Comments on: Middle East Negotiations: This isn’t Hollywood, Rahm

By: Wellspring

Wellspring — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:44:15 +0000

Of course Rahm wrapped his statement in deniable rhetoric about how those other Arab states would be more amenable on the Iran front if they saw progress on the Palestinian front. I read that in the quotes the first time around.

This has been a pattern within the Obama administration. They demand that you parse their language very closely, but that language is very slippery and open to interpretation. We saw this on a host of issues during the campaign.

Look at the rhetoric they directed at Israel and Netanyahu after the election there. Look at the rhetoric they’re pointing at Iran (and the approach they’re pushing for nuclear weapons). Look at the (quickly recanted) attempt to accede to nuclear Iran and offer a retaliatory umbrella to Israel.

On a President with a record for being straightforward, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt. But I think it’s safe to say that all the deeds of this administration support your original interpretation of Emmanuel’s statements.

By: yehiel

yehiel — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:31:54 +0000

And you expected something different from a Kapo? He’d be the one to make sure that there would no problems on the line to the showers.

By: Barbara Skolaut

Barbara Skolaut — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:24:22 +0000

Whether the report in this particular instance is accurate or not, Roger, “How do you sleep?” is still a great question to ask the little weasel.

Unfortunately, I have no doubt the answer is, “Very well.” >:-(

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:24:24 +0000

I wonder if the administration knows they are increasing the odds that Israel will attack Iran and encouraging Iran to interfere with the peace process.

By: Professor Guvinoff

Professor Guvinoff — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Obama is all about sound good, feel good and look good. All the energy allocated to window dressing is unavailable to dealing with reality, unless one sees reality through the hollywood lens.

Netanyahu’s brother was killed during a counterterrorism operation in Entebbe. He is not going to let Obama take him to the movies.

By: Promoguy

Promoguy — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:39:26 +0000

Rockford, guilt over not having participated in the marches and the bus rides of the ’50’s and ’60’s trumps any concern American Jews might have for Israel.

By: J. Rockford

J. Rockford — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:44:48 +0000

The majority of American Jews voted for President Teleprompter and his goon Rahm. I wonder how they’ll feel about that if Israel gets hit by an Iranian WMD?

By: alan

alan — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:54 +0000

If Iran does manage to get the bomb and nukes Israel because of Obama’s idiocy Washington should be included in the Samson option.

By: Galit

Galit — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:53:17 +0000

‘the Palestinians, led by Arafat, walked out and began Intifada II’
- because he couldn’t accept the offer we made him and give uo the claim to Jerusalem – and we still retained 58% of the West Bank and Gaza and control of the water. Sharon incited the second intifaa- it wasn’t started by Arafat.

People like you who see this as a one-sided conflict, that we have no blame for, give us all a bad name.

By: Wellspring

Wellspring — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:38:07 +0000

@ David Davenport

By the way, your point is well taken. I’d be very worried if any american political leader put another country over this one.

Nearly every one of Roger’s points, all of my own, and most of the rest in this comment thread apply to America’s self-interest, not just Israel’s. Finding a convenient scapegoat for the Iranian Bomb is worse for Israel, but it’s still pretty terrible for us, and don’t think this isn’t a threat to the rest of the world. I suspect that even Russia (which, after all, is the architect of this whole thing) will end up paying the price for their mischief. The only beneficiary of this strategy is President Obama, who no doubt hopes to be out of office before the timer reaches 0:00.

Israel is target number one. Don’t think for a minute that Washington, New York, LA, and San Francisco are on the list too. Do you think a Chechnyan terrorist would hesitate a moment before hitting Moscow? Or a MILF wouldn’t go after Manila? Or a Pakistani after… well any big target in India? Al Qaeda has targeted Spain, and they have cells in Paris, Amsterdam and London.

And don’t forget our now-forgotten allies. The Poles and Chechs, Georgia and Ukraine (to his credit, Obama’s finally remembered the sacrifice and friendship of Colombia). I go to grad school with a Georgian– I can’t bear to look her in the eye knowing we’ve abandoned her. Does Obama have a snazzy speech for her?

This isn’t just about tribal loyalties. This is about dire threats to world security, left to fester to pump short term poll numbers.