Get Over It!
By Ruth King, Mid East Output
Partisans of Israel from left and right keep evoking the so called America/Israel special relationship. The left worries that a muscular Israeli response to a mortal threat will threaten the relationship, and the right frets that it has seriously frayed under the Obama administration.
They are both wrong. The so called special relationship is a chimera.
Let’s revisit some history.
In closing critical international shipping lanes, the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser in July, 1956, was a serious provocation to Great Britain, France and Israel. Furthermore after continual terrorism and threats Israel had credible intelligence that the Arabs were preparing for war. On Oct. 29, 1956, Israeli forces, directed by Moshe Dayan, launched a combined air and ground assault into Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. Early Israeli successes were reinforced by an Anglo-French invasion along the canal. The November 6 cease fire, demanded by the United Nations and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles led to a total withdrawal by Israel, England and France in exchange for reassurances that the U.N. would monitor the Sinai and keep open the Straits of Tiran crucial for Israel’s shipping. That was special only in the thinly disguised animosity of John Foster Dulles.
Border incidents and terrorism continued against Israel for the next decade. Egypt’s President Nasser escalated his blood curdling threats to destroy Israel and in 1967 he requested the withdrawal of United Nations forces from the Sinai and closed the Gulf of Aqaba and Straits of Tiran.
When Israel complained of these flagrant violations of the 1956 agreement, Secretary of State Dean Rusk and President Lyndon Johnson declared that they could not find the agreement and therefore could not issue any warning to Egypt. Israel launched a pre-emptive lightning strike which crippled the forces of Syria, Egypt and Jordan arrayed against it. By the time Israel heard Dean Rusk’s demands for a cease fire it was all over, and the era of so called “occupation,” which has been flogged by every successive administration, began.
In October of 1973 it was clear to Israel and confirmed by international intelligence that Arab States were preparing a major strike on Israel. President Nixon, already beset by escalating scandal permitted his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to pressure Israel to avoid a preemptive strike. Israel bowed to the hard fisted demands and on Yom Kippur, the combined forces of Egypt and Syria with logistical support from all the Arab states attacked. Israel’s desperate pleas for re-supply of dwindling ordnance were ignored by the State and Defense Departments. Finally, Nixon ordered an immediate air-lift. While dispute continues as to whether it was Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger or Kissinger who held up the resupply, what is clear is that when Israel regrouped and began a counteroffensive, Kissinger demanded an immediate cease fire. Negotiations over Israel’s retreat from the Sinai continued into the administration of Gerald Ford in which Kissinger remained as Secretary of State. Largely as a result of Kissinger’s crude threats of a “reassessment of America’s relations with Israel” Israel withdrew back across the Suez Canal and several miles inland from the east bank. All territorial gains in Syria made during the war were given up.
Then there was President James Earl Carter who was surprised by Anwar Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem which heralded the Camp David Accords. His National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski was clearly partial to the Arabs, a stance he has never abandoned. Carter’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young met with the P.L.O. They all piled on Israel to accept Anwar Sadat’s terms not just for the return of the entire Sinai with thriving Jewish settlements and state of the art military bases, but also to accept his demands for withdrawal from the Golan and the West Bank. Begin described those meetings in the Camp David Retreat as “deluxe concentration camps.”
While there is deserved nostalgia for Ronald Reagan, it should be remembered that in the 1982 Lebanon War, when Israel, after continuing bombardment from PLO bases in Lebanon, launched a major offensive to destroy PLO strongholds, then Secretary of State George Schultz and the President sponsored a plan to save the PLO by evacuating it to Arab countries, with the leadership going to Tunisia where they remained until the Oslo accords brought them back to the West Bank.
The Reagan administration also produced the “Reagan Plan for Middle East Peace” which was nothing but a clone of the Rogers’ plan calling basically for a return to the 1967 lines.
The first President George Bush’s Secretary of State James Baker’s animus to Israel went back to his college years at Princeton where his thesis focused on Israel’s advent as a policy blunder. When Iraq launched SCUD missiles into Israel, a non combatant, the Bush/Baker/Cheney administration went into high gear to deny Israel the right to strike back by refusing to give them a “friendly craft” code for American aircraft. Israel was repaid for her acquiescence by Baker’s threats to cut off loan guarantees unless then Prime Minister Shamir acceded to a Madrid meeting. That was pretty special, was it not?
