You've got some good points. Jewish people collectively have contributed a lot in terms of science, technology, to the social sciences, and many other fields. No one's claiming otherwise.
But one thing you can't deny is that the US' relationship with Israel gives arabs an excuse to hate America. Maybe this wasn't an important factor 8 years ago, as there was enough admiration for America by others to offset the hate. But since the invasion of Iraq the US has lost most of its credibility and the relation with Israel only adds to the growing dislike that people have for the US around the globe. This growing dislike isn't just in arab world any longer, but has now spread to even other western nations.
Israel also influences US foreign policy. Face it, one of the reasons the US is hot on Iran's tail is because of Israel. Bet you Israel loved the US going into Iraq to take out Saddam.. But do you honestly think they give a damn now that we're in that mess? I think not. What about the Israeli spy that was caught spying?
And a powerful defense industry who's interests is America waging war is a good thing? Arming countries like Saudia Arabia is a good thing? 
I am not like MattC, who I honestly think dislikes Jewish people. Living in NYC, I've met many Jewish people and am fond of them. But this doesn't mean I'm going to turn a blind eye to whats going on.
You can say the exact opposite, the US have a huge chock hold on Israel politics and no Israeli prime minister isn't doing any serious action without the US giving him its approval.
Its in the US intrest to have a hold in the middle east and Iraq ( mass destruction weapons aside) is a part of it.
Let me point out several things that I want you to comment on:
1.The Iraq war took the life of about 4K soldiers, about the same amount that died at 9/11. Lets assume that Osama and Sadam are totally unrelated (which isn't true) but Sadam was still a large supporter of terror, so you can either live in fear and in a defensive manner losing the same amount of CIVILIANS in one day or take the war to them and after doing allot of changes losing the same amount of SOLDIERS.
What do you prefer to do?
2.Although its really shitty to say, when you hear that another soldier died its not nice, but when you hear the gas prices are up 10% in one day it make your pocket burn and it will probably bother you more.
Now lets take a possible extreme situation of Arab countries completely cutting off the oil supply, that might pose a COMPLETE change and can DESTROY the US economy, think of having NO gas for cars,houses and power plants.
Do you want to have them holding you by the balls like that? Do you really think it will benefit the US if the middle east went into an all out war? If Israel will go into war alone it will fight for its life and if attacked by chem/bio/nuke like Iran want to do it will react with the same and that will result in major shit storm world wide, no one wants that.
3.Sadam committed mass murder and used bio and chemical weapons in the past thus giving a good reason to be put as a target.
4.Taking over Iraq was probably the plan and Iran was the true target but since Iraq was a much softer target that can be used as a base of operation it was chosen to be the first.
5.Israel if capable of dealing with any Arab military force out there, Iran is actually the only one that isn't falling apart. But Iran can also never launch a surprise attack due to being too far. It can only use missiles and Israel have a multi layer defense system against that.
I got more stuff to say but enough of my rambling
