In today’s New York Post , TNR Assistant Editor James Kirchick has written a truly brilliant article on how Barack Obama is betraying Israel. This is a harsh assessment, and Kirchick backs up his analysis with an array of facts. Obama’s policies, he points out, are distinctly different from those he promised during the campaign. Kirchick writes:
Just six months into the new administration…it is becoming increasingly clear that those who harbored suspicions about Obama’s approach to the Middle East had good reason to be worried. A confluence of factors- including his administration’s undue pressure on Israel, a conciliatory approach to authoritarian Muslim regimes, and the baseless linkage of the failed ‘peace process’ to the curtailment of the Iranian nuclear program- point to what could become ‘the greatest disagreement between the two countries in the history of their relationship,’ as Middle East expert Robert Satloff recently told Newsweek.
The key to the new tilt against Israel is, Kirchick rightfully argues, the decision to make an end to Israeli settlement activity, even normal growth of existing settlements that would after a final peace remain in Israeli territory, the centerpiece of administration policy. He notes that in Obama’s Cairo speech, Israel was the sole country that Obama singled out for direct criticism. Ignored totally were various of what he calls the “degradations and injustices in the Middle East” from various Arab nations. Instead, Obama mentioned only America’s key democratic ally in the region, and only to rebuke it.
Kirchick continues to destroy the argument on behalf of “linkage” between a Palestinian-Israeli agreement and the satisfactory conclusion of other disputed questions in the Middle East. Even after Benjamin Netanyahu uttered the magic words on behalf of a two-state solution in his recent speech, “moderate” Arab leaders including a spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas attacked his speech for destroying the chance for any peace initiative. The truth is that the peace process itself is fraudulent and a waste of time, and that it will remain so as long as Hamas and other Arab terrorist groups remain committed to destruction of Israel and to the murder of Jews.
Secondly, “linkage” is irrelevant because the problems in the Middle East do not exist because of the lack of a Palestinian state. Unless the demonstrations in Iran are successful and the result is a transformation of the theocratic state, it is the current Iranian regime’s move to become a nuclear power that remains the region’s outstanding danger. It would be so even if a real Palestinian state existed and was recognized by Israel.
So Kirchick concludes that “Obama is turning America against Israel,” all on behalf of “false hopes of improved relations with Arab nations and a nuclear-equipped Iran.”
Kirchick also makes a side argument about the decline of support for Israel among American Jews; noting that at the same time most Israelis have told pollsters that they do not find Obama to be pro-Israel. As if to confirm Kirchik, the polar opposite argument about Obama and Israel comes from another influential Jewish journalist, Jacob Weisberg, editor in chief and chairman of The Slate Group.
Indeed, instead of complaining about Obama’s criticisms of Israel and the various policy steps opposed by Kirchick, Weisberg praises the President for being “a friend in need,” as his column is titled in Newsweek, and for being “tough on Bibi.” As he claims: “those presidents regarded as the least friendly to the Jewish state have done it the most good. Its strong allies have proved much less helpful.”
Page 1 of 2 Next ->





PJM Home
A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel
Commies: A Journey Through the Old Left, the New Left and the Leftover Left
Red Star Over Hollywood: The Film Colony’s Long Romance with the Left
The Rosenberg File: Second Edition
Spain Betrayed: The Soviet Union in the Spanish Civil War (Annals of Communism Series)
Divided They Fell
Prophets on the Right
The Amerasia Spy Case: Prelude to McCarthyism
Pajamas Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:
1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.
4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.
5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.
The clause regarding "hate speech" has been deleted because readers criticized it as being too loosely defined. We agreed.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that Pajamas Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pajamasmedia.com.
52 Comments
1. David Thomson:“How many times do we have to hear about Rahm Emanuel’s father and…”
You never heard that from me. On the contrary, I ridiculed Rahm Emanuel and the Clinton administration as naive and well meaning fools who are unintentionally responsible for the murders of many Israeli Jews. Good intentions are not enough. One must also have their head tight on their shoulders. Leftist elites like Barack Obama and Jacob Weisberg are self hating Americans who existentially are committed to the notion that the predominantly white skinned Israelis are crapping on the darker skinned Palestinians. This is how they look at life: he who is lighter skinned is always in the wrong. And no, I am not exaggerating—in the slightest.
