Politics
More PoliticsIsrael Plays with Fire
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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A slap in the face to Biden on settlements, and now a new insult: Israel is playing a dangerous game with America. Leslie H. Gelb on how the dispute badly damages U.S. power.
Israel’s right-wingers are congratulating themselves on their announcement of new construction in East Jerusalem during Vice President Biden’s visit last week. They think this stance, so unwelcome in Washington, this public and gratuitous insult to America’s negotiating position in the region, will compel President Obama to back down. They reinforced this notion Tuesday through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reaffirmation of the building plans—plus the insult of announcing yet additional building plans. They’re very wrong. Israel’s move was stupid, dangerous, and self-defeating. Worst of all, it seriously damaged Israeli-American relations and American power in the Middle East. Israeli leaders will not like the way their little power slap plays out. And it is they who should be figuring out how to make the necessary amends—and soon, before further contamination sets in.
Why on earth did the Israelis do what they did to Biden and reaffirm and double it on Tuesday? The only explanation I can think of is that they didn’t care.
Let me say up front that I am a strong supporter of Israel. To me, the United States’ tie with the Jewish nation is both emotional and strategic. Israel is a “strategic aircraft carrier” for America in a chaotic part of the world. Washington should never cast doubt on its commitment to Israel’s security. But Israel is not America’s sole vital interest in this treacherous terrain. If Israelis further complicate an already complicated Middle East, it won’t be good for the United States or for Israel.
Make no mistake, the insult badly damaged America’s power in the eyes of Muslim leaders and others around the world. To be sure, almost all of these leaders have an exaggerated and unrealistic notion of America’s control over Israel. Washington has much influence there, but not control. In any event, the working supposition is that if any nation can bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians, it is the United States because it alone has real influence over both parties. The Israeli slap in Biden’s face seriously undermined that perception of American influence, and thus America’s power. The disposition of Arab leaders and others to go along with American plans for future talks between Israelis and Palestinians will be seriously eroded. Others will be far less inclined to give Washington the benefit of the doubt. The result will be far more pressure by Muslim and European leaders for Washington to get tough and tougher with Israel. More toughness won’t work and will simply lead to more anger and frustration all around. The only ones who will benefit from this will be the political extremists and terrorists.
Israel’s slap in America’s face also will encourage the belief that Washington can be pushed around. In particular, vicious rumors are already afoot saying the Israelis wouldn’t have done this unless they believed Obama was weak and would back down. And if this was Israel’s assessment of the American president—and who knows Americans better than Israelis—why wouldn’t others seek to test Obama’s mettle as well?
Israelis who are rejoicing in their insult would do well to imagine Tehran’s reaction to their shenanigans. President Ahmadinejad and his cohorts must be thinking that if the Israelis can push Washington around, so can they. Who could be happier than the Revolutionary Guards to see America being treated as a limping power? And if Israeli leaders thought about what has just happened with any clarity, they would see that they have jeopardized America’s power in dealing with Iran’s evolving nuclear capability.
All this damage to American power in the region can be repaired over time—if there is no deterioration in America-Israeli relations as a result of the insult. But that is precisely the ultimate risk and danger caused by the foolish affront. Some Israeli leaders may, crazily, believe that their political position in the United States is so solid that they need not worry about Americans or an American administration becoming less supportive of Israel’s interests. But they should not be so sanguine. Americans, like others, are living in perilous times. Economic woes at home will lead to less patience with rebukes from abroad, especially from friends like Israel. It will be easier for Israel’s opponents in America to raise questions about U.S. military and economic aid to the Jewish state. Increasing numbers of U.S. policy experts who argue that Israel is more part of the problem than the solution for the United States in the Middle East will find more receptive audiences among frustrated Americans. This is no time for Israel’s leaders to test the depth and stability of America’s support for their country.
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Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
keleti
God will always protect Israel like he did in the past,no matter if the whole world is against her.God will bless those who blesses her,and he will curse those who rise up against her !
animals
keletti: where did you get that from? It is sad to read such blank, hippocritical statements, in the 21st Century. If you believed this, what about the billions of Moslems who claim the same?
Guido64
It's called the Bible keletti. Both in the old and new testaments.
citivas
This is sarcasm, right?
Biddut
Where was God during Holocaust?
misha1000
"Where was God during Holocaust?"
That's what I have been saying all along. And where was God at slave auctions, when children were sold from their parents?
"God will always protect Israel" BS, pal. Uzi will protect Israel.
Lamont
This is confused thinking. Christians have no obligation to be supportive of Israeli tyranny and oppression. Blessing Israel would be giving refuge to Jews who came to America on the St. Louis and who were refused entry to the US. Sending Israel billions to build land grabbing settlers is regarded by JStreet and other Jewish people with integrity as helping Israel along its self destructive path. General Petraus is right. Israel's behavior endangers Americans. Did you notice that the 9/11 attacks were largely motivated by our complicity in Israeli oppression?
