under which America promised to defend Japan (avoiding the need for Japan to play a bigger military role of its own) in return for the right to station American troops there to ward off Soviet aggression.

ECONOMIST: A sense of security

British troops stormed a police station in a bid to rescue two British soldiers who had been arrested by Iraqi police and handed over to a militia.

ECONOMIST: Another hurricane