During the Clinton years, there was a special relationship, but not with Israel. It was with Yasser Arafat who was the most frequent foreign visitor to the White House during the Clinton years. Clinton hosted the Oslo accords which culminated with a handshake by Yasser Arafat and prime Minister Rabin, followed by an unprecedented escalation of terror against Israeli civilians. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with the help of Dennis Ross pummeled Israel continually into accepting every single Arab demand. When Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu demurred at the Wye Plantation, and Arafat threatened to leave, we were treated to the vision of Albright running as fast as her heels would let her to block the gate so that most favored guest would not leave in a snit. Albright went on to greater money if not glory by shilling for Qatar as a paid lobbyist.
And then we had the second George Bush administration. George W. Bush was genuinely well disposed toward Israel, but he could not avoid the siren song of appeasement, and flogged the “Road Map,” yet another clone of the give-the-Arabs everything plans and pushed for the surrender of Gaza. His Secretaries of State, first Colin Powell and then Condoleeza Rice, barely masked their antipathy to Israel. What was special about this duo was their string of failed foreign policy initiatives while they were busy processing peace in the Middle East.
And now we have an administration where the President and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, once political adversaries, think as one when it comes to hostility to Israel.
There are only two special relationships with respect to Israel. First is the relationship to Jews in every corner of the world to Israel and the miracle of its resurrection. Second is the special relationship with Christian Evangelicals, a number of legislators and those non Jewish columnists, writers and commentators – Glenn Beck, Pilar Rahola, Robin Shepherd, Andrew McCarthy, Frank Gaffney, John Bolton, Cal Thomas, Giulio Meotti, Geert Wilders, Robert Spencer, Adrian Morgan, to name only a handful–who buck the prevailing insane vilification of the Jewish state and staunchly and bravely stand by Israel.
I have no doubt inadvertently omitted many names, but as we embark on a New Year 5773, may all their names be inscribed in the Book of Life.
@ yamit82:
That goes without saying.
— SFW?
(Nor does your blustering to the contrary make it not so. That also goes without saying. BFD.)
If I am correct, however, about DOS’s hijacking of Oval-Office foreign policy prerogatives (and I am INDEED correct about that)
— then logically the above conclusion is inescapable.
Whoop-ee.
@ yamit82:
My pleasure.
Remind me, once again, why I should give a rip about your opinions of me?
— I know it MUST be important, but I never could quite get a handle on WHY.
@ dweller:
The fact that knowledge existed about the 90 B 61’s and nothing was done so far by anyone other than our group is indeed worrisome to say the least.
Without taking part on a discussion about the relative merits of codes, security arrangements, etc, the fact remain that I doubt that 5870, give or take some tens at any given time, US military and civilian operatives at INCERLIK can protect the bombs against the Islamic forces around them.
The bombs and base has been interdicted, (meaning access denied to US personnel) by the Turks once in the past and NATO/US could do nothing about it.
There are about 480 bombs allocated to several NATO stations in Europe. The Turkish lot is our immediate concern while the Islamics control that country.
In the long run and considering that most of Europe is being overrun by Islam I would also relocate out of there the rest as well.
The ones in Turkey must go back to the States.
@ dweller:
Funny about broad colors and nuance. You comments have forced me to interpret most of your obtuse comments based on trying to understand nuances and variables of color. That said I have never had a problem I am aware of re: reading comprehension. In the 8th grade I had a reading comp level of a senior in college and I do believe it’s improved since.
@ dweller:
Matter of fact some have. 🙂
Yup just like we owe a debt to Joe Stalin for all those defective guns and ammo he shipped to us through the Czechs and his vote for partition.
Such appreciation has not dulled their drive to liquidate the religion of those same people in favor of their own. Real appreciation?
Few really accept dual covenant theology even those who profess it when pushed to explain. Even Hageee backtracked on his earlier profession of that theology. Except to stupid Jews who eat his crap up he is in favor and supportive of converting all Jews.
According to Christian scholars there are over 220,000 versions out there of the NT and I was only saying that it’s theirs (Christians and any others who accept it) except me and most Jews or rather all Jews because those who accept it as valid are not Jews.