Some Reverend commented in this blog that the US "needs Israel to look out for our interests in the Middle East." What utter stupidity.
It is wrong to think that we should be trying to dominate the Middle East.
It is lunacy to think that Israel is an asset for domination. Israel is a LIABILITY.
Harry Truman should have stuck to the US invitation to bring Holocaust survivors to the US instead of knuckling under to Zionist in Chief, Chaim Weizmann's demand to send them all to Palestine to solve their problems at the expense of innocent Palestinians.
Israel endangers our relations with the Muslim world with which we should be at peace. America! Stop threatening Iran. Get out of Iraq! Get out of Afghanistan! The best thing we could do to let the air out of Al Qaeda tires would be to recognize Free Palestine and send convoys of relief to break the blockade of Gaza and send bulldozers to start knocking down settlements in Palestine (for which construction we paid). When Palestine is out from under the boot of Israel and Palestine makes peace things will settle down.
gustav
Never underestimate the damage done by Christian 'End Timers' like the Rev. Hagee. The far right in Israel depends on their support and thinks it shows divided American foreign policy positions on settlements. The goal of the End Timers is to rebuild the Temple, necessary to hasten the second coming of Christ. Never mind that pesky Dome of the Rock Muslim thing in the way. When is someone going to call out the End Timers financial and political support for the settlements as dangerous to the USA and the troops in the Mideast?
case1234
READ the article in Foreign Policy magazine about Generals Petraeus team report on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and its effect on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a nut shell he says this persistent issue places American lives at risk.
The sooner Livni and Kadima are back in power the better.
gustav
READ the article, it does not call out the End Timers, but does state the problem caused by the settlements.
dana64
LONG LIVE AMERICA.................how dare these Israeli leaders insult US.
AMERICA .................DO NOT STAND for this humiliation or you will be humiliated by all the world .
ENOUGH .............we do not need Israel................JUST the OPPOSITE.
RevPettibone
to dana64...
What are you some kind of wack-job. We most certainly do need Israel....... if Israel were ever to go under who do you think would look out for our interests in that part of the world?
PinkoLefty
I was struck by the line, "Israel is a "strategic aircraft carrier" for America in a chaotic part of the world."
Yes it is. However, I'd like to point out that it's an aircraft carrier for America in a part of the world made more chaotic by the presence of our poorly behaved aircraft carrier.
sangha774
Well said PinkoLefty. Israel has slapped America in the face because, again, America has allowed itself (this goes way back) to become Israel's bitch. Petraeus was right in that Israeli actions has caused anti-America sentiments due to a perception of US favoritism for Israel. It is this relationship between Israel and America that has de-stabilized the Middle East and given birth to terrorism. It is shocking that American foreign policy cannot see what has been staring in its face. The way to bring peace to the Middle East and the rest of the world is for America to speak up for Palestinian justice and stop Israel abusing America. The best anti-terrorist weapon is putting Israel in its place.
RockyMissouri
Gustav--Thank you for your remarks regarding Israels' right-wingers and our rt-wingers, Hagee et al...... I am also extremely troubled by Turkeys' inability to call genocide, regarding the Armenian massacre appropriately what it was, and still is: GENOCIDE. The passing of time does not change what happened to the Armenians....it does not change, that Indians were massacred at Wounded Knee- in spite of others wanting to call it a battle....it does not change the genocide of the Irish by the English -who stole Irish beef and mutton, right in front of STARVING CHILDREN! Did the priests speak out against this horror?
In the Ukraine, where millions were starved DELIBERATELY called
Holodomor--GENOCIDE This is going on in Africa! Where is our humanity- our most basic and precious quality- human decency?
clearthinker
Is your rant toward "End Timers" or Christians in general?
Israel seems to be stubborn toward any kind of peace. The make a deal and then break it. Clearly, this makes any work of a US President that much more difficult. However, Obama has an impossible task of trying to gain trust in the middle east no matter how much he apologizes for past US problems or the US ally: Isreal.
dana64
THESE END TIMERS ARE as crazy as ahmajinejad et al........
they know no shame ...............how can anyone be so stupid and delusional ?
DakLak
Hopefully Obama will change the routine by saying THE CHECK/CHEQUE IS NOT IN THE MAIL.
Israel depends on billions of dollars and pounds in 'grants' from the USA and Britain.
Neither can afford it.
And Israel doesn't deserve it.
hockeydog
I finally got it. I finally understand. My little hockeydog brain finally kicked in.