Marty Peretz is your typical guilt tripped white dude. He so desperately wanted to support a man of color for the nation’s top elected job that his brains turned to mush. Also, he attended Harvard University and was severely damaged by the experience—but that’s another story. One should perhaps, after all, feel sorry for those who received an Ivy League education. Peretz’s increasing wariness of Barack Obama is not to be taken lightly. I have long contended that the president cannot save his administration if the TNR publisher abandons him.
Jun 21, 2009 - 1:13 pm 2. Pajamas Media » Has Obama Betrayed Israel?:[...] the entire story here [...]
Jun 21, 2009 - 1:14 pm 3. Delia:Uh. Yeah.
Jun 21, 2009 - 1:15 pm 4. Delia:“Jew hating” has come back this season. Paisley went out along with bell-bottoms.
Our president hate’s Whites/Jews and anyone who unfortunately falls under the ‘fair skinned’ spectrum.
Ain’t life grand when the st00pidist homey on the block has control?
Jun 21, 2009 - 1:18 pm 5. Self-hating Boomer:All the more reason that Bibi was right all along to want to grow the Israeli economy by pitching all of that socialist dead weight, and then telling the US to take their “aid” and stick it where the crescent don’t shine.
Self-sufficiency goes hand-in-hand with independence. If you need a handout from Uncle Sam (or anyone else, for that matter), you aren’t completely independent. This is why Bibi got it right, and Sharon and Lieberman got it wrong. Economics does matter. Economics does impact, verily determine, independence.
Jun 21, 2009 - 1:33 pm 6. Don:The first precondition for peace is that all parties want it. That condition does not pertain among the Muslim middle East. For Muslims the Jewish state is a foreign object, to be regurgitated like a fur ball. Unfortunately the president’s religious back ground, his administration, and his personal proclivity for negotiating without preconditions tacitly accepts the same Muslim mind set. But that is the beauty of pragmatism–whatever works is right–where the president gets to be amoral without meaning to be. Hey, the Arabs have the oil, the Jews don’t, to borrow from the Marxists.
Jun 21, 2009 - 2:20 pm 7. sheesh:4. Delia: . . . “Our president hate’s Whites/Jews and anyone who unfortunately falls under the ‘fair skinned’ spectrum.”
Do you really believe that?
Jun 21, 2009 - 3:08 pm 8. Steve:If this new administration forsakes the Israel nation they do so at the peril of our entire country, and we will see the results quit soon. Next election please vote out all democrats and RINOs and put those in that believe in less government, lower taxes, less government, less regulation, and personal responsibility by all those able to work and be productive.
Go to a tea party nearest to you and become active as you are here on this forum and help educate those that are still going for the government will fix it all mentality. In 2010 it is entirely possible to get these leeches out of government as well as those that enable them by being active and vocal at any chance.
Enough is enough, and as Popeye the cartoon character would say “I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stand no more”!
Jun 21, 2009 - 3:19 pm 9. Skoalbandit:We have been more or less doing the same thing in Israel for decades. A new approach is needed and not everyone is going to be happy. I personally think we should leave the whole area alone.
Jun 21, 2009 - 3:57 pm 10. Larry:7. Why is it that liberals always resort to inflammatory comments? Don’t any of you guys know how to involve yourself in a rational, point based debate? Instead it’s always name calling. Not pretty. Not reasonable. And not a winning attitude.
Jun 21, 2009 - 3:58 pm 11. sheesh:Delia . . . I gave you a chance. You shoulda took it:
Rev. Billy Graham openly voiced a belief that Jews control the American media, calling it a “stranglehold” during a 1972 conversation with President Richard Nixon, according to a tape of the Oval Office meeting.
“This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country’s going down the drain,” the nation’s best-known preacher declared as he agreed with a stream of bigoted Nixon comments about Jews and their perceived influence in American life.
In 2000, Former First Lady Nancy Reagan presented the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award to Graham. Graham has been a friend of the Reagans for years.
“You believe that?” Nixon says after the “stranglehold” comment.
“Yes, sir,” Graham says.
“Oh, boy,” replies Nixon. “So do I. I can’t ever say that but I believe it.”
“No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something,” Graham replies.
Later, Graham mentions that he has friends in the media who are Jewish, saying they “swarm around me and are friendly to me.” But, he confides to Nixon, “They don’t know how I really feel about what they’re doing to this country.”
Later, in 2000, Former First Lady Nancy Reagan presented the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award to Graham. Graham has been a friend of the Reagans for years.
