Israel Playing Games With American Lives
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The idea that they’re still pushing settlements now is amazingly ludicrous. Thankfully the vice president apparently made that clear.
People who heard what Biden said were stunned. ‘This is starting to get dangerous for us,’ Biden castigated his interlocutors. ‘What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace.’
The vice president told his Israeli hosts that since many people in the Muslim world perceived a connection between Israel’s actions and US policy, any decision about construction that undermines Palestinian rights in East Jerusalem could have an impact on the personal safety of American troops fighting against Islamic terrorism.
Both sides in this conflict seem to have a vested interest in keeping it going rather than engaging in any move towards something resembling peace. I can’t wait for the day when we can tell both sides to go to hell.
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Dude! Do you have your flame-proof undies on? You just said something less-than-fawning-but-not-outrageous about Israel! You must be some kinda Nazi or something!
That is all well and good, but nations respond to action. It shows you how Israel believes it can behave the way it wants with America. By contrast, compare Israel’s behavior during the Mumbai attack in 2008. A Jewish center was attacked, and some lower level Israeli officials were going on record to complain about the way India handled the situation. As soon as that happened, the Israeli gov’t clammed up, and would not comment on the situation. Israel cannot be sure that India will always be a friendly country, and did not want to seem critical. Same thing happened with their recent embarrassing of the Turkish ambassador, when the Israelis had to repeatedly apologize. With those countries that Israel believes it cannot take good relations for granted, it will work to keep things as smooth as possible. Israel, with good reason, does not worry about the U.S. Bush I was the last American president to arm-twist them when necessary.
Both sides in this conflict seem to have a vested interest in keeping it going rather than engaging in any move towards something resembling peace. I can’t wait for the day when we can tell both sides to go to hell.
Both sides? Both sides? Are you serious? There is no real equivalency here at all. Israel holds the whip hand and has been using it over and over and over again to keep the Palestinians in a state of submission and thwart any efforts to create a Palestinian state. The U.S. is not an honest broker in this process and I, for one, am not buying either Joe Biden’s faux outrage or the disingenuous apologies from the Israeli government.
Cut off all of their foriegn aid.
“Israel Playing Games With American Lives”
Well, if you count their attack on the USS Liberty during the Six-Day War, plus the Hezbollah bombing of Marines in Beirut in 1983 that would not have been there but for the mess caused by the Israeli invasion in 1982, Israeli actions have already cost American lives.
Obama has past examples to look to on how to handle a difficult client state. In 1981, when the Reagan administration announced the U.S. would sell AWACs planes to Saudi Arabia, Israel was vocal in its opposition, and tried to use its contacts in Congress to stop it. The White House very politely told them to STFU, and Israel has not raised any opposition to any American arm sale to an Arab country since. And, to go back to Lebanon, Israel’s bone-headed invasion to eliminate the PLO wound up causing the US to extend diplomatic recognition to the PLO.
Our Israeli “friends” are having an identity crisis. Every time they have a challenge they meet it. Every time they have a war they win it. They are – without question – the victim of their own successes.
And therein lies their – and our – problem.
As it stands now Israel owns two colonies. One fires rockets into the desert and gets invaded and sent back to the stone age. The other doesn’t fire rockets into the desert and for its troubles just gets more and more of its land stolen every day. The result of this in the world is that people are becoming more and more appalled at Israel’s chutzpah.
Israel has to decide; either it “owns” two colonies or it allows a “Palestanian State.” As things look now the general mood in Israel is towards just letting the ball contine to roll down the hill as Israel completely takes over the West Bank.
While most Israelis might prefer this – for me – it just doesn’t seem kosher – but then who am I – I’m not even Jewish.
As to Americans being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq because of Israel – the answer to that is simple: COME HOME. If Israel can protect itself from threats on every side then surely American “The Fuckin’ Powerful” can protect itself with oceans to both sides, “Canada the Land of Friendly Canucks” to the North and “Mexico the Corrupt” to the south.
I thought that the Right had the anti-Semites, and the Left had the anti-Catholics. I guess now the Left has them both.
Way to open up that Big Tent!
Of course, you have some room, now that you’re tossing out the anti-abortion Democrats.
I knew if this thread went on long enough some right winger would chime in with the “it’s anti-semitic to criticize Israel!” bullshit. Didn’t guess it would be you, Frank.