This is nothing more than history repeating itself; like Yogi Berra's deja vu all over again. This is nothing more than Jimma Carter re-channelled through Barry Obama.
The Israelis are right in their assessment. Mr. Obama is a weak stick, just as Jimma was, and the weak stick will make way for the inevitable strong American to follow. Just as Ronnie Raygun came riding in on his hoss to set America back in the saddle, so will some as-yet-to-be-determined gunslinger.
We have seen the script before. Nothing new to report.
With the arrogant, supercilious moves of the Israelis, they have assured the world of their inherent right to continue their ongoing conflict with the rest of the world.
If you aren't despised, start a fight with someone. If you want to prove your prophets true, and there is a lull in the action, why simply punch your buddy in the nose and get it started again.
Perhaps it is time for the Jews to throw away their cultural bias that has perpetually bogged them back into the cesspool of "them versus us". Maybe the culture would be better served by eliminating terms like goyum.
Perhaps if they did not build these walls, they would realize that all humanity breathes the same air, and that their ancient culture would be far better served by tossing aside their ego-centric position as "God's chosen people".
Afterall, if their God has doomed them to perpetual condemnation by the rest of mankind, could it be that their God is really their Satan in disguise? I hate to put it in Biblical terms like that, but these seem to be the only terms the culture understands.
Whatever happened to the idea of turning over a new leaf?
Recall another similar, haughty culture in another part of the world, and how it eventually played out. The feudal Japanese culture devolved into one which held itself aloof, and superior to the other Asian cultures. The Samurai mentality spread like a cancer across China, Korea, until they finally saw the light, by having it dropped from the sky upon their cities.
To this day, there are entire generations of people in China and Korea who hate the Japanese for the misery that culture inflicted on their people. This misery was the indirect result of the Japanese holding themselves apart as somehow superior to the others, and it manifested itself as arrogance, and cruelty to their supposed inferiors.
Mr Gelb is correct in his assessment that this could turn out badly for the Israelis. And before you put this post down as just another anti-semetic ranting of a right-winger, please bear in mind, that I have both Jewish friends, and American-Israeli friends. Without exception, they do not like what this lunatic fringe that is running the Israeli government is doing.
I also have Japanese, Chinese, and Korean friends, so the racist rant does not apply. My Black, and Native American friends also know that I am not racist. If anything, I am mostly embarassed when a fellow Caucasian purports to represent me in the bloated-whale personage of the typical American politician.
And, I am not alone.
We don't like what our lunatic American government is doing with the shuttling of money into the pockets of the banker-boys. We don't like the willy-nilly invading of other countries that our government is doing, and giving us a bad reputation around the world as a bully.
Something is terribly, terribly wrong here. Governments out of step with their own peoples, driving the World to the brink. Insanity!
Curiouser
Think again hockeydog.
hockeydog
yeh, yeh, I know; it's spelled 'semitic'. fat paws.
liberatorquest
@ Hockeydog
A confused mind is a terrible thing to use!!!! Just when you thought you got it, you're even further away from getting it!!!
JohnConnughton
I tend to lean left, but I found your post intelligent and reasoned. It does wander a bit though.
RockyMissouri
Hockeydog--WOW!! Thank you!!
goffbum
Very well thought out and spoken my good man.....wonder who's listening..........
sangha774
Hockeydog: I don't think you are racist but I do think you are not very bright. Obama is not a "weak stick" as you've said. It's just that he is not impatient and wreckless. You seriously underestimate (or don't know about) the power Israel has built into influencing Congress. You talk, inaccurately, too much.
thecatwalk
I agree with all,but the Obama line. I rather have my president take a little time to asses the players in the game before taking down their queen.
mikehattan
Absolutely spot on hockeydog...The Israelis' brinkmanship is a dangerous and reckless attitute and an affront to all peace loving people. And they claim to be Gods chosen people? As an atheist I have to say I'm glad I am not beholden to such superstitious and may I say just plain arrogant beliefs. Aren't we ALL supposed to be Gods' children?
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RockyMissouri
That is truly appalling....Mr. Sharon has recieved his karmic sentence for saying such an ungrateful thing.....
clearthinker
Can you give us proof of this quote?
JohnConnughton
When things are too good to be true they often are not. Sometimes even too bad to be true turns out to be not true. Your quote was so awful I spent 5 seconds on Google and found this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090615152313AAZXvNq
Fake Quote? Israel/Felastin?
"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it."
It's quoted a lot on this forum.................isn't it fake?
9 months ago
Additional Details
"Kol Yisrael political correspondent Yoni Ben-Menachem, who reports on Cabinet meetings, confirmed to CAMERA that he never made such a broadcast and that Sharon never made such a statement. Nor was it reported by any other news service."
