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The Times Makes It Official: Obama Has Shifted U.S. Policy Against Israel
Commentary Magazine ^ | 04.15.2010 | Jonathan S. Tobin

Posted on 04/15/2010 8:50:36 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah

If there were any lingering doubts in the minds of Democrats who care about Israel that the president they helped elect has fundamentally altered American foreign policy to the Jewish state’s disadvantage, they are now gone. The New York Times officially proclaimed the administration’s changed attitude in a front-page story this morning that ought to send chills down the spine of anyone who believed Barack Obama when he pledged in 2008 that he would be a loyal friend of Israel.

In the view of the paper’s Washington correspondents, the moment that signaled what had already been apparent to anyone who was paying attention was the president’s declaration at a Tuesday news conference that resolving the Middle East conflict was “a vital national security interest of the United States.” Mr. Obama went on to state that the conflict is “costing us significantly in terms of blood and treasure,” thus attempting to draw a link between Israel’s attempts to defend itself with the safety of American troops who are fighting Islamist terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. By claiming the Arab-Israeli conflict to be a “vital national security interest” that must be resolved, the “frustrated” Obama is making it clear that he will push hard to impose a solution on the parties.

The significance of this false argument is that it not only seeks to wrongly put the onus on Israel for the lack of a peace agreement but that it also now attempts to paint any Israeli refusal to accede to Obama’s demands as a betrayal in which a selfish Israel is stabbing America in the back. The response from Obama to this will be, the Times predicts, “tougher policies toward Israel,” since it is, in this view, ignoring America’s interests and even costing American lives.

The problem with this policy is that the basic premise behind it is false. Islamists may hate Israel, but that is not why they are fighting the United States. They are fighting America because they rightly see the West and its culture, values, and belief in democracy as antithetical to their own beliefs and a threat to its survival and growth as they seek to impose their medieval system everywhere they can. Americans are not dying because Israelis want to live in Jerusalem or even the West Bank or even because there is an Israel. If Israel were to disappear tomorrow, that catastrophe would certainly be cheered in the Arab and Islamic world, but it would not end the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, cause Iran to stop its nuclear program, or put al-Qaeda out of business. In fact, a defeat for a country allied with the United States would strengthen Iran and al-Qaeda.

But undeterred by the facts and the experience of a generation of failed peace plans that have always foundered not on Israeli intransigence but rather on the absolute refusal of any Palestinian leader to put his signature on a document that will legitimize a Jewish state within any borders, Obama is pushing ahead. In the view of unnamed administration officials who have helpfully explained Obama’s policies to the Times, it is now only a matter of time before the president puts forward his own peace plan. And as the debate on health care illustrated, Obama will attempt to shove his diktat down the throats of the Israelis, whether the vast majority of Americans who support Israel like it or not.

As the Times notes, there is a great irony to Obama’s blazing anger at the Israelis and the urgency with which he views the issue. It comes at a time when the overwhelming majority of Israelis have “become disillusioned with the whole idea of resolving the conflict. Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government has long been skeptical about the benefits of a peace deal with the Palestinians. But skepticism has taken root in the Israeli public as well, particularly after Israel saw little benefit from its traumatic withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.” In other words, after countless concessions made to the Arabs at Oslo, and in subsequent accords and after offers from Israel of a state comprising Gaza, the West Bank, and parts of Jerusalem were refused by the Palestinians in 2000 and 2008, most Israelis have finally figured out that the other side doesn’t want to end the conflict. And they are baffled as to why Obama and his advisers haven’t come to the same all too obvious conclusion.

But with the Obama administration now so passionately committed to hammering Israel even as it apparently neglects to take action to stop Iran’s nuclear program, the question remains what will be the response of pro-Israel Democrats. As Obama draws closer to all-out diplomatic war on Israel’s government, the obligation for principled Democrats to speak up in open opposition to these policies cannot be avoided. While many Democrats have sought to confuse the issue or avoid conflict with the president, stories such as the one on the front page of the Times this morning make it clear that sooner or later, pro-Israel Democrats are going to have to decide whether partisan loyalties will trump their support for the Jewish state’s survival.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americanantisemitism; antisemitism; antisemitismat1600; dncantisemitism; dncdrivenintifada; dncvsisrael; israel; obama; obamaantisemitism; obamaintifada
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1 posted on 04/15/2010 8:50:37 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah

And in other news, American Jews increase their donations to the increasingly anti-semitic democrat party.