You never fail to disappoint.
I guess if Wilbur says it’s bullshit, it MUST be true. It’s anti-Semitic to protest when Israel does things in its own defense, as if kissing ass on the Arab Street takes precedence over our 62 year old alliance.
Besides, we need them to blow the crap out of Iran’s nuclear facility once they start producing weapons grade material. We sure don’t have anyone in the White House with the stones to stand up to the Iranians.
“I guess if Wilbur says it’s bullshit, it MUST be true. It’s anti-Semitic to protest when Israel does things in its own defense, as if kissing ass on the Arab Street takes precedence over our 62 year old alliance.”
There is no formal alliance between the U.S. and Israel. American formal alliances include NATO, the U.S-Japan defense treaty, and a treaty with South Korea. The U.S. did not even sell heavy weapon systems to Israel until after the Six Day War. Prior to that, Israel got most of its tanks and fighter aircraft from the French and the Soviets.
Israel does not allow any U.S. military bases on its soil, unlike the the Persian Gulf Arab states which allow the U.S. Navy to HQ there. Israel does not offer any help in Iraq, unlike Jordan which trains Iraqi military and police. Israel does not even allow American soldiers serving in Iraq to go to Israel on shore leave. Wounded Americans are flown from Iraq to Germany, not Israel. And, just a small detail, American and Israeli troops have never fought alongside each other. Contrast that to the extensive Arab support we got in Gulf War I.
Israel is quite the ally, isn’t it? All that nothing for the sum of $3 billion per year.
Don’t be an asshole Frank. You can disagree with criticism of Israel all you want, but criticism of Israel is not necessarily anti-semitism or based on anti-semitism. What you’re seeing on this thread is criticism of Israel, not anti-semitism.
$3 Billion a year? The Gummint spends that in about 20 minutes. What do you expect from Israel? That they should be a better ally than , say, Germany, Russia , or France ?
Gimme a break.
If I were running Israel, I would let the United States know that the next time they want something or someone killed, kidnapped or blown up, they can do it themselves. But I don’t run Israel or the United States.
And Wilbur, do you really think I care what YOU call it? Where’s all the “hopey change” now? Where’s all the “let’s sit down and talk” now ?
It is so anti – Semitism, because I SAY it is! And, in the nominalistic, relativistic world of the liberal, whatever I say it is , it becomes that .
It is so anti – Semitism, because I SAY it is! And, in the nominalistic, relativistic world of the liberal, whatever I say it is , it becomes that .
If there is any justice in the universe, the soul of every Jew whose life was lost to genuine anti-semitism will be screaming in your ears like banshees when you try to go to sleep tonight for your disgusting and contemptible cheapening of that term.
I thought that the Right had the anti-Semites, and the Left had the anti-Catholics. I guess now the Left has them both.
Frank, as a member of the Jewish community, I wish to take this opportunity to tell you to go fuck yourself. The idea that Israel = Judaism, and that criticism of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians is anti-semitism is pure, unfiltered bullshit. I’d try to make you feel shame for what you said, but I’m sure that part of you died a long time ago.
It is so anti – Semitism, because I SAY it is!
Pst…Your arrogance is showing.
I cannot agree with this distorted view. These were proposed housing units in a Jewish neighborhood on undisputed land, and this was an announcement on step four in a seven step planning process. There is no guarantee that these units would be approved eventually, and if they were, building would not take place for at least three years. Please note that Israel left every square inch of Gaza as a step toward peace and in return got thousands of rocket attacks each aimed ONLY AT CIVILIANS. Where was your indignation then? And, are you indignant about the naming of a square and monument in Ramallah for a terrorist who murdered Israeli women and children? You are clearly and undeniably anti-semitic.
You are clearly and undeniably anti-semitic.
Thanks for fulfilling today’s “this is not a parody” requirement.
“These were proposed housing units in a Jewish neighborhood on undisputed land, and this was an announcement on step four in a seven step planning process.”
Uh, all of East Jerusalem is disputed. That has been the official American position since Nixon. They are not building on empty lots, they are actively pushing out existing Palestinian families from their neighborhoods to make room for Russians who are probably not Jewish to settle.
Elizebeth, read my post above yours. You obviously don’t give 2 shits about Jews, so please stop pretending otherwise.