So next time you strike gold, check it out before you post it.
artois
Israel depends on nothing of the kind - The USA DEPENDS on Israeli restraint. The bargain struck in 1967 that has endured until now is a guarantee that Israel will always be supplied with US hardware so long as Israel refrains from using its might when the threat to its existence is no longer existential.
But now the Israeli economy is bigger, weapons are cheaper to make, and there are viable competitors to US hardware including Israeli made ordnance. As a consequence the aid tendered is no longer that important. And the political realities of the Arab world are not what they were. Israel's political calculus is actually quite correct. Gelb's analysis is dead wrong. Israel's assertion of its own sovereignty is the ONLY guarantee of peace in the region. SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM!
eurydice9276
That's terrific. I'm so pleased that Israel has reached the point at which it can be totally self-sufficient. I look forward to them achieving peace in the region all by themselves, politically, militarily and financially.
artois
eurydice9276
Your sarcasm is obviously a mask for your ignorance. Israel was formed and fought its existential wars (1948, 1956, 1967 and in 1973 the aid came on the last day of the war AFTER Arab gains were reversed) WITHOUT A SCINTILLA of US (government) aid. In 1967 Israel was on the cusp of destroying the governments of Syria, Jordan and Egypt launching those states into chaos. The US intervened and convinced the Israelis that that result was undesirable. (The Cold War loomed large in that rationale). Israel does not NEED the US. The political cover it gets from the US is "nice to have" as is the aid, but the reality is that it could do without. The Americans should know by now that Checkbook diplomacy only buys you so much.
hockeydog
I don't think eurydice was being sarcastic.
It is a good idea.
Kateliz
artois has it right. Israel needs the US less than ever. The US on the other hand, has few friends and many enemies not the least of which is Iran.( Talk about "insulting", Iran pretty much routinely gives the US the finger, diplomatically speaking.) As far as Israel goes, the US is so used to having its own way it is a bit of a shock to find out they can't dictate like they used to. Fact is, they have run out of other people's money and any ally who depends on the US to be able to borrow from China to make good on their foreign aid promises is foolish. If they had a lick of sense, and were a little less anti-semetic, Obama and his rottweiler Hillary would just shut **up before the "aircraft carrier" has no room for those US planes to land on their way to bomb whomever they have a mind to.
klassicheart
Very smart response. Most people have no idea what is going on. The Arabs are furious with Obama because he went back on his promises re Iran. No sanctions...backed down on deadlines. Obama is weak and it has nothing to do with Israel. The problems in Iraq have nothing to do with Israel. Obama is trying to divert attention from his own ineffective foreign policy by making Isr
Biddut
Israel could not hold a gun if it is not for America. I was waiting for the day, when closet backstabbers will actually backstab their birth country and start supporting Israel. America should totally stop dealing about Iran Nuke and let Iran and Israel sort things out. Let's sit and watch the mi east. And yes, stop this dual citizenship nonsense.
sangha774
DakLak: Understand your country. The power to stop billions of dollars going to Israel is in Congress' hands, not Obama's. Israel has worked for years to catheterize Congress and drip feed its influence. If all decision making was up to the President alone, we wouldn't need a Congress or a Judiciary. I wish Americans could understand this fundamental arrangement. It goes back to 1776.
hockeydog
sangha, thank you for pointing out that I am not too bright, and talk too much. You strike me as a pretty well-educated person who has no fire in his belly, but likes to look at his reflection in the mirror.
It is probably your conceit that holds you back. You purport to have the inside information on Israel controlling our Congress, and take pride in explaining how the cow ate the ole cabbage to those of us, who are dim bulbs.
Let me just say, that I truly do hope Mr. Obama shows some stuff here, and tells our little middle eastern friend to stand alone, tall and proud. But, it is doubtful. By the way, what do you mean by "catheterize Congress"?
Is that a cute way of trying to say that a portion of our billions of dollars going to Israel are finding their way back into the pockets of our politicians via lobbyists?
Curiouser
Netanyahu is a crook. And a hardliner. A sort of Vladimir Putin in Israel. He needs to have his ideas exposed to the larger world and have the USA stand up to the recklessness of hard liners and end timers.
Ozone69
I'm not surprised that Biden anbd the President are furious that a country would look out for its own interests. Imagine; building homes in an ultra-orthodox section of Jerusalem. The gall. BTWE, Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran. It is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible.
I know it's strange for this administration to comprehend that a country would put it's own self-interests first. After all, we certainly aren't. The apology and apeasement tour has not made the terrorists hate us any less.
JohnConnughton
Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in the bible but not in the Koran. Big frigging deal, guess how much I care?
