Posted on 05/22/2011 7:15:49 AM PDT by Heuristic Hiker
President Obama’s latest thoughts about the Middle East add to the confusion that seems to be his special contribution to American policy. It is right to support Arabs and Muslims who are in the street demanding justice and freedom. Unfortunately, Obama is too late in the day to have much practical effect. He should have spoken out two years ago, when the Iranian extremists rigged their election and fired on demonstrators, just as he should have spoken out two or three months ago when the Syrian president Bashar Assad started to kill his people. In both cases, silence indicated that Obama’s heart wasn’t in it. To say now that Assad must make a transition to democracy or “get out of the way” is just verbiage. What transition? And how is he to get out of the way without being helped at gunpoint to do so? And there is no explanation of the utterly mysterious approach to Libya; Obama demanded that Qaddafi get out of the way but refuses to implement such a policy. Obama has infuriated the Saudis, which in itself is no bad thing; the kingdom is monstrously unjust and unfree. But when he omits any mention of the Saudis themselves and comes down heavily on their little dependency of Bahrain for shooting protesters, he’s either resorting to hypocrisy in the hope everyone will understand that American national interests have priority over morality, or he’s just unaware of reality.
Unawareness of reality is the least that can be said about his approach to Israel and Palestine. His promotion of the Palestinians rests on the pretense that their state would be normal. In fact, the Palestine Authority is only a miniature version of the usual one-man tyranny that millions of Arabs are now doing their utmost to reject. Moreover, the rivalry between Islamist Hamas and the quasi-secular rival Fatah is already a civil war in embryo, and their agreement to cooperate is a stage in the power struggle between them. Never mind that previous American presidents committed the United States to support border revisions and land swaps; no Israeli government can possibly agree to return to the pre-1967 borders. Besides, if more than a million Arabs live in Israel, why is the future state of Palestine permitted to declare that it will be Jew-free?
Obama advises Israel to be bold. “Bold” here means dividing Jerusalem, leaving the West Bank and in particular the Jordan valley in hostile hands, and it is really a euphemism for risking Israel’s security. His heart is evidently engaged in promoting the Palestinian cause, and it won’t take much more for this to end in another bout of armed conflict.
Even lousy policy which improves nothing, when clear, concise, and consistant, is better than the fog of Obama diplomacy and policy. Fog is dangerous.
Why are the Palestinians never asked to be ‘bold’, to ‘make the sacrifices necessary for peace?
What is so hard to understand.
Obama supports Iran and other militant Muslim regimes and does not support any Muslim regime that isn’t trying to wipe out Israel.
He doesn’t care that Ahmadinejhad runs Iran, but he had to get Mubarrak out of Egypt because Mubarak was holding up the war.
It’s as plain as the ears alongside Obama’s head.
Has anyone heard Obama mention Venezuela and their plan to use Iranian missiles there?
No?? Gee I wonder why?
[Zero] is too late in the day to have much practical effect. He should have spoken out two years ago, when the Iranian extremists rigged their election and fired on demonstrators, just as he should have spoken out two or three months ago when the Syrian president Bashar Assad started to kill his people. In both cases, silence indicated that [Zero]'s heart wasn't in it... when he omits any mention of the Saudis themselves and comes down heavily on their little dependency of Bahrain for shooting protesters, he's either resorting to hypocrisy in the hope everyone will understand that American national interests have priority over morality, or he's just unaware of reality... the Palestine Authority is only a miniature version of the usual one-man tyranny that millions of Arabs are now doing their utmost to reject... [Zero] advises Israel to be bold. "Bold" here means dividing Jerusalem, leaving the West Bank and in particular the Jordan valley in hostile hands, and it is really a euphemism for risking Israel's security. His heart is evidently engaged in promoting the Palestinian cause, and it won't take much more for this to end in another bout of armed conflict.G'night all.
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said Thursday that Israel should follow [Zero]'s recommendation of an independent Palestinian state based on the borders that existed before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war
The preamble to this week's [Zero] epic foreign policy blunder was the president's comment on May 10 in Austin that there was a "Teutonic shift" taking place in the Middle East.
"I don't see this as the president throwing Israel under the bus," he told me. "He's saying with `swaps.' It's not 1967 borders in the abstract. It's not an edict. It's a recommendation of a structure for negotiations."
[Zero] warned America's pro-Israel lobby on Sunday that the Jewish state will face growing isolation without a credible Middle East peace process [as opposed to Israel's standing right now?]
[Zero] took nothing back from his foreign policy speech on Thursday and blamed the press for any controversy. He doubled down, making this upcoming presidential election a time for choosing for friends of Israel.
Hamas condemned [Zero]'s speech to AIPAC on Sunday, saying it will not recognize Israel despite U.S. demands... [Zero] reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel and called on the Gaza-rulers to recognize Israel's right to exist, as well as free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. He also condemned the recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement.
A number of senior Palestinian analysts and politicians blasted the "contradictory and ambiguous" remarks uttered by [Zero] in his recent speech, arguing that his comments lacked the "courage and audacity" needed for independent decision-making. The Palestinian analysts criticized [Zero] for his blatant support for the Zionist regime and Washington's commitment to Israel's security.
