Our current dust-up with Israel

finnbow · #1 03-24-2010, 01:14 PM

What do you gents make of our current dust-up with Israel starting with the Biden/Jersusalem settlement kerfuffle? I think the Administration was well within its right to make an issue of the untimely settlement announcement during Biden's visit.

What unsettles me a bit is that the administration is being criticized by AIPAC and the GOP for reacting as it did to Israel's provocation. Netanyahu comes to Washington and openly criticizes the adminsitration's position and draws a cheer in the halls of congress (and of course at the annual AIPAC meeting). Then official Washington goes into a tizzy when Gen. Petraeus has the nerve to say that the Israel/Palestinian conflict "foments anti-American sentiment due to a perception of U.S. favoritism toward Israel." How dare he state the obvious!

d-ray657 · #2 03-24-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnbow

What do you gents make of our current dust-up with Israel starting with the Biden/Jersusalem settlement kerfuffle? I think the Administration was well within its right to make an issue of the untimely settlement announcement during Biden's visit.

What unsettles me a bit is that the administration is being criticized by AIPAC and the GOP for reacting as it did to Israel's provocation. Netanyahu comes to Washington and openly criticizes the adminsitration's position and draws a cheer in the halls of congress (and of course at the annual AIPAC meeting). Then official Washington goes into a tizzy when Gen. Petraeus has the nerve to say that the Israel/Palestinian conflict "foments anti-American sentiment due to a perception of U.S. favoritism toward Israel." How dare he state the obvious!

First Obama's weak on foreign policy because Israel pulled the stunt during Biden's visit, then he's out of line for calling Israel out for the stunt. I doubt Obama would get any credit from the GOP if he brought home an agreement on borders.

I heard an interesting interview with Tony Blair on NPR. Probably stating the obvious, but he maintains that peace is not possible without the recognition on both sides that two nations exist there.

Regards,

D-Ray

Regards,

D-Ray

piece-itpete · #3 03-24-2010, 01:29 PM

They're full of hot air.

The announcement was a kick in the shin though. Biden probably said 'That f*cking hurts!'

Pete

noonereal · #4 03-24-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnbow

What unsettles me a bit is that the administration is being criticized by AIPAC and the GOP for reacting as it did to Israel's provocation.

Israel is Israel, they will never change. We need to be tougher with them.

As to the GOP, just plain unpatriotic at this point. Party first, country be damned. I just hope the knuckleheads lean to think independently of Fox and Rush but I don't realistically hold out much hope.

finnbow · #5 03-24-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noonereal

Israel is Israel, they will never change. We need to be tougher with them.

As to the GOP, just plain unpatriotic at this point. Party first, country be damned. I just hope the knuckleheads lean to think independently of Fox and Rush but I don't realistically hold out much hope.

Your post made me concoct an unthought of analogy.

Anybody in the political sphere in the US who criticizes Israel is forced to recant and make nice if they want a future in American politics. It's not a great deal unlike any Republican who criticizes Limbaugh. This is also done at their own peril and results in immediate kowtowing/begging for forgiveness. In both cases, the perpetrators find themselves apologizing for telling the unvarnished (and obvious) truth (i.e., Limbaugh is an entertainer and is divisive (Steele) and America is perceived by Arabs to show favoritism toward Israel.)

Grumpy · #6 03-24-2010, 02:01 PM

When you have balls the size of Israel you can do what you want.

rickr15 · #7 03-24-2010, 02:05 PM

I've been watching the Arab/Isreali thing my entire life and I figure if they haven't gotten along for the last 2000 years it aint happening anytime soon.

The part I don't get is we give Isreal weapons and technology. Then we help with finances to rebuild Gaza when the Isrealis blow it up with said weapons. Can't we just pick a side and be done with it?

finnbow · #8 03-24-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

When you have balls the size of Israel you can do what you want.

What's galling is that the size of their balls (i.e., weapons) derives from the $2.5 billion given to them in aid from the US. What's interesting is that strings are often attached to Federal aid to the 50 states (i.e., Federal highway monies), whereas we dare not attach strings to the aid given to our 51st state.

Grumpy · #9 03-24-2010, 02:14 PM

If you don't understand then watch a documentary called Take the long way home.

You will then understand a lot more. Including why Israel does not give two shits about anyone else and why the palestinian screwed themselves.

Sandy G · #10 03-24-2010, 02:19 PM

[QUOTE=rickr15;24237]I've been watching the Arab/Isreali thing my entire life and I figure if they haven't gotten along for the last 2000 years it aint happening anytime soon.

DING ! DING ! DING ! DING! Neither side in that mess REALLY wants peace or they'd had it years ago. The Hatfields & McCoys buried the hatchet, even I married a Damyankee from Rhode Island....Even ALMOST consider her the same form of life...Still think we oughta build a big fence around the whole kit 'n' kaboodle over there, throw 'em all the guns, bombs, whathaveyou over said fence, tell 'em to Go For It, & then 6 months later go in there & clean up the rest..."Holy Land", myass..."Unholy Mess" is more like it...