God and Moses begat the 10 commandments. Along wth that short list went an oral tradition, which when it was writtten down became a whole book. And when that was interpreted they had 20 volumes called the talmud. The same sort of thing happened with your bible. So go ahead and say with a straight face it's all the word of god instead of man. Why in the world would god ever even bother reciting all the stories in there for you to pant over and me to ignore? Please don't answer, that was rhetorical.
Ozone69
Good luck in the hereafter.
JohnConnughton
Thanks, you too!
Biddut
Who cares? I do not see Jewish mention in Native american language. Why are you guys here? Keep religion out. It is a humanitarian issue.
riall1
No, america is out of step with YOU. Israeli IS the problem in the middle east, and I for one believe that it is a good sign that we are not getting along with them. the only reason israel exists is the us and the uk support selling and giving arms. in return for our support, they have done nothing but abuse the palestinians!!! could you image how you would feel if another country started building residences in the us? or kicking you out of a family home that your family had owned for generations? i would love for them to have to see what it is like to have an arab gun pointed at them and them not to have the us backing them. only then would they know how vulnerable they are and perhaps they would make a serious effort to work with their neighbors!!!!. Oh, and you are so wrong about jimmy carter he was right about nearly everything he worked on and I am embarrased that we replaced him with that idiot cowboy reagan who did more to wreck this country's economy than anyone else (besides that other dumb cowboy bush). and finally no you are not alone you are in fine company with those tea bagging racists and religions fanatics.
RockyMissouri
riall1-Thank you!! You are right!
hockeydog
riall1, please do not misunderstand me. The script is not mine. Raygun was not my hero, but was hailed as such by those who mandated that Carter fail. The only part of the script that has not re-occurred yet is for the Iranians to take over the American embassy, giving Obama a chance to further follow in Jimma's footsteps.
I believe that Carter was a very kind man, but a weak-kneed President, and this created the conditions for the charismatic actor in the cowboy hat to come to the rescue.
If it were up to me, I would cut off the financial support to the aircraft carrier, and focus on our own domestic troubles. And, believe me, there are others who feel the same way.
sbvpav
Netanyahu and cheney = two sides of the same coin, two peas in a pod, working together. just what good to us or the world has neo cons done? how different was america's "manifest destiny" to the native americans and israel's settlements to the palestinians?
Glenda1976
The Israelis don't want to give up Jerusalem. Simple as that.
gadib1
as an israeli i must say, that bibi is locked, on the one hand the world wants from him to continue with the journy towards an palstinian state, while his coalition right wing members are pushing him to keep the status quo. he seems to be uncapble to take a brave diciesion, to any side, so this situation is very diffcult to those of us who really hope for a two state solution.
it seemes that this two face game will continue, not only by israel but also by the us and the arab countries. america can and should say that as long as this game is on there will be no talks,direct or indirect. this can put the pressure back on bibi to take a clear diraction, and ofcourse, america can support a vote in the un that would state the indipendent of the palstinians, without any negotiations. something which the israeli gouverment would hate to happen.
liberatorquest
Nobody is asking them to give up Jerusalem, well actually the Arabs have always insisted on this, but that's not going to happen. The Arabs have to change their failed strategy of aggression to reach their goal. They should stop the violence and show the Israelis they won't suicide bomb them anymore, that they want to live in peace side by side with them. This is, of course, a pipe dream and would be a genuine miracle to pull off, but weirder things have happened in history. Israel will not back down, simply because they know that the hatred towards them is very real and intense. The US should, once and for all, realize that peace in the Middle East will most likely never come, and simply leave bad enough alone!!!! Use this latest plead from Israel for us to leave them alone, to cut the aid to them substantially and start using the savings where we can actually make a difference in the outcome!!!
amapola101
Lets cut the aid, the billions, to afghan, iraq ,pakistan, somalia, I agree, not a penny anywhere else but the US.The one strategic, real allie of the US is Israel.
colindale
Obama must not back down after ISRAEL slaps AMERICA in the face.
March 17, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/17/crisis-us-israeli-re lations-barack-obama
Whether Netanyahu was merely stupid or, more likely, arrogantly malicious in order to assert his claimed superiority over America - is not the point. President Obama cannot afford to blink again and allow Israeli extremists to dictate US foreign policy.
There is now the dangerous possibility of a third intifada, provoked by the Netanyahu cohorts, that could spark a nuclear war in the Middle East.
Time for Netanyahu to leave the stage, and for Obama to assert his authority over this tiny nation that thinks it can rule the world.
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liberatorquest
Black Africans are even more dangerous and cruel towards their own black brothers and sisters than the "Albinos" ever were, and that is not based on false history , but on fact!!!!