2 posted on 04/15/2010 8:54:05 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (If you don't send money to Conservative/Libertarian candidates, Obama will just steal it.)
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To: Ooh-Ah
Declaration of Independence Against King Obummer List of Abuses and Usurpations

Summary

The People have suffered 27 at the hands of the King Obummer. Each of these abuses has been directed at the people for the purpose of establishing a tyrannical government in North America.

America justifiably claims that the people have patiently suffered these abuses and that it is now time to expose these abuses of King Obummer to the nations of the world.

The first 12 abuses involve King Obummer`s establishment of a tyrannical authority in place of representative government.

The foundation of representative government is the power of the people to make laws for the public good. Obummer interfered with that process by rejecting legislation proposed by the States and the People and replacing elected functions with his appointed czar ministers, some openly declared communists.

King Obummer extended his tyrannical control by interfering with the objective judicial processes, by mocking the Supreme Court in Congress, and abusing the civil rights of the people and States` Rights, attempting to force them to buy only services provided by the King Obummer, to eliminate the People`s right to choose.

King Obummer biased the establishment of judicial powers in the States and made leftist Communist judges dependent on him for their jobs and salaries.

King Obummer further established tyrannical control by proposing to maintaining a strong quasi-military presence under his direct command.

The King Obummer is a tyrant, because he proposes to keep standing armies in the States during a time of peace, makes the quasi-military power superior to the civil government, and forces the people to support the proposed domestic quasi-military presence through increased taxes.

Abuses 13 through 22 describe the involvement of Congress in destroying the People`s right to self-rule. The King Obummer has "combined with others "to subject the People to legislation passed without the people`s input or consent by completely ignoring the Town Hall Meetings of the People. King Obummer has openly and secretly bribed members of Congress for favors to his communist agenda, thus corrupting the People`s right to fair representation.

The last 5 abuses, 23 through 27, refer to specific actions that the King Obummer of America took to abandon the People and to wage propaganda and political war against them through intimidation, attempting to eliminate free speech and criticism againt him through attempted control of all forms of communication throughout the country by sending out propaganda disguised as news through a formerly free press, now mostly merely a mouthpiece for King Obummer.

The King Obummer and his Congressional lackies have attempted to suppress the People`s opposition to his Communist government through demeaning and sarcastic, prevaricative attacks and intimidation of the people by devious means attempting to deny the People the right to freely assemble by infiltrating their ranks with prevaricative traitors disguised as the People.

King Obummer has ordered his leftist lacky journalists to attack any opposition news organization, labeling the opposition to King Obummer as "non-news organizations", and to disregard all of the latter`s news reports.

King Obummer is attempting destroy the very lives of the people. He hired non-elected leftist mercenaries in non- Cabinent posts to fight against the will of the people.

King Obummer has bowed to foreign despots and dictators as his pledge of allegiance to them, allied with them against the American People.

King Obummer has treated the People`s enemies` prisoners of war as mere common criminals, to be released into the States during wartime to wreak more havoc upon the People, a Traitorous and Despicable Act Ineed!

King Obummer has sought, through direct and indirect means, to remove arms and ammunition from the hands of the People, in order to prevent them from resisting his tyranny.

King Obummer must go NOW!

adapted from: http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/declaration/section2.rhtml

3 posted on 04/15/2010 8:54:39 AM PDT by bunkerhill7
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To: Ooh-Ah

I wonder if he has started packing. He’ll be moving soon. It is one thing to play those thug games over politics, he’s brought religion into it now. Stick a fork in him, he’s done.