One more, just kicks:
“Actually, the seeds of my decision had been planted the year before, by the Reverend Billy Graham. He visited my family for a summer weekend in Maine. The Lord was so clearly reflected in his gentle and loving demeanor.” . . . Guess who?
Racist piles of caca indeed.
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:18 pm 12. Delia:How many ‘wrongs’ make a ‘wright’, Sheesh?
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:25 pm 13. Delia:O.J. Simpson ring a bell?
Remember all of the black people cheering on a KILLER?
That was none too ‘kewl’ either, dude.
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:26 pm 14. Delia:P.S. Tell me when the movie comes out about the prezzy being snuffed like they did to G.W. [whom I hold no claim to].
Be aware that I’m a party of one. I’ve survived some sick sh*t in my lifetime and I’m a warrior. I take no prisoners.
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:36 pm 15. zhombre:Graham was right about the media ruining the country, just not right about the Jews. The gentiles in media have proved as destructive to the country as the secularized Jews in media.
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:52 pm 16. Stuart:Kirchick writes with great clarity and candor on Israel and on the Islamist threat.
Well, the good news is that Obama supporters such as Marty Peretz are having buyer’s regret. Some American Jews, as David Thompson argues, will never come to see Obama(and Hillary et al) for what they are. They’ll not even come to the mild conclusion that Obama is very misinformed and naive, even if well-meaning.
Of course, Kirchick- and Thompson here- are impressed by Obama’s professed concern and respect for Israel. One day we’ll know just how deeply his relationships with Ayers, Khalidi, along with his education, afffected his view of the Israel- Arab conflict.
As for Rahm Emannuel, I join David Thompson in saying how sick I am of hearing about his pro-Israel bona fides and his father. His father, by the way, would never have given his blessing to the Geneva “peace initiative a few years back.
Sheesh, tying Reagan to Graham’s anti-Jewish views is insane. Do you know or have good reason to think that Nancy Reagan was aware of Graham’s conversation with Nixon?
Jun 21, 2009 - 4:59 pm 17. David Thomson:And, by the way, hold your keystrokes when you want to utter a word like “conservatards”.
Richard Nixon openly slurred Jews right in front of Henry Kissinger. Nonetheless, he used valuable political capital to help Israel! Were his intentions as pure as the winter snow? Who knows for sure? And yet, Israel may not exist today if Nixon had not the guts to send it weapons at a desperate time. What did I say before about good intentions? One often needs to worry more about actual behavior—and results. I am also not a fan of Nixon’s. It is my adamant belief that it was a tragedy for the United States when Hubert Humphrey lost the 1968 election.
Marty Peretz is your typical New Deal Democrat. He represents the center-left in the eyes of countless people. Barack Obama simply cannot afford to lose Peretz’s unwavering support. It is imperative that he not be perceived as the president of only the liberal-left. That is political suicide—and will render him incapable of getting his major legislation through congress. Cynics like myself have long argued that Obama was conning the middle of the road voters. A good size number have already been converted over to my way of looking at things. More will likely soon follow.
Jun 21, 2009 - 5:32 pm 18. Cybergeezer:This fool is betraying everything and everybody; Even himself.
Jun 21, 2009 - 5:36 pm 19. Delia:I smell smoke.
Sheeshers just got a beat down by Stu and D. Thompson.
Mmmmm. Brimstone.
Jun 21, 2009 - 5:36 pm 20. james:You idiots are close to ruining this perfectly good site. Do you have any idea how inane you sound?
Jun 21, 2009 - 5:53 pm 21. Delia:Bad manners lead to crime, as the saying goes, and this imbecile caterwauling, inflicted on an unwilling crowd, is inching pretty close to crime.
Please, either shut up or take it outside.
20. james,
Where was your ‘on-topic’ post to qualify your rant? Do you have ANYTHING TO ADD to the comments section other than your pathetic, limp-in rhet-shtick?
Here, let me help you get started:
DohBama doesn’t give a lick about Israel. He’s an anti-semite president muslim.
Responde’ vous?
P.S. The ruination of all good blogs is the stifling of free speech. As much as people hate Sheesh or even Delia, we are allowed to speak here fairly freely. I appreciate that about PJM.
Jun 21, 2009 - 6:01 pm 22. DavidN:One thing I’ve never understood is the elites’ devotion to negotiation with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Both groups are dedicated to wiping out Israel and killing all the Jews. How are you going to compromise with them? Offer, perhaps, to let them kill only *some* Jews? Perhaps half, maybe a few more? The idea boggles the mind. If you are going to negotiate with someone like that, how are you going to convince them not to kill any Jews, and if you can’t, well then you’re wasting your time and energy. Just stupid.