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artois
LOL
amapola101
Revm Horrak, not a penny to pakistan, 900 billion? iraq,/Rebuilding Iraq? Not a penny to palestinians, so they wont build more terrorist camps, and arafats wife has all the billions. Go visit mubarick, and see what was done with the money of palestine.Not a penny to afghan, not a penny to somalia, and anywhere else. Let them all build their terrosist camps, and train their killers and train to take over france, and england and spain and the west on their own.Who is trying to kill westerners, everyday, the Israelis?When the blessing is in heaven and killing ,exploding yourself is blessed,stand out of the way,. Infidels, are to be subdued, killed or converted.Israel took a dessert and made a land. Palestine built terrorist camps, their own opress, keep them poor uneducated, and I agree, not a penny to anyone else. especially when deep inside, the infidels, are supposed to die.and everyday they are trained.Imagine,if all those trillions spent all over were spent here.
JohnConnughton
Man, you are the most color-conscious twit I ever heard of.
Years ago I lived in South Africa a while, and I know you hail from a really twisted mind-set. But you've got to get over it now.
And I've been reading about Albinos being murdered up north from you, charged as witches and that kind of bullshit, when all that distinguishes them is a lack of melanin for pigment. To hear you use the term Albino and pufff up about being Black with a capital B makes me want to puke. You personaly have not deserved Nelson Mandela.
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JohnConnughton
In the old South Africa, races WERE classified by appearances, yes. I live in the USA, where the average color is slowly blending into a nice deep tan color-the best of all worlds for both health and beauty.
I wish you were not so angry, but you are, so that's that. Just remember those who live by the sword die by the sword.
liberatorquest
Holy Cow!!! This Re-Horakhty character is certainly certifiable, what a nut job!!!
He obviously got stuck somewhere in time and can be declared null and void!!! Thanks, but no thanks Re-Horakhty, go sell crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up here!!!!
roguevalley
Wow, the Daily Beast has quite a following in the lunatic fringe. But it's interesting to see how far the left has descended into anti-Semitism.
"Caucasians are the most prolific slavers to walk the planet earth."
Not quite. Muslims are by far the greatest "slavers to walk the earth" and in some parts of the Muslim world slavery continues today. From approximately 600 AD on Muslims have enslaved, murdered and converted people by the sword from Spain and Eastern Europe to India and Asia. Muslim history is little more than the destruction of indigenous peoples and their religions. And that continues today in Nigeria and Egypt.
While Muslims murder Israelis, Israelis build homes. So what?
Israel announced the fourth stage of a seven part approval process to build homes in a Jewish neighborhood. A move that was completely consistent with an Israeli - US agreement not to build on the West Bank that specifically excluded Jerusalem and Obama praised just weeks ago.
Obama goes ballistic? Just shows that Obama was spoiling for a fight - trying to prove his manhood to his Arab buddies.
Yes, the timing sucks. It could have been deliberate sabotage from the Israeli right. But it's just blowback from Obama making the settlements the only critical issue on the table and demanding nothing from the Palestinian. It emboldens them.
While I admire General Petraeus, he's fallen for the old lie - that all of the Middle East's problems are due to Israel. The Palestinians have been the pawns of the Arabs for decades. Muslim dictatorships maintain control by shifting the focus from internal issues like poverty to Palestine. They use Palestinians as their servants.
Muslims already control about 80% of the original British Palestinian Mandate (Jordan, Gaza, West Bank). Rather than build a nation, the Muslims world has condemned the Palestinians to an endless cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
Ever watched Palestinian TV? Rather than nation-building, they've built a culture of hate.
I have to laugh at the notion that Israel is making Obama weak. He is weak. He bows and grovels to our enemies. He apologizes for America. He lets China and Iran piss all over him. World leaders know that they can walk all over Obama with no blowback. But he's more than willing to insult our friends, like the British and Israelis, while cuddling up to Chavez.
For those who think Israelis are Europeans in disguise, have you ever been to Israel? You'll find people of all kinds, every shade and all political persuasions. And from secular to deeply religious. It's a melting pot like America.
In what Middle East nation do Muslims enjoy the most freedom - religious, economic and political? Israel!
The Muslim world has displaced far more Jews than Israel has displaced Muslims. Since Mohammed left Mecca for Medina, Muslims have been killing Jews. Time for it to stop.
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dana64
the fact that ISrael has done some good things DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO INSULT AMERICA.
Hey Where is their obedience to their GOLDEN RULE ?
klassicheart
Excellent. However the real question is whether Democratic donors will react to this? Obama has lied consistently to the Israelis. And the Arabs. The anger from Saudi Arabia and Egypt is due to the fact Obama has done nothing re Iran. The sanctions deadlines are crap. The truth is that the Obama administration has already decided to allow Iran to go nuclear...and therefore, America's allies are upset. In fact, Obama is still trying to negotiate with Iran. No one respects a weak leader. And Obama and his team are light weights. But the worst thing of all is the anti semitism Obama is spreading. By the way, if the Jews prohibited Arabs from building homes on Jewish land, what would they call that?