I can handle truth that can be shown conclusively to be the truth. That disqualifies your book of over 20,000 versions. Ask Josh McDowell.
So inform me as to what I don’t understand in 50 words or less.
@ dweller
Your opinion. Worth bubkis. Again you saying so does not make it so. I think Colin Powell would strongly disagree with your opinion.
thanks for the infodweller Said:
I agree, I just dont feel comfortable with erdogans general behavior, hes a bit of a loose cannon, even though mainly talk.dweller Said:
things change, sometimes for the worse. wasn’t it erdogan who said there is no such thing as a mederate muslim?
@ Bernard Ross:
As of 2009 — so it would’ve been on BHO’S watch — Turkey is one of 5 NATO member states which are part of the nuclear sharing policy of the alliance [others: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands].
A total of 90 B61 thermonukes are hosted at Incirlik Air Base, 40 of which are allocated for use by the Turkish Air Force.
They’re free-fall bombs to be strapped under F-16 or Tornados.
The partners cannot use the weapons unilaterally
— got to get the arming codes from USA first, every time.
The weapons themselves are guarded by both sides, with an inner ring of US guards protecting & maintaining the bombs themselves, and the host nation (Turkey, Germany etc) providing an outer ring of further security guards.
The respective host nation airforces train the dropping of these tac nukes with dummies.
The bombs continue to be owned by USA, the host nations only maintain the nuke “carriers.”
By protocol, the codes are given out only when ICBMs have already started flying. And the US personnel will arm missiles themselves. Pretty much the only thing the host nation does is, once the bomb is loaded onto an aircraft, to fly it to its target & drop it.
The running of the blockade was Erdogan’s stunt for home consumption and to impress the Islamic world of his qualifications to assert leadership in the region. I doubt there’s a connection to the nuke positioning.
In any case, however, SHmuel is right: They have to go, because — all the precautions in the world notwithstanding — funny things can happen in wartime. . . .
The Administration (& the Exec Branch generally) seem to have the idea that providing this US nuclear umbrella will discourage the bigger players in the region from feeling the need to enter a nuclear arms race of their own. (If Iran gets nukes, NOTHING will slake the nuke appetite on anybody else’s part, however.)
The $60 Billion Sa’udi arms deal ALSO may have been, in part, a reflection of the same kind of (myopic) thinking.
@ yamit82:
It’s not either/or.
Whoever the initiative came from, the nukes would NOT have been, in fact, re-stationed at Incirlik if the State Dept had objected.
@ yamit82:
Nu, and they told you this is what “drives them,” did they?
Of course not, it’s never been about ‘liking’ or not ‘liking’ Jews.
But from their perspective, they owe a debt of thanks to the Jews: for providing what they view as the basis for their own faith.
You may argue the accuracy of their perception, but you CANNOT (rationally) deny that it indeed IS their view.
(Unless you take discredited Replacement Theology for ‘Christianity.’ But to do that is to create a straw man.)
What’s more, they take very seriously the promise to Avraham that those who blessed him & his posterity would THEMSELVES be blessed (etc).
(Sometimes I think they relate to that pledge as rather too much a matter of ROTE, but that is peripheral to this discussion; the point is, they DO wish the Jews well.)
“Their NT”? — I wasn’t aware there was more than one NT.
You have another NT that is more truthful?
Neither is true.
Neither is false.
If you can’t handle that, I can’t say I’m surprised — but that’s your problem.
Wrong. That is NOT the “postulation of Christianity.”
That’s what YOU would like to believe the “postulation of Christianity.”
— Obviously you don’t know as much about it as you like to THINK you do.
@ yamit82:
I absolve NOBODY of anything.
Unlike yourself, however, I’ve learned that life doesn’t come in broad strokes & solid colors — for better or for worse, it’s full of texture & nuance
— and one ignores such realities only to his peril.
Rubbish. It’s not even remotely related to ‘blaming the Devil.’
But to somebody who doesn’t want to understand — and you really don’t, that’s clear — everything will fit the pattern of whatever he (i.e., yourself) WANTS to believe.