Jun 21, 2009 - 6:20 pm 23. sheesh:See how hard you all have to try to distance yourselves from the sins of your own side?
15 Stuart . . . “Sheesh, tying Reagan to Graham’s anti-Jewish views is insane.”
Interesting bit of plausible deniability. So you would say the same thing about Obama, right? That he cannot be said to hold that same views as those with whom he associates, right?
Obama being an anti-Semite is like Obama being accused of apologizing for the U.S. Nobody can point to a quote, but those who desperately want him to fail will say it’s true anyway. Why? Well, the best reason I can possibly point to is from the exalted Republican guru, El Rushbo . . . “Next time somebody says you don’t know how to think for yourself, here’s what you tell them . . . ”
Is that priceless or what?
Jun 21, 2009 - 6:24 pm 24. David Thomson:“One thing I’ve never understood is the elites’ devotion to negotiation with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.”
It’s almost all about race guilt. The politically correct elites consider Hamas and Hezbollah as representing the dark skinned dispossessed of the Earth. They are victims of white imperialism. These misunderstood folks only need a little love and kindness. White guilt, it must be added, did not begin yesterday morning. It was noticeable decades ago when so many gullible Westerners made fools of themselves over the very weird Mahatma Gandhi. He was an anti-Capitalist and somewhat nihilistic whack job who should have been marginalized. And don’t forget the non-violent radical Martin Luther King, Jr. The famous civil rights activist did enormous good during the early part of his career. By the time of his murder, however, King was crazier than a loon.
Jun 21, 2009 - 6:33 pm 25. Delia:25. David Thomson,
The ‘elites’ only care when their wallets are fat enough to ‘allow’ them to care about any one other than their own ethnicity.
Iran will be the cess-pool of hatred and evil it is until people do rise up and demand an overthrow.
It takes a LOT of people to do that though and it takes life and death decisions. Will anything good come of this? Will people of Iran actually stand up for freedom from tyranny or only succumb to yet another sicko leader without a care for their concerns?
Jun 21, 2009 - 6:41 pm 26. Gibson Block:Ami Isseroff sees fit to scold Jews who think that Obama is a Muslim. He quotes from an article that is apparently by Prof. Paul Eidelberg.
Find it here.
http://is.gd/18KPc
“In Cairo Obama said he was a Christian, but his audience knew he is a Muslim having been born of a Muslim father. They knew he is skilled in “taqiyya,” the art of dissimulation.
“Jews had better take the Quranic world more seriously, because Obama’s assertion “no settlements” is a euphemism for Ahmadinejad’ s vow to wipe Israel off the map.”
I also think that Obama might have gained more ground by pandering to the vanity of his audience in Cairo than scolding them.
I also think that someone has to tell Netanyahu “no settlements”. For practical reasons alone, Israel can’t take over the West Bank.
Whether they can make peace is another story. But that is unrelated to the settlement activity.
Peace or no peace the settlements have no place in the West Bank.
Jun 21, 2009 - 7:09 pm 27. Stuart:Actually, Sheesh, I don’t believe that Obama holds anything like the views of Jews and American that Rev. Wright holds.
But, of course, Obama can be held responsible for praising a man whose views he must have known. Nancy Reagan could very easily been unaware of an opinion of Graham’s that he most certainly did not air in public.
In general, any serious political discussion needs to steer clear of white hot ad hominem attacks and focus on a politician’s policies and their words. At the same time, character analysis is hard to avoid- though not always necessary; I mean, does anyone think Joe Lieberman’s positions are driven by personal demons or defects? But there are cases where personality and psychology are at the wheel.
Jun 21, 2009 - 7:34 pm 28. jw:For Obama, I think narcissism is in play. No, I can’t prove it. But. . . well, I’ll let others in jump in. In general, though, we need to talk about and debate politicians’ actual words and deeds.
Few seem to understand the conflict between Israel as a Jewish state and the Arabs (Muslims). It is, and always has been since the days of Haj Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, leader of the attacks on Jews in the then-Palestine Mandate and then ally of Adolf Hitler, a matter of religion. (Some Christians from the area also join with the Jew-haters, e.g. the late Edward Said). The only dispute about land is that Muslims do not think that Jews have any right to any land in the historical land of the Jews. The view that Jews have no right to live in the ancient land of the Jews, Judea and Samaria – called the “West Bank,” but that Arabs (Muslims) have the right to live anywhere, is another manifestation of antisemitism (hatred of Jews).
