Petraeus Explains How Israel’s Actions Are Making It Tough For American Interests

3:03 pm EST March 16th, 2010 | Foreign Policy | 11 Comments

From prepared remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee:

The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR. Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas.

(via)

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11 Responses to “Petraeus Explains How Israel’s Actions Are Making It Tough For American Interests”

  1. Marco says:
    March 16, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    Why won’t Joe Lieberman and Minority Leader Orange Julius listen the man they always told us to listen to before?

  2. A. Alex says:
    March 16, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    The sad thing is that it took a General to state the obvious and still, no one will listen.

  3. KXB says:
    March 16, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    Although I do not believe Obama is leaning on Petraus to make such comments, it does put the Congress in an uncomfortable position. Do they really want to be seen siding with Israel & AIPAC against the American military? It is a lesson that Israel & AIPAC seem to have to re-learn with every administration – they will get a lot of leeway from the U.S., but when their interests conflict with our’s, we take care of our interests first. Hell, even Bush sanctioned Israeli firms from doing business with China once we learned they sold restricted technology to Beijing.

  4. Mylegacy says:
    March 16, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Israel is really at a cross roads. their main problem is that for the last 60 odd years they’ve been in “survival” mode and their many successes militarily, politically, socially and economically see them sitting clearly almost unchallenged at present.

    Unfortunately, they now “own” two concentration camps – one fires rockets into the desert and is bombed back to the stone age while the other does nothing, and for it’s pains, it just gets more of its land stolen from it every day.

    Many in Israel are thinking they can continue to just brazen it out and slowly but surely the remaining Palestinians will move to Syria or Jordan and viola they’ll own it all. Saner minds know that’s not going to happen – but right now – saner minds are in the minority in Israel.

    Personally – I think Israel is going to have to come back to its senses and give up what needs to be given up to get a “real” peace deal. I wouldn’t bet on that happening in the foreseeable future – so – prepare for tensions to keep rising – prepare for this situation to be an ever increasing irritation throughout the Islamic community of nations and prepare for the good old US of A to bear an increasing amount of angst and anger aimed at it by the impotent potentates.

    Somehow – to me – it just doesn’t seem kosher.

    As to our soldiers occupying Afghanistan and Iraq there is one easy way to protect them – bring the little beasties home! Let the real insane bat-shit crazy and the moderately insane bat-shit crazy fight each other for which way to abuse their women and build their mud huts.

    Surely – we’ve inflicted enough pain and suffering on them – and spent enough gold and blood ourselves – over the work of 20 odd Saudies and four freakin’ airplanes. Enough already, a freakin’ enough!

  5. jr says:
    March 16, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Time for the right to call Petraeus a perfumed prince

  6. Frank DiSalle says:
    March 17, 2010 at 5:01 am

    Now the left listens to the military? And General Petraitor, no less? What a bunch of frauds you are!

  7. Jaim says:
    March 17, 2010 at 8:37 am

    “General Petraitor”

    Comedy gold. It was only a few years ago that the architect of “The Surge” was why we should have voted for McCain.

    Always amusing to see wingnuts devour each other.

  8. The Dark Avenger says:
    March 17, 2010 at 8:52 am

    “We followed Patraeus then, but we won’t do so now.” -Shorter Frank DiSilly.

  9. Frank DiSalle says:
    March 17, 2010 at 9:01 am

    Jaim , you jerk! It was MoveOn that called him Gen Betrayus, or some such silly nonsense.

    I was referring to the fact that you lefties malign the military on a regular basis, until you find a General that says what you like.

    BTW, did anyone take a look at the Document?

    The paragraph about Israel comes under Cross-cutting Challenges to Security and Stability

    Meanwhile, we find the following under U.S. Interests and the Most Significant Threats to Them

    Instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    Iran’s Destabilizing Activities and Policies.

    Situation in Iraq.
    Instability in Yemen.

    Still agree with the General?

    And, oh yes, is “Comedy Gold” going to be the cliché du jour ? I hope not, because it’s already lame and played.

  10. Jaim says:
    March 17, 2010 at 9:17 am

    “the fact that you lefties malign the military on a regular basis”

    Really? Where and when?

    Your drug-flashback induced delusions don’t count as reality, bub.

  11. Frank DiSalle says:
    March 17, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Jaim, if you are asking “Where and when?”, you have just awakened from suspended animation, or come out of a coma, which you entered in 1965.