@ dweller: Dear Dweller, I have observed some of your posts and would like to make a suggestion that I believe would be helpful to all. I note that in many posts you are criticizing and deconstructing the arguments of others but I do not usually see the assertion of alternative arguments and suggestions. The criticizing and deconstruction is helpful but I think you can do more. I believe you to be a very intelligent person and I think that it would be informative to all for you to sometimes postulate alternate suggestions and solutions along with your deconstructions. I believe that you once intimated to the importance of new ideas and solutions being incubated and spread from forums such as these. I think we are all in need of potential solutions to be postulated and developed regarding Israel and that you could be very helpful to such a goal. I think Israel is in need of specific, and even developed, ideas and solutions in the legal, diplomatic and practical arenas. Thank you and best wishes.
@ dweller:
Your replies to my comment#32, confirm my opinions of you. Thanks
@ yamit82:
You need to believe that.
After the 1932 election, many Jews played that part.
Right, they just sat around & ate kreplach.
It’s not a canard; it’s a fact.
A sad fact.
An outrageous fact.
But a fact.
Most presidents are — and the saddest part of the whole thing is that even the best of them have no idea what they’re up against until AFTER they enter the Oval Office. They can make his life impossible (to say nothing of miserable) if he doesn’t find ‘reason’ to cooperate with their perspective.
No. He can USUALLY fire anyone he appointed (unless DOS finds reason to keep him/her on-board; and it can be very persuasive).
The President CANNOT fire anybody he didn’t appoint. And State Dept employees are not appointed; they are hired, per Civil Service.
I just told you, Yamit, no president ever knows what’s about to hit him from DOS until after he becomes President. It happens over & over again. And Truman was no exception.
Operative word: “should.”
@ yamit82:
Of course it’s speculation. (SFW?)
Neither have I.
But then, NOR have I heard that he hasn’t.
So the assumption that he hasn’t could as easily be attributed to speculation by you. (Again, SFW?)
Speculation’s no crime.
Not everybody — not even every public figure — finds it necessary to announce to all-&-sundry every time his thinking evolves (or devolves), or in any other way changes. The mere fact, however, that somebody hasn’t updated the media in re his view in a matter has no presumptive bearing on where his present thinking happens to be at. There could be myriad perfectly sound reasons for holding off.
Some people simply aren’t so self-important as to assume that the world needs to know every time their stool comes out a slightly different color.
These schoolyard-bully attacks are tiresome, Yamit; get over yourself.
When I do, I will.
Or else, what?
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
shmuel, please excuse my ignorance, or senility, but were these bombs sent since Obama took office, since the election and military coups of Erdogan, or were they there before? How long have they been there? If so perhaps this is the real muslim bomb. Are they ready to go at a moments notice,do the turks have access through nato? The Turks have already attacked Israel through the flotilla turkish terrorist proxies.
@ dweller:
For many years I worked with the US Department of Defense Military Avionics Programs up to the early concept development of the ATF, today’s F-22 and F-35. All other aircraft in inventory saw one thing or another part of my work as a Senior-Fellow Engineer.
I interfaced with many Pentagon people, Senators and Corporate top executives. In one case I was part of the Staff that received President Bush, Powell and many others on a visit to our facility during the Gulf War. I met with them for about ten minutes because the VP of our division asked, w/o my knowledge, to the visiting President and top White House people to hear the “meanest, smartest SOB” with a kippa ever to be part of the defense system industries. The smart part was probably because I know my stuff and Patented some of that but no biggie, otherwise I remain just as mean and direct given half a chance. The US has turned into a dangerous softy due to lack of identification and lack of credibility.
The US folk aligned with the shambles of the Democratic Party of which I was a member for quite a while way back when, is playing with fire and tacking badly.
If the US resident voters opt to remain pointing fingers in lieu of cutting deep into the so called “bureaucrats”, the disasters you have seen because of that will only get bigger and eventually sink the US. With an economy that is at the border of collapse, unemployment, social tearing, etc, the US voter will have to move up to the plate and chop down the garbage or they will be blamed, with justice. of knowingly having failed to prevent…
The bombs in Turkey MUST be removed.
@ dweller:
Assumption of facts (speculation) not produced by you. I have not heard or read that Bolton has changed his views.
If you have evidence that he has then put up or shut up.
@ dweller:
Your understanding of Government is about as astute as your understanding of American politics…At best naive and juvenile.
Some JINO’s played a part in Roosevelt’s elections but as a community they had almost none.