Jun 21, 2009 - 7:48 pm 29. sheesh:24 Sturat . . .” . . . politicians’ actual words and deeds.”
You hit the nail on the head.
Jun 21, 2009 - 8:30 pm 30. MarcH:Re: Rahm Emmanuel’s time as a “civilian volunteer for the Israeli Army”.
This incident is an overblown legend which has given Rahm and Obama much undeserved credit and credibility. The fact is that Rahm served a few weeks in an orientation/volunteer for the IDF frequented by Jewish grandmothers. Participants work a few hours a day at an IDF base far behind the lines.
It’s a nice thing for a grandmother to do but it is pathetic that Rahm seems to constantly advance this as an example of both his devotion to Israel and his courage. The fact is that Rahm has never put it on the line by serving a single day as a solider or a police officer for either the U.S. or Israel. His life-story shows a cowardly and smarmy little fixer constantly on the make to advance himself. That is the bottom line on Rahm Emmanuel.
Jun 21, 2009 - 9:00 pm 31. dmgold, Israel:Its all academic. The Jews of Israel are not going to roll over for Obama or anyone else. Dont forget that until the 1970s Israel was an ally of various European powers and the very close US relationship we see today only came into being in the post 1967 years. I look out the window and I see a vibrant and strong nation of 7.5 million people most of whom are willing to walk out that door and fight at a moments notice for the continuation of their state (an obscure concept in most of the west today). In my circle of freinds we are already saying increase our income tax and reject any future US Aid (which has to be spent in the US anyway). Israelis dont trust Obama, Obama has no political leverage in Israel except with the Arab parties and anti or post Zionist Jewish parties. Israel is a technological world leader and has plenty to offer new allies if it is forced to search them out. The new gas fields found off Israels coast are the largest in the middle east and offer Israel energy independence. I am afraid that the continued unbalanced pressure on Israel from the Obama administration will prove disatrous for the US-Israel relationship and may ultimately leave the US without any real influence in the middle east. Obama needs the support of Israels Jewish poulation to move any peace proposal forward, he has alot of hard work ahead of him to reverse the very negative vibes he has created amongst Israeli Jews towards his administration.
Jun 21, 2009 - 9:44 pm 32. Chileno:Ironic, isn’t it?
Our President is willing to pressure our friends, but not our enemies. He can eloquently speak of grass-roots “change” in America, but remains silent when such change comes to Iran. He can bow to the authoritarian Saudi King, but not to the Queen of England.
Ironic? No. It’s sad. When we knowingly sacrifice those who hold our beliefs, and accomodate those who do not, we declare ourselves willing to pay any price for peace. And that’s exactly the price we will be made to pay.
After sacrificing the Sudeten Czechs for peace, Neville Chamberlain boldly declared, “…the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace… My good friends… I believe it is peace for our time.”
Obama is repeating the story in the Middle East, sacrificing Jews and Iranians in order to acheive peace with the extremists. But appeasment did not bring peace to Europe. I doubt the story will be much different in the Middle East.
Jun 21, 2009 - 9:57 pm 33. David P:Obama will resign before he’s impeached, but not before blaming the Jews for his collapse.
Jun 21, 2009 - 10:48 pm 34. flickervertigo:you gotta wonder if it’s possible for obama to “betray” israel when his job description requires him to work for the people of the USA.
exactly what benefits are the american people getting from AIPAC, PNAC, the AEI, JINSA, and the likud party of israel?
Jun 21, 2009 - 10:50 pm 35. flickervertigo:when something happens, we’re supposed to ask ourselves, “is it good for the jews?” and “is it good for israel?”
too bad so many jews are beginning to ask themselves, “is israel good for the jews?”
after israel’s performance in gaza, it’s getting pretty iffy.
Jun 21, 2009 - 10:57 pm 36. flickervertigo:so obama’s kinda trapped, isnt he?
given the general deterioration of the situation in israel, including calls from prominent israelis for jews to abandon their morals in defense of israel (…morals that zionist leaders abandoned sixty or seventy years ago… what’s remarkable is the public acknowledgement), obama has a choice:
he can help jews by trying to clean up israel’s behavior, or he can kowtow to israeli immorality and harm jews.
