"I do not think he ever had an obligation to say that his son made this choice, any more than if his son had joined the U.S. Air Force (although I recognize that Israel is more controversial in some people’s minds)." Wait. One is the US the country of Brooks, and the other is a foriegn contry, controversial or not controvial. I can't believe that he does not see the difference--no, I can actually. This is like saying that having the son of the columnist serve in a foreign army, Syrian or Swedish, should not be a matter to be divulged to readers.