The popular canard that the State dept can dictate or override an American president is totally BS unless the sitting President is so weak, so stupid and politically timid as to allow State to subvert the executive. The President appoints the Sec of State who appoints others at the top who serve his interests and intents. The president can fire or have fired anyone he appointed and all of those under them.
Blaming the State Dept allows the executive deniable and and responsibility.
Who said “The Buck Stops Here” then ignored it’s meaning?
The Buck in terms of responsibility should stop at the Presidents desk and it’s those like you who who when convenient to your personal ideological embedded postulates would absolve the Chief executive except Obama and probably any democrat except Truman from their executive responsibilities, when it is in conflict with your predictable world view and narrative.
It’s akin to blaming a Devil (satan) for all the evil that men do. It ain’t man!! It’s that (fill in the blank) DEVIL who is at fault and the cause. You project the same conceptualization to just about everything and every circumstance.
True but that’s what drives most of them. It’s not because they suddenly have taken a liking to Jews, admit their NT is a lie and abandon Christianity as a false teaching.
If Christianity is true then Judaism is false but if Judaism is true then Christianity is false; there is no middle. The postulation of Christianity is that it has replaced the covenant between the G-d of Israel and the Jewish People, with a new and improved one.
Based on their eschatological beliefs Israel and the Jews play key roles in their end times narratives and their support, for what it’s worth emanates mostly from that. I am not referring to the Catholic Church and most main line denominations but only a certain category of Christians and we all know who they are.
Your comment to SHmuel HaLevi re. American Nukes and bombers in Turkey is quite revealing as to who and what you are. After blaming the State dept. for all American animus towards Israel you cop out when it doesn’t serve your debating and critical narratives. Those nukes are an existential threat to Israel. They are not where they are and positioned where they are because of the State dept directives but from the executive and the Dept of Defense. All part of American government, executing the American policy and representing all of the American people, with or without their knowledge or approval or disapproval. They are there and they are a threat to Israel.
Not worth a comment from you dweller? You seem to have an opinion on everything else and do make your voice heard.
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
You know as well as I do, SHmuel, that career bureaucrats — who PRECEDE the presence of an incoming Administration
— and who remain in place LONG AFTER that Administration (and many other succeeding ones) have since departed
may hardly be said to “represent what is the will of the people.”
They are not elected; they are hired.
And you cannot get rid of them for anything short of conviction of felony. (Sometimes they can survive even that.)
Just as you’ve noted [above] that, in Israel, “a new Government system is a must” — just so, a new attitude toward the State Dept is ALSO a “must” amongst U.S. Administrations. It will take a president with industrial-strength kishkes to authorize (and SUPERVISE) the task of cleaning out the Augean Stables at Foggy Bottom.
An individual like that doesn’t come along very often.
Until then, smaller countries need to rely a lot more on the Legislative Branch than the Executive Branch of the US govt.
Well of course you wouldn’t “hear” me making such demands HERE.
— There’s a suitable venue for that, but it’s not on a blogsite.
I know that, SHmuel; since 2009.
@ Simcha:
Very few such leaders hold an outlook like that.
To take such a view, one would have to think it actually possible for Man to force the hand of God — to push the hands on His clock — or in any other way manipulate the circumstances of what they see as prophecy.
Smacks of presumption mingled with megalomania. Nutty.
Actually, as I recall it, he was talking about a “Three-state solution.”
Somehow I rather doubt that the words “Final” & “Solution” would’ve appeared TOGETHER in his proposition. . . .
In those days, he had the idea that it might be best to have Egypt take over Gaza, and Jordan take ‘back’ the heartland provinces that she’d held from ’48 till ’67.
But that was a few years ago, and I seriously doubt that he still thinks that way. His thinking has probably been in flux, developing — just like a lot of other people’s has been.
@ dweller:
I am convinced that most normal Jews in Eretz Israel are totally disinterested on US Jews semantics. We could give a flying f…petunia if the labels of enemies apply to the State Department, the WH occupant of turn, Senate or HR, CIA, NSA, etc.
Those are the representatives of the majority of the US people voting. Ergo they represent what is the will of the people, like it or not.
Regretfully, the US has bought most of the “elites” and their “combina” here. That has been standard procedure for the foreigners forever and a day.