Gul also hailed [Zero]'s reference to creating a Palestinian state based on Israel's pre-1967 borders as "a very important step." ...Asked if he was willing to press Hamas on that issue, Gul said, "I already advised them." ...Gul said he believed Hamas was ready to recognize Israel in its pre-1967 borders but wants that to happen simultaneously with Israel's recognition of a Palestinian state. [IOW, he's full of sh!t, as always.]
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a television interview, "It should be known that Turkey will give the necessary response to any repeated act of provocation by Israel on the high seas," AFP reported. Asked about his government's efforts to prevent the flotilla from taking place, Davutoglu repeated a statement he made last week, asserting that while Ankara has "never encouraged any convoy," it "cannot give instructions to civil society" not to embark...
"As for security, every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself -- by itself -- against any threat. Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism; to stop the infiltration of weapons; and to provide effective border security. The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state. The duration of this transition period must be agreed, and the effectiveness of security arrangements must be demonstrated."
[Zero] blew it yesterday. The Israelis are infuriated, numerous sharp-eyed lawmakers spotted the forced concessions [Zero] was demanding of Israel and, if former AIPAC spokesman Josh Block is any indication, the most prominent pro-Israel Jewish group is very, very worried. So what does [Zero] do? He reverses course -- fast! On the BBC last night, [Zero] immediately nixed his definitive language on the 1967 borders and reverted to language that sounded more in tune with that of former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush
A Judas goat is a tame animal whose function is to lead other herd animals into a meat packing factory to be "processed." A Judas goat has no choice but ADL's Abraham Foxman and the NJDC's David A. Harris and Marc R. Stanley are in contrast shameless political prostitutes who place the well-being of the Democratic Party above that of the United States, its allies, and even the Jews they claim to represent.
[Zero] has associated with antisemites and Palestinian jihad sympathizers throughout his political career, such that the Jews and supporters of Israel who voted for him in 2008 should be in full backpedal mode by now, apologizing for their earlier support for this clear enemy of Israel and dedicating themselves to defeating him in 2012.
[Zero], in announcing a Middle peace plan which pushes Israel back to pre-1967 borders, clearly has no interest in calming the Middle East situation... and we, the sorry subjects must watch helplessly as this man takes our country -- and the world -- into chaos, bloodshed and calamity. Never have I regretted our four year presidential terms before. But no president has ever shown such little regard for his own country before.
Marinated in Reverend Wright's Church of Jew Hating, as well as academic America-loathing third-world victimology, [Zero]'s call for Israel to retreat behind indefensible borders was not surprising. He knew nothing about foreign policy when he assumed office, and he's apparently learned nothing about it since. Not surprising since he is surrounded by pseudo intellectuals just as ignorant as he is. What will this inept man do next?
Abbas plans to lobby the U.N. General Assembly this September for a resolution that will predetermine the results of any Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on borders. He made clear in a New York Times op-ed this week that he will insist that member states recognize a Palestinian state on 1967 lines, meaning Israel's boundaries before the Six Day War.
[ero] restated his call for a resumption of negotiations between Israel and Palestinians based on the Jewish state's borders before the 1967 Six Day War while trying to soften its impact...
Claiming his remarks earlier this week on borders for Israel and a future Palestinian state had been misrepresented... [Zero] tried to explain his earlier position... by saying that his speech Thursday at the State Department didn't offer anything new or provocative in the way of peace negotiations.
...do the radical alliances of [Zero]'s Chicago days raise a warning flag about what the president's position on Israel may be in 2013, should he safely secure reelection? Many will deny it, but I believe [Zero]'s radical history speaks volumes about the past, present, and likely future course of his policy on Israel.
...repeated his call for Palestinian statehood based on Israel's pre-1967 borders adjusted for land swaps, issuing a challenge to the Israeli government to "make the hard choices that are necessary to protect a Jewish and democratic state for which so many generations have sacrificed."
Yasser Qachlaq, a Palestinian-Lebanese businessman and activist, which aired on Al-Manar TV on May 17, 2011: Yasser Qachlaq: The natural place for Barak is Poland, and the natural place for that idiot, Netanyahu, is Moscow, while the natural place for me is Safed. […] I would like to say to Ben-Gurion: You little boy, tomorrow, my little son will stomp on your grave. He will deport your remains to your true country in Europe, and we will return. […] Like Imam Khomeini said, back in the day, if each of us were to...
[Zero] redressed his remarks in an attempt at retaining American Jewish support levels for his 2012 campaign... [Zero]'s new version of his Thursday statements on Israel's pre-1967 borders was that he'd been misinterpreted...
[Zero] stirred up a hornets' nest when he declared during his highly anticipated Middle East speech Thursday that Israel's borders should be based on the pre-1967 lines. He added enough caveats to render his demand unattainable from a practical standpoint, but, as a matter of political and strategic perception, Obama has inflicted a serious wound on America's most reliable ally.
...will use visit to London to keep pressure on Israel for Middle East peace deal Barack Obama will seek a joint Middle East agreement with David Cameron, insisting that a Palestinian state should be based on pre-1967 borders...
Obama shows his irritation and lack of self confidence. The whole world watched this meeting between Obama & Netanyahu. Bibi to Bobo: "It's not gonna happen"
A bid to become a U.N. member requires approval not just from the General Assembly, where the Palestinians might win the needed majority, but also from the U.N. Security Council, where the U.S. might veto such a step.
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