This is all to divert attention away from Obama's foreign policy disasters...He never slaps our enemies...never supported the reform movement in Iran....Syria humiliates him and he asks for more....Same with Russia and China....But little Israel....Jew Hate has worked before....Too bad there are few alternatives...The Republicans are no longer credible...do we want to be become like Texas?
But Dems are foolish to attack Israel...as Jews donate a lot of money to the party....The left have been brainwashed just as the right have...pathetic
Mafalda
Nothing like a Black African to distribute "pearls of wisdom" to others. Dude, you need to get real, look and the mirror, and tell yourself, "This is how we are." The countries of the African continent have made no progress since the colonial powers stopped investing there in the early 50s. Prior to that, the British Empire was investing around 25% of its gross national product; today, it does not even amount to 5%. Your infrastructure today is due to that 25%. Between tribalism and Marxist ideologies, the African continent has a staggering amount of problems - from political corruption to child soldiers that, like yesterday's slave trade, are destroying you. The African continent DEPENDS on the generosity of the Western world to survive. 3 examples: 1) Gorilla Mugabe sent Zimbabwe, once a country that fed its people and sold grain to others, into chaos when he took the farms from the "albinos" and gave them to his family and nomads. Today, they are starving and asking the West for $5 billion in aid. As far as I am concerned, we should let them starve at the hands of their own. 57% of the people from Swaziland depend on the West for survival, but his emperor spends $5M on his coronation and sends his 12 wives to Europe with $1M per wife for shopping (Nov. 09). I say no more aid. Finally, the communist Nelson Mandela, a myth that the Western Left has created, is another looser. He inherited the most prosperous nation of the continent, but since he (Black) took power, not only has the country not made any progress, it has gone backwards. Read the reports S. Africa provided to the FAO. Between the years 2000-2045, the African countries will double its population, creating additional misery for the world, since we will have to feed you. I say NO MORE. If you want to make progress, stop thinking from the waist down. Blacks are the same, wherever they are - Africa or the US - a bunch of freeloaders, except that now they come with a sense of entitlement. Enough already!
mudbrick
Too much is being made of the current "crisis " in the relations between America and Israel.Firstly,the Palestinian issue was certainly not going to be solved even if the Israeli government had not made that announcement about the new settlements.Just think for how long the U.S has been trying to resolve this problem.It is not as if Biden is the first guy to try his hand at it.Secondly,America can never ignore Israel completely and side entirely with the Palestinians because of its own compulsions.It is therefore futile to blame Obama or Netanhayu for the current hiccup.
rickgoldin
I'm going to make a prediction here. Israel is going to find out real soon just how bad a decision it was to push the buttons they've pushed on this last couple of announcements. Say what you want about President Obama, but I don't know of anyone who cares to be made out to be a fool. Especially at this level. Beyond all the other people these latest announcements has offended, the top three on this particular list are President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden. These people comprise a set of pretty powerful people it's not a good idea to upset with an offense as grave as has taken place. The leaders of Israel should be a tad worried. Unless, of course, they choose to go it alone. 'Cause the next time they get in a tight, they're likely to get the same treatment ... left out in the cold lookin' like a fool with their plans on the ground.
dalelama
RG, As all three of those you have mentioned above have already made complete fools of themselves I don't think an Israeli communication snafu is going to make them look much worse. From Hillary having to duck Bosnian sniper fire to the Messiah claiming there are 57 states to Joey's horrendous hair plug job (just to pick a small sample) they have embarassed themselves enough for one lifetime.
jaxmcd
why did I bother reading this.
JohnConnughton
The timing of words is nothing, dalelama. It is actions that count, and Israel's actions in continuing their building are both insult and the destruction of hope for peace.
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gadib1
i am sorry to ruin your idioligy about israel,but, most poeple in israel come from north africa and the middle east, and many have now a mixed origion....but any way, i dont see the point of dividing the world into skin colores, i am an israeli and although my skin is "light" israel is my home and hopfuly also a peacfull place one day.
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amapola101
Re Horaky, all massacres are horrandous. What the white's did to the black slaves, to the indians, is as the holacoust, as burning witches, is as throwing people in dens's to be torn apart by lions,is the inhumanity of mankind. All genocide,massacres, and injustices, are wrong.But the black attacks on each other in africa. Has no excuse. It just shows, man, really has not advanced,or maybe everything is happening according to plan.Animals inside.