I do not hear you Dweller demanding that the US remove the 90 B61 nuclear bombs that Soetoro Obama and Gates, re stationed in Turkey a year plus ago. INCIRLIK TAFB.
The base is located facing us across the Med and from there to Russia or Iran is very far…
@ yamit82:
No.
US State Dept has no such interest. FIFY.
No, the Holocaust DIDN’T demonstrate that ‘any’ president’s chances wouldn’t be affected but rather that THAT particular president’s chances wouldn’t be affected.
That’s the most that you can KNOW. The rest is speculation. (And a lot of U.S. Jews played a PART in that particular president’s reelection.)
Again, if you mean the US govt, it’s fair to say that the Executive Branch fought its own intramural ‘civil war’ (Oval Office v Foggy Bottom). That’s not quite the same thing as deliberate ‘abandonment by America.’
What’s more, a lot of American citizens (and not only Jewish ones) fought — and fell — in that war.
State Dept does, yes.
State Dept does not, however, of itself, constitute the sum & substance of “America.”
True enough; but it does not follow that the invasion was undertaken ‘BECAUSE’ it was contrary to Israeli interests. It was undertaken because it was perceived as pursuant to U.S. interests.
No doubt about that. Iraq’s constitution says anybody can be an Iraqi citizen, except. . . . you know who [yup, it’s right in there; and this doc was drawn up only a few years ago]. And too, it’s fair to say that — like Syria, like Lebanon, like Sa’udia, like Yemen (countries which were all in on the wolf-pack pile-on of 1948) — they’ve never made a Treaty of Peace with the country they declared war on 64 years ago.
So they’re still in a formal state of war with Israel. What’s more — unlike all the frontline invaders — the Iraqis never even signed an ARMISTICE (let alone, a Treaty).
As I said, in ’48, the White House & State Dept fought their own internal war.
No, it only testifies to how weak the Oval Office’s control over the entrenched State Dept bureaucracy really is.
agree with all of you who say that we can’t rely on anyone to be out there for us when our back is to the wall.
We’re Jews… we should have learned a long time ago that we’ll never have “friends”. We have to be prepared to survive on our own.
that we can depend upon, and we have to figure out how to survive on our own.
The Evangelical leaders are only with us to the point where they need us to build the Temple on the future ruins of the abomination on our holy site called the mosque, as their messiah will not be coming back to a mosque, they say. Individual Evangelicals are with us, but not their leaders.
John Bolton supports the Two State Final Solution. In 2010 he wrote an article stating this.
Undoubtedly, many of the non-Jewish supporters listed only oppose Islam, and do not support Israel, but only appear to support Israel.
We are destined to be alone to complete our national mission, and we are virtually alone. We need to get over our need for friends, and just do what we need to do.
The people of the US are with Israel. Poll after poll attests to this. We have some real friends in Congress. We always did. Would that there were more like Senator Henry Jackson. The Evangelican Christians by and large are with us. The problem is presidents and the influence of the State Department dictate foreign policy. It is true that US interests (oil, fighting Soviet competition, petrodollars, radical Islam) have caused US administrations to harm Israel. Nevertheless, there are other issues playing a role.
Outside of Lyndon Johnson,I cannot think of a president that was a true friend of the Jewish people. Yet, even he acted against Israel in 1967. Too many of those who rose to the highest office, had, along the way imbibed the poison of antisemitism and carried it into the White House. You do not listen to the vile preaching of a Rev Wright for 20 years and the demented reasoning of revolutionary America haters and come out it psychologically undamaged. In fact, you bind yourself to such people because they serve some need.
Yes, there’s a “special relationship” as long as it meets US needs. When it interferes with or appears to collide with US interests, it is diminished or disappears.
@ yamit82:
Yamit probably remembers the dictum of Machiavelli that it is better to be feared than loved. In the dangerous neighborhood of the Middle East, that is certainly true.
Agreed, Davidka — so true, what you have written…(especially the, I suspect, impending treachery of Obama and his gang of cut-throats with regard to Israel. I recall prior to Hussain Obama’s election in 2008, the perfidious media was oh so sensitive about never, ever, mentioning Obama’s middle name. And, anyone who had the temerity to do so, was instantly branded by the media as “a racist.” Then, immediately after Obama was elected — what did he do? It was called the “Obama pivot” — he told the Arab world over and over again about all of his familial Muslim connections, and bragged about his middle name. He is nothing but a lying, treacherous scam artist. And he’ll do another “pivot” when it comes to Israel.