…all this presupposing that the big wheels have not given up on israel, which is another iffy proposition.
it’s likely a large faction of supposed zionists are using israel’s exemption from criticsm to dodge criticism of themselves as they loot the israeli american empire in anticipation of its collapse from oil shortages, and in reality, they could give a fig less about israel.
Jun 21, 2009 - 11:13 pm 37. flickervertigo:one function of israel was demonstrated by the yukos oil jews of russia, who fled to israel when putin cracked down on the oligarchs.
so israel is the refuge of last resort for criminals who need to flee from justice in their home country… they move to israel and hang out with impunity.
nevzlin of yukos, for example.
on the other hand, if you got enough loot, you dont need israel, you can buy immunity from justice in, for instance, the UK, like berezovsky has done… so the really fat cats dont need israel.
Jun 21, 2009 - 11:25 pm 38. Cybergeezer:Yea, Del; The Prince of Incompetence is stacking up to be recorded in history as WORSE THAN CARTER!
Jun 22, 2009 - 5:20 am 39. homero:thumbs up for Delia …and no surprize thumbs down for sheesh.
I am not going into the details why sheesh is on the wrong side of reality (yeahyeah ..reality is subjective, at least for liberals and progressives)I am not going to change sheesh’s opinion so I will not go on about how this person has gotten things backward.
but if sheesh can find the time to read the latest books by Oriana Fallici …see may see things from a non political perspective ..Oriana Fallici was apolitical and interviewed many of sheesh’s heros.
cheers
Jun 22, 2009 - 5:36 am 40. Jerry:I find Ron Radosh’s article interesting at best as a summary of attitudes. Had these attitudes existed in isolation, retained within diplomatic circles, then that is where the matter would stand.
However, that is not where matters stand. All these prejudicial proclivities among Gentiles and Jews that view Israel as a problem are accompanied by actions that result in the loss of life and the retrenchment of Israel to a defensive posture that is likely to end with “untoward” actions, according to these non-thinkers.
Let me be blunt! The negative attitudes toward Israel are accompanied by actions:
The United States has canceled the F-22 raptor program. Others may differ, but I view that cancelation as a direct response to Israel’s need for the aircraft. It could have been a money-maker for the United States, given the interest of other governments besides Israel. Continuation of the program could have saved approximately nine thousand American jobs. But no, it needed to be cancelled. No one asks why, because the people who know why, don’t have to ask, and the people who DON’T know why, do not know enough to ask.
The cancelation of the Arrow III program was another direct attack on Israel. It was only reinstated after Israel made it clear that it would continue the project without American partnership. Now America will be paying for the entire project.
The recent sale of weapons systems to Egypt and Lebanon that diminish Israel’s technological edge are designed not to curry favor with these regimes, but to pressure Israel into a weakened position, requiring them to compromise on issues that would otherwise be seen as stupid moves.
The “uncovering” of Israeli intelligence assets in Lebanon is the direct responsibility of both the American and French intelligence services. It has already resulted in the loss of life and liberty to those courageous people who support Israel and a truly free Lebanon. The stregthening of Hizb’Allah is the outcome of this intelligence debacle. Let no one think that it will not result in the loss of more innocent lives should push come to shove again in Lebanon and Israel. It will result in a lessening of cooperation between other intelligence services and Israeli government sources, causing a weakening of those services and possible later loss of life, perhaps on a massive scale.
These are the items that have reached the public. As with most intelligence work, there are consequences not seen. I must refer all who read this post to John Loftus’ book, “The Secret War Against the Jews.” The fight for life for Israel is always measured against the perceived economic consequences to the monied and privileged classes of governments. In the end it comes down to a conflict between greed, stupidity and prejudice versus the lives of the Jews.
Jun 22, 2009 - 5:58 am 41. homero:caveat ..I wrote that Oriana was apolitical. she was a political journalist but would not put herself in any camp …democrat or republican (if one was to use such terms)
if anyone out there has not read her work they are missing out on fasinating writting and a world view only some one who has met and interviewed the leaders of the world can give.
Jun 22, 2009 - 6:01 am 42. Perry:Israel??? Obama is betraying America!
He’s using his personal popularity to quickly ram through his massive socialist agenda before the majority of Americans wake up and realize that he reconstructed their country into a look-alike of Belgium. Cap & Trade, bailouts benefiting the UAW, useless stimulus, multi-trillion-dollar deficits, fighting the weather (global warming), nationalized health-care (Canadians will have nowhere to go when they need top-quality care quickly), pandering to intolerant Muslims (including HAMAS) and abandoning Israel.
