Posted on 02/26/2015 10:14:57 AM PST by Dave346
Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tells Israel Hayom that the American administration's negative focus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit is an "unfortunate distraction" from the important issue -- the Iranian threat.
Less than a week before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress, former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tells Israel Hayom that the focus on Netanyahu's visit rather than on his message is an "unfortunate distraction" from the important issue -- the Iranian threat.
"I find it stunning to see the comments out of the White House on this issue," he says. "It is more than a distraction, it is unfortunate. It plays into the hands of those people who are not in favor of the relationship [between Israel and the U.S.], who are not in favor of Israel or who are in favor of Iran, and the idea that people are saying what they are saying I find most unfortunate."
In a special interview, to be published in full on Friday, Rumsfeld says that "the entire discussion on his visit, it seems to me, is a distraction from the important subject about Iran. Here is a country that is supporting terrorism, has a pattern of being hostile not only toward the United States and Israel but toward many of the countries in your region.
"If the White House or the administration has a problem on an issue with a friend, normally they would work it out privately. They would sit down and say 'gee what about this, what about that, let's work this out.' In this case it's all public diplomacy."
Remarking on National Security Adviser Susan Rice's comments Tuesday that Netanyahu's acceptance of House Speaker John Boehner's invitation to address Congress "injected a degree of partisanship" that is "destructive to the fabric of the relationship" between the U.S. and Israel, Rumsfeld noted that "the comments by Susan Rice reflect an imperfect understanding of our system of government and our constitution.
"Certainly there's a role for the Congress in foreign policy and national security affairs. Iran is a critical issue and Israel is an important ally, and there is nothing inappropriate at all for the speaker to invite the prime minister or for the prime minister to come over. Historically he is a good friend of the U.S., he is a supporter of the relationship between our two countries, and I find it stunning to see the comments out of the White House on this issue."
The former defense secretary does not share the State Department's opinion that Netanyahu is not familiar with all the details of the potential deal between Western powers and Iran. Nor does he think that Netanyahu's speech will undermine relations between Israel and the U.S. "I think the administration is making a statement that they don't want anything to intervene in their negotiations with Iran, and they are probably understandably apprehensive that Prime Minister Netanyahu will come and talk about this subject in a way that is not consistent with what their aspirations are for a deal with Iran. Therefore, they have said things that are undiplomatic and inconsistent with the relationship between our two countries and its importance, and I can't imagine that, among the American people, it will affect our relationship adversely in any way. I'm really amazed at the rudeness, at the undiplomatic way this administration is handling this issue.
"It is unfortunate because it damages, or appears to damage, the relationship with an important ally for the United States. I think it is exactly what the Iranians are happy to hear -- it has to be encouraging for them. But it is also unprofessional. I think the rest of the nations of the world look at the administration's behavior in this matter and see the damage that has been done to one of our important relationships. It is not in any sense permanent damage because this administration is in its waning years, but I think that other countries will inevitably wonder how reliable an ally this administration is."
Is there a country on earth that still believes the USA under Obama is a reliable ally?
Obama administration is a lying pack of low rent bums. They have no honor about them whatsoever.
Rummy should not be naive about bolshevik behavior. Trotsky and Lenin were the exact same way.
So the White House is publicly chastising Israel and privately working things out with Iran.
Draw your own conclusions!
Rudeness? Muslims hate Jews.
“...the American administration’s negative focus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit is an “unfortunate distraction” from the important issue — the Iranian threat.”
I don’t think it’s an unfortunate distraction; it’s a deliberate distraction.
The obamists have created a problem where there isn’t one. All they had to do was do nothing. Maybe accept the invitation to hear the address. Maybe extend an invitation to our valued ally to have dinner at the White House.
This caterwauling by the obamists is embarrassing.
But par for the course. They attack Egypt for opposing ISIS. They refuse help to the Jordanians who are attacking ISIS. They threatened Egypt for overthrowing Muslim Brotherhood. They strike a deal with Iran allowing them to keep their nuclear program in exchange for an agreement that Iran will manage South Asia.
We’re knocking over governments on behalf of Muslim Brotherhood and training jihadists.
I keep telling people we’ve switched sides in the “war on terror”. But when you elect a communist ally of Muslim Brotherhood into the White House, what do you expect?
“...I think that other countries will inevitably wonder how reliable an ally this administration is.”
I don’t wonder, feeling that way myself.
The Obama administration is imprisoned in the notion that Jews should be lap dogs. When confronted with some Jews who act independently, the administration is knocked out of its comfortable “orbit” and starts to act in a highly unorthodox, undiplomatic manner.
All due respect Rummy
We kinda knew that honeyyy I don’t think Mama Obama teach this guy any manners
The Romanovs, and then the Mensheviks, made the same mistake of underestimating the unbounded ruthlessness of the bolshevik mindset.
Completely unexpected, eh, Rummy?
Since they haven't managed to prevent his visit, maybe they will put pressure on the media not to report his speech. Maybe Fox will be the only channel which covers it.
Since they haven't managed to prevent his visit, maybe they will put pressure on the media not to report his speech. Maybe Fox will be the only channel which covers it.
Rude ? Just wait ,Obama will stop Netanyahu from entering the US
“that even after 6+ years of these Marxists (yes, FCC, I called them Marxists...twice), the GOPe squishes still can’t fathom what they are dealing with. I can’t believe that they are truly this clueless, though.”
No, they are not clueless. Things are going exactly as the RINOs/Marxists-lite want them to go.
Power corrupts.
Complete power corrupts completely.
Control. That is their collective aim.
Doesn’t he remember Saul Alinsky? Abby Hoffman? The 60’s radicals were a rude, crude bunch of people.
Cuba
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