Daniel Pipes back in 2006 (after the shooting spree at a Jewish community center in Seattle) wrote about how the golden era for Jews in the United States was over. I believe he took a lot of flak for saying that. With all the increases in Muslim numbers, and the attendant antisemitism, will there be the shift in public opinion? Will America under Hussein Obama align even more with the Arab world? (I tend to think so).
A well thought out essay. The U.S. administration has been anti-Israel and before that anti- proto-Israel since the State Department was colonized and taken over by the oil interests way back when.
At present, there is certainly no special relationship between Israel and B.O., a Marxist, third-worlder, West-hating anti-Semite. B.O. and all those around him would love to hurt Israel. B.O. wouldn’t lose a minute of sleep if Israel were destroyed, and neither would Soros, Valerie Jarrett, Abedin, and the rest of the nasty pack who run B.O.
Israel has to accept the facts and act accordingly. It should cultivate the Christian community everywhere in the world. It should cultivate those elements in Islam which are trying to bring it into the 21st Century. It should cultivate its friends in Congress, which supports Israel much more than the presidents and State Department have. It needs to strengthen relationships with other powers such as China, Russia and India, since the B.O. administration has a policy of throwing allies under the bus while rewarding radical Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood in particular.
Too bad but let’s be grown-ups and base policy on the ugly facts.
And– oh yes— Israel needs a multi-pronged and explicitly stated nuclear deterrent. If it deters Arab attacks, it is worth any price. If, heaven forbid, the Arabs manage to detonate an unconventional weapon in Israel, lets recount the story of Samson in the temple…
Jerry G Said:
Have the arab muslim countries like egypt, libya, lebanon, been obedient? Not sure what you are saying becuase the arab countries take the money and are then disobedient.
J.S. Said:
The shared values are between Israeli people and american people. Politicians do not share these values. Politicians run the govts which decide on national interests. In general, regarding Israel, my bet is that politicians have been following their own interests and not US national interests. Whenever the price of oil goes up their are american private interests who are making big bucks. When a diplomat leaves US public service he represents corporate and arab interests. This is on his mind along the way. Same with university grants. $$$$$$ to individual private interests not national interests. The US public has lost from this rather than gained as over 50% of US foreign consumption is on energy.(CIA factbook) What has the US gained from its billions to places like Egypt, libya, lebanon, etc. other than dead US citizens?
bahmi Said:
NOT! I dont know who you mean by we but the media is undoubtedly pro Obama and anti Israel.
bahmi Said:
There are basic reasons why the american public approve the Israel especially when comparing them to the arabs and muslims. You would have to be an american to understand this. Just look at the difference in behavior and the reasons become obvious. govt is a different thing as govt is made up of those who can be easily bought and although the arabs/muslims have nothing else of value to contribute to anyone they do have money, at the present time. You can see the regular contributions that Israel makes to all, including the arabs and muslims, at Israel 21, if you are actually interested.
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
Mr. HaLevi, If its not the administrators and those who vote for those who place these administrators in these positions–then who the hell is it who is at fault?
The reality is–it is the fault of all of the above!
@ Jerry G:
This is a common belief–but is a false narrative–those who are on the dole of the Marxist democrat party–do not owe them their vote or obedience!
I don’t think any other nations in the world had (yes, past tense) such an overlap of values, as that between America and Israel. From founding myths — overthrowing oppressive overlords, throwing off the yoke of British colonialism, to the very idea of Zionism — a national dream of independence, liberty, self-determination, in the face of implaccable enemies– it was like a mirror (name another European country that comes close to admiring Israel, I can’t think of any). But, all this is now undergoing a transformation. There’s an article in the JTA which noted how American students gave a standing ovation to Ahmedinejad. This is the new reality. (I think in the past, you could have an antisemite as president, a Nixon or a Carter — but when things were desperate, they came through in time of crisis — Nixon with arms re-supplying, etc. I do not believe the same would occur under Obama — this is the first time in which there seems to be a president in office who is NOT interested in furthering American interests or, for that matter, even protecting American citizens. I think he has as much an animus against traditional American values as he does against Israel. And, sadly, most Americans (due to their education, steeped in anti-americanism, An utterly contemptible media?) they don’t seem to mind Obama’s transformation of America.