4 posted on 04/15/2010 8:55:12 AM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: bunkerhill7
sorry typo-

a Traitorous and Despicable Act Indeed!

5 posted on 04/15/2010 8:58:07 AM PDT by bunkerhill7
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To: Ooh-Ah

American Jews have sold their birthright for a mere bowl of Obama-lentils.


6 posted on 04/15/2010 8:58:19 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: Ooh-Ah

The 0 Administration seeks an alliance with Iran.

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/spengler/2010/03/24/obamas-alliance-with-iran/

The NYT is just making it official.


7 posted on 04/15/2010 9:03:52 AM PDT by mojito
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To: Ooh-Ah

The only way that a people demonstrate that they “deserve” to be a nation is by force. The Europeans made a huge blunder when they assisted the Arabs to become “nations.” The West should have gone in and taken the oil. Not displaced the Arabs, or treated them badly—just shoved them aside and taken the oil.

Without the fantasy that the Arabs “owned” the oil, the Arabs would not have become Iron Age people swimming in money—i.e., “political fantasists.” When a people have to use force to establish their own nation, they are forced to be political realists.

Ultimately, the Jews must establish their own security, their own borders, by force.

Not that I am for being hostile to Israel, as Obama is. He HATES Jews.


8 posted on 04/15/2010 9:25:58 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan (In Edward Kennedy's America, federal funding of brothels is a right, not a privilege.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

Just as there is no such thing as a pro-life Democrat, there is no such thing as any kind of principled Democrat. They are the Party of Abortion. Period. (And other evils that are consistent with abortion.)


9 posted on 04/15/2010 9:27:57 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan (In Edward Kennedy's America, federal funding of brothels is a right, not a privilege.)
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To: FormerACLUmember

“American Socialists who happen to be descendents of Jews”

you mean.


10 posted on 04/15/2010 9:28:50 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

.
Thought so.


11 posted on 04/15/2010 9:28:53 AM PDT by Touch Not the Cat (Where is the light? Wonder if it's weeping somewhere...)
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To: FormerACLUmember

“While many Democrats have sought to confuse the issue or avoid conflict with the president, stories such as the one on the front page of the Times this morning make it clear that sooner or later, pro-Israel Democrats are going to have to decide whether partisan loyalties will trump their support for the Jewish state’s survival.”

I think we both know to answer to that one. Party uber alles. For Dims, the party and their power IS the raison d’etre.


12 posted on 04/15/2010 9:35:03 AM PDT by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est)
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To: Obadiah

Hmmmmm


13 posted on 04/15/2010 9:42:48 AM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: nolongerademocrat

uhbama tried to shame Bibi. Uhbama is a little freak president who surrounds himself with phony intellects like himself. They would not understand Israel in 100 years of study. Their brains are too small ( like lizards ) and their motivations are full of fascism.


14 posted on 04/15/2010 9:50:13 AM PDT by Republic (Stop the horrific liberals from spending ONE MORE DIME before they destroy our nation.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

So he actually WAS paying attention in church for the past twenty years afterall!


15 posted on 04/15/2010 9:55:51 AM PDT by The Toll
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To: Republic

yep


16 posted on 04/15/2010 10:17:13 AM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: Republic

I would say he has the brain the size of a gnat.


17 posted on 04/15/2010 10:21:41 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: mojito
"The 0 Administration seeks an alliance with Iran."

Carter did the same by backing Khomeni over the Shah. How'd that work out for Jimmyboy?

18 posted on 04/15/2010 10:32:19 AM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Ooh-Ah
particularly after Israel saw little benefit from its traumatic withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

What little benefit? It was a disaster, a surrender of ground to an enemy that is only encouraged by such moves. You might as well say that having a hand cut off had a little benefit because there was a wart on one finger.

19 posted on 04/15/2010 11:03:22 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (STOP the Tyrananny State.)
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To: Obadiah
Matzo-Balls ... Obama-balls

I dont like him

20 posted on 04/15/2010 12:58:21 PM PDT by forYourChildrenVote4Bush
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