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shamone
DONT FORGET CIVILAZATION STARTED WIT THE BLACK MAN AND IF IT ENDS IT WILL END WITH HIM.GOD IS THE CREATOR OF EVERY THING,NOT THE JEWS OR ANY OTHER MAN.
roguevalley
"On the plantation of the Americas, slave masters would go to the slave quarters to rape girls and sodomize boys and girls."
Sounds like Mohammed and his boys. When it comes to pedophilia, Mohammed was an equal opportunity exploiter, marrying a six year old girl and proclaiming the virtues of buttf**king little boys. Some prophet! Rape, murder, slavery, wars of conquest. Some religion.
dalelama
I hope the slap in Biden's face didn't knock his plugs out. The true slap in the face is to send this greasy used car salesman to discuss the issue with Israel in the first place. Old Plugs has been wrong on every single serious issue he has cast an opinion. No against Desert Storm, Yes on Iraqi Freedom, let's divide Iraq into three separate countries, and No against the surge. I don't think anyone can make the Man/Child and his band of Village Idiots look any weaker than they themselves claim to be. Afterall they couldn't even negotiate successfully with the Olympic Committee and members of the Democratic Congressional Caucus. Have no fear though I am confident they will convinve the Israelis to reduce their settlements bu 3,000%.
JohnConnughton
Mr. Gelb, good article. But it's getting kind of late. I too have always been sympathetic to Israel, except when they elect leaders like B. Netanyahu. I didn't care for him the first time. Now that he's back I know that is what the majority of Israelis actually want, and as far as I'm concerned they can all go jump in the Sea of Galilee.
dalelama
John how are you ? Is it my lack of a MBA in health care that prevents me from figuring out how passing ObamaCare is going to lead to a 3000% decrease in employer health care insurance premiums as Our Almight Leader the Messiah claimed in his speech in Ohio yesterday ? LOL
fenngibbon
Dalelama,
Have faith. After all, Obama is SOOOOO much smarter than us mere mortals. I'm sure he can engineer a 3000% decrease. Right after he ends global warming and gets the temperature to 10 degrees below absolute zero.
dalelama
The silence from the left is deafening when our "Idiot in Chief" tells a blatant lie like that one to the drooling morons who voted for him. The only thing I don't know is Obama, #1) the most deceptive ideolouge since Stalin, or #2) a complete dolt like Chavez. Either way it is really dangerous for the future of our nation. I just hope all 57 states hold together to defeat these closet Communists in November.
Morrisminor
Wow, you have such a command of the issues.
carbonman1950
Please provide the link to the video to what appears at this point to be a factoid. If President Obama, or even Rushboy, said such a thing there would be video on the web. Please tell us where it is.
Scorp1on
I just want the same kind of health care the Israelis have... they are God's socialists.
amapola101
Wow, John, can they take all the msulim Jihadist ploting daily to kill westerners,americans, with, them also.???
JohnConnughton
Let's be expansive, sure! In fact they can stand on their shoulders.
dana64
ISRAELI ARROGANCE Will DROWN THEM.................they already have lost WORLD PUBLIC OPINION..................!
JohnConnughton
dalelama, I am fine, thanks. I'm afraid I didn't hear about that, and it sounds so implausible that if he said it I can only suspect someone did a typo on his teleprompter. (Smile.)
dalelama
Trust me John he said it. I know this may be hard for you to do but if you need confirmation check out www.rushlimbaugh.com.
Morrisminor
Yes he made a mistake, so he must be impeached. No one I know would ever make a mistake
Well look at it this way, all the little dittoheads will have something more to whine about and remember
JohnConnughton
By George, he did say it! I don't trust Limbaugh to do my analysis for me but I found the direct audio-video recording on townhall.com or some such.
That's really weird, and I cannot tell you what he was thinking. Even if he was just reading somebody else's words off a teleprompter he should have choked mentally on a statement like that.
I'm still for a healthcare bill though. It will save lives.
dalelama
John I think he said it because he cannot sell the current version of health care reform without lying about it. It is that simple and why the current version of reform has run into so much trouble as it passage is built on numerous falsehoods, i.e. it will reduce health care costs, it won't increase the deficit, it won't lead to government dictated rationing, it won't impact the insurance you currently hold, etc...I think if Obama had taken an honest approach such as it is beneficial to give health care to those who can't afford, make it portable, and non-rescindable if you pay your premium but it will increase costs overall and we will pay for it and lower costs by implementing tort reform, reducing Medicare fraud, mandating coverage after amending the Constitution, increasing competition across state lines.etc...it would have stood a better chance. You can save lifes without stealing liberty but the latter more than the former is the true goal of this current band of Socialists.
Thank you.
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