If the Iran riots show any lesson to Americans, it’s that our President doesn’t know anything about how the world works. The Mullahs are laughing at Obama and how he was afraid to “meddle” and show support for FREE elections because he wants to be able to talk to the Iranian government. Obama is way out of his league and everyone (especially Iran) but American liberals and Jews knows it.
The guy is insane, no, not insane but mendacious. And let’s discuss the cynicism of Obama’s sycophantic supporters in Congress. Barack Obama is aided and abetted by all the little Dem mice who are dancing to his tune because they fear him. They fear him because he’s popular and they don’t want to risk missing a ride on Obama’s coattails to reelection in 2010. The truth is that the majority of Dems who will be reelected will likely be the ones (some Blue-Dogs) who will have voted against Obama’s Grand Project.
All polls show Obama with personal approval down 10 points to the high 50’s. But the same polls show approval for his policies below 50 and falling, with his personal approval trending likewise. Bush’s approval was in the low 30’s at the end and he was paralyzed. I am certainly gleeful to see Obama’s approval tanking. He can’t fail fast enough because his failure will be benificial to America – and to Israel who Obama sees as an obstacle to his reconcilliation with the Muslim world.
The sooner Obama fails, the sooner America – and the world – recovers.
Jun 22, 2009 - 6:05 am 43. Chip:Obama loves contradiction…
Rahm can stay as long he is a good example of Obama’s so-called respect for Jewish voters.
Truthfully, if Israel were wiped off of the map, Obama would claim credit for solving the main Middle East problem.
Jun 22, 2009 - 7:02 am 44. ahad ha'amoratsim:Chip,
Jun 22, 2009 - 9:39 am 45. Old Soldier:“if Israel were wiped off of the map, Obama would claim credit for solving the main Middle East problem.” Yeah, then in the same breath he’d say it was a shame that Israel had to be ended and that Jews were murdered, but that that part was all George Bush’s fault.
I just don’t understand the “growth” nonsense. When else in history have we told a sovereign nation how many kids their citizens can have or where they should build their houses on their own territory?
The Palestinians seem to be far less skilled in the use of contraceptives, perhaps we should require them to control their “growth.”
Jun 22, 2009 - 10:21 am 46. David P:To: flickervertigo
The problem with conspiracy theorists is that myopic obsessions impede their ability to thoroughly analyze pertinent facts, basic logic & simple reasoning by selectively tailoring the truth to encompass their synopses.
Jun 22, 2009 - 11:27 am 47. The Shadow:I would like to compile a collection of studpid statements like this one “David P:
Obama will resign before he’s impeached, but not before blaming the Jews for his collapse.
Jun 22, 2009 - 11:56 am 48. homero:“
hey what happened to the posts from Delia and sheesh ??
….anyhow best of luck to Israel. it is a great place and I am sorry to see the way they have been treated by the Obama administration. and by that of Bush and Clinton but most of all Carter. …I think I see his chichens roosting all around.
Jun 22, 2009 - 12:40 pm 49. Delia:homero 36], I think Ron or his Mods removed a bunch of posts that weren’t on-topic.
I agree with you, I hope Israel stays strong. I pray for them often.
Jun 22, 2009 - 1:53 pm 50. David P:To: The Shadow
Which outcome are you more frightened of, that my assessment proves to be true or that you’ll need to acknowledge my clairvoyance?
Jun 22, 2009 - 2:01 pm 51. Stone:Given the support the POTUS has among American Jews the answer is either moot or he has not
Jun 24, 2009 - 5:34 am 52. Twitter Trackbacks for Ron Radosh » Has Obama Betrayed Israel? Two Journalists Weigh In on the Issue [pajamasmedia.com] on Topsy.com:[...] Ron Radosh » Has Obama Betrayed Israel? Two Journalists Weigh In on the Issue pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/06/21/has-obama-betrayed-israel-two-journalists-weigh-in-on-the-issue – view page – cached #Ron Radosh RSS Feed Ron Radosh » Has Obama Betrayed Israel? Two Journalists Weigh In on the Issue Comments Feed Ron Radosh Introducing Myself Vacation with a Kindle Where Does Cuba Find its American Spies? Guess? — From the page [...]
Aug 30, 2009 - 1:58 pm