Posted on 09/16/2011 1:23:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The historic friendship between the UnitedStates and Israel stretches from the founding of the Jewish state in 1948 to the present day. Our nations have developed vital economic and security relationships in an alliance based on shared democratic principles, deep cultural ties, and common strategic interests. Historian T.R. Fehrenbach once observed that my home state of Texas and Israel share the experience of "civilized men and women thrown into new and harsh conditions, beset by enemies."
Surrounded by unfriendly neighbors and terror organizations that aim to destroy her, the Jewish state has never had an easy life. Today, the challenges are mounting. Israel faces growing hostility from Turkey. Its three-decades-old peace with Egypt hangs by a thread. Iran pursues nuclear weapons its leaders vow to use to annihilate Israel. Terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians from Hezbollah and Hamas continue. And now, the Palestinian leadership is intent on destroying the possibility of a negotiated settlement of the conflict with Israel in favor of unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations........
Errors by the Obamaadministration have encouraged the Palestinians to take backward steps away from peace. It was a mistake to call for an Israeli construction freeze, including in Jerusalem, as an unprecedented precondition for talks. Indeed, the Palestinian leadership had been negotiating with Israel for years, notwithstanding settlement activity. When the Obamaadministration demanded a settlement freeze, it led to a freeze in Palestinian negotiations. It was a mistake to agree to the Palestinians' demand for indirect negotiations conducted through the U.S., and it was an even greater mistake for PresidentObama to distance himself from Israel and seek engagement with the hostile regimes in Syria and Iran.
Palestinian leaders have perceived this as a weakening of relations between Israel and the U.S, and they are trying to exploit it......
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
One of Rick Perry’s first acts after being elected agriculture commissioner in 1991 was to create the Texas-Israel Exchange, which promoted information and research sharing.
Gov. Perry Received Defender of Jerusalem Award Thursday, August 13, 2009
******
June 29, 2011: ....Perry wrote in a letter dated Wednesday, “According to numerous recent media reports, American citizens and organizations, together with a coalition of violent anti-Israeli organizations from other countries, have organized efforts to breach Israel’s Maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip as early as this week.”
He continued, “The act of funding, supporting, organizing and engaging in these efforts appears to constitute participation in a naval expedition against a people with whom the United States is at peace,” as well as material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization and other violations.
Perry said at least two of the ships are registered in Delaware, including one named “The Audacity of Hope,” which was the title of President Barack Obama’s second book.
The letter concludes, “I respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Justice take immediate steps to investigate, enjoin and bring to justice all parties found to be in violation of U.S. law by their participation in these efforts.”
August 24, 2011: How Rick Perry helped stop the Gaza 'freedom flotillas' ….>>>>"I once spoke at a mission that Perry took part in, in Israel," Darshan-Leitner recently told Commentary's Alana Goodman. "And he approached me and said, 'I love what you do. It's amazing what you do. If you ever need help combating Israel's enemies, I'm here to assist.' "
Perry made good on that promise in July, when a cohort of liberal activists boarded a Gaza-bound aid boat with the goal of breaching Israel's maritime blockade of the Gaza strip.<<<…………..
Rick Perry: For open borders and for amnesty. The WSJ: For open borders and for amnesty. Coincidence? IMHO, this is the actual reason for the WSJ Rick Perry article, despite my complete agreement with Rick about Israeli issues.
Rick Perry: September 15, 2011 - " The bigger issue is that you’re never going to have a conversation that is anything more than an intellectual exercise about immigration until you secure the border. That is what we must focus on as a country. I do not agree that building a 1,800-mile barrier is thoughtful. It’s an easy answer. I think it’s a cop out for anyone who’s actually been on the border. It’s like building a wall from Bangor, Maine to Miami, Florida. What does work is strategic fencing in your metropolitan areas, having the boots on the ground. We are woefully understaffed on that border.
We have the technology. Predator drones are being flown in United States air space as we speak. Why not fly those from Brownsville, Texas, to El Paso and to Tijuana and back and use that real-time information for local law enforcement, our state law enforcement and our federal counterparts? That’s how you thoughtfully secure that border, and then you can have a discussion about what type of immigration reform we want to consider as a country. But not until then. Too many times, we’ve been told, if we’ll just pass this immigration reform then we’ll secure the border. And it hasn’t happened...."
HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Though sidelined by pan-Arab democracy drives, al Qaeda may have found a firmer foothold in the lawless Egyptian Sinai where it poses a threat to Israel, experts say.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's counter-terrorism czar told an Israeli-hosted security conference this week Egypt's political entropy had helped reinforce and arm Sinai radicals whose presence is tacitly acknowledged by Egyptian intelligence.
"Many jihadists were released from jail ... bring(ing) into the area many years of experience, knowledge, courage and people who actually do not have anything to lose," the official, Nitzan Nuriel, said in reference to prison breakouts that accompanied the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February.
He said such militants were flush with weaponry looted in civil war-ravaged countries such as Libya and Yemen.
"If you want to buy, today, a mortar or a machinegun or even a MANPAD (anti-aircraft missile), all you need is a few dollars and you get it," Nuriel said. "The level of the threat is much more dramatic than it was a year ago."
The assessment was echoed by analysts gathered at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Centre event, though they emphasised the overall sapping of al Qaeda's popularity among Arabs.
"The common wisdom is that al Qaeda has been weakened by the Arab Spring when you make a global assessment, on an ideological basis," said Lorenzo Vidino of the Centre for Security Studies at ETH Zurich. "But I would have to concur that on a tactical level they have benefited in places like the Sinai. ................................" Source
This is the one thing about Perry that I like the most, his unwaivering stand for Israel and it’s protection. Kudu’s to him for this. His border and illegal aliens stance, not so much. Therefore, mainly because of his stance on Israel and his fiscal policies, if he ends up being our choice for a candidate after the primaries are completed, I will vote for him.
I will actually vote for any of our candidates for Prez with the exception of Ron Paul, whom I consider dangerous when it comes to foreign policy matters and his libertarian views on drugs, gay issues, etc. I like some of his fiscal views, but the rest of his views are garbage.
Gov. Perry has talked with Israel about border security and their use of drones. He has not put this off lightly or taken his position to pander (too many people don’t care to know what he says about this). For a 1250 mile fence to be built on the Texas-Mexico international border is not the way. He believes (and concurs) that near populated areas that a barrier is helpful but not effective or even rational for the entire stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. To stop the flow of illegal immigrants (and human trafficking and drug trafficking with all the violence associated with crime..) that conservative ascendancy must come to the fore. And as noted in the excerpt quote from Perry above in this thread, the border MUST be sealed before anything else happens.
People who live on the border with Mexico understand what Perry is saying.
I am all for Perry saying the right things. I am all for Romney saying the right things. The only problem comes when one asks why are they choosing to say the right things at this time. Too little too late.
What has been said too late?
I am all for Perry saying the right things. I am all for Romney saying the right things. The only problem comes when one asks why are they choosing to say the right things at this time. Too little too late.
Gov. Rick Perry has been working with Israel and speaking out for Israel for a very long time.
His support of Israel and the rest of his conservative views. But to be fair lets stick to his support of Israel. I am prepared to be wrong on this issue, but was he an outspoken supporter of Israel prior to his last Gubernatorial election. I am omitting that election because it was followed nationally, he had to put on a different face.
Cool. Pray tell.
Please see Post #1.
I am going to be honest with you. As Governor, I don’t expect Perry to have much to say about the Israel situation. But as a presidential candidate I expect him to have a good explanation of his current interest. That goes for Palin too. If I can determine authenticity to their feelings then I can respect them. I am sympathetic toward Israel but I am not in the position that I need to sell my sympathy. Palin and Romney are in that situation, and it is a soft sell.
Do you think Perry is willing to do the Cuban Missile Crisis over Israel or Taiwan? He might, but I don’t think George Bush was willing to go that far. I think Palin would.
JR Perry doesn’t think the building of a fence is thoughtful.
Or enforcement such as with the AZ law.
Or the use of e-verify.
He likes his DREAM Act, dreams of open borders, and dreams of joint US and Mexican healthcare.
What has Rick Perry’s past and present positions on Israel done to make you take the position that this is merely a “current interest?”
I added those quotes and links in Post #1 to give those who don’t know Perry’s long and close history with Israel some information.
It is not that I need to trust him, as it is that he needs to earn my trust.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.