I agree! Moreover, I think Canada deserves all that praise iso of the USA!
Israel has been the victim of American aid the same way that those on this country’s welfare system have been victimized. Those on welfare owe the government not only their vote but their obedience. So too Israel, which should follow the Arab countries which take our money and then do what they want.
It is not really the US administrations that are at fault. Certainly the US State Department and the majority of the administrations cannot be marked as transparently friendly at any level. But it has been us, or better yet, a very compromised and never exchanged leadership cadre of our election, which constantly pursue nods, receptions at the WH, speaking tours money, donations and Nobel Prizes above national interests, that sold the mantra of “friendship” to us all. With the local MSM as vehicle. In the same fashion as the unJewish leadership run to Oslo to betray us all.
I do not have recollections of any treaty negotiations or major contracts negotiations with other nations which were effected in Eretz Israel. Perhaps some light meetings with Jordan, ce tu.
Again, we MUST, simply must raze the self serving leadership which rotates endlessly at our national risk and expense. Electing a new Government system is a must.
Well put, and Yamit82 in his comment no2 is very correct.
Moreover, may I add, and remind from the words of more than one US general: The Israeli aid to the US is unquantifiable in money terms; it’s simply huge. There are presently more than 500 important changes & upgrades made (during the years) in the F-15 and F-16 aircraft made by the US upon the empirical research and suggestion of the IAF. This alone is worth billions. Many other changes of other weapon platforms were made by the US after Israeli suggestion. Crucial ME intelligence is coming from Israel and given to the US, worth billions. And ultimately Israel is at forefront of Western defense against the mohammedans. In the end, we’ll win, and the victory will be total and final. Enjoy Sukkot. Hag Sameach.
James Earl Carter–is an anti Semite–he supports the Arab Murderers while at the same time denouncing Israel!
And Barack Hussein Obama–the Marxist fraud and rabid anti Semite–vehemently hates Israel and Jews–and has gone out of his way to show it to Israel and the world–as for me I knew this is who and what he was before his fraudulent election!
Correct–there never has been a “special” relationship between Israel and the USA; but rather the USA has from the beginning held out one hand in “friendship”–with the other hand held behind their back holding a knife–with which they periodically reach around and stab Israel in the back!
G.W. Bush did the evil he did regarding Israel–not because those around him pushed him to do it–but rather because this is who G.W. Bush genuinely is–its time for people to wise up about G.W. Bush–as for me I never supported him!
As for Bill and Hillary Clinton–they are both anti Semites–they hate Israel and Jews.
My comment just disappeared.
Maybe it all depends on what is meant by a “special relationship.” As far as I’m concerned, every nation has its own interests. America’s interests are not going to align 100 percent with that of Israel’s. I recall hearing a reporter (an antisemite) constantly whining about America being Israel’s puppet. It was so laughable — apparently Ariel Sharon needed only to snap his fingers and his servants in the White House would instantly jump to attention, ready to fulfill Sharon’s slightest desire. I assumed everyone should know that this is not how the world works (only happens in a delusional Arab or antisemitic mind.) So why did Eisenhower nix the Suez Canal crisis, and not allow Nasser to be overthrown? Most people will say that Eisenhower feared that all the other Arab states would (in anger at the treatment of Nasser) turn Soviet. It’ wasn’t because Eisenhower shared Arab values. Nixon (in his private remarks was clearly not fond of Jews), yet what did he do in 73? He supplied Israel with arms. Again, it was in American interests. (I don’t think it’s helpful to look at every action of the US strictly through an Israeli prism — yes, this can be done — but one should not be surprised or disappointed upon discovering that some American actions have resulted in harm to Israel. it’s just the way national interests operate. And not everything Israel does has been in alignment with American interests.) I don’t think national interests actually defines the “special relationship”. It has more to do, IMO, with shared values. (I believe these shared values are why America is closer to Israel than is Europe.)
@ Bernard Ross:
Popular approval of Israel, are you saying that? Had we not control over the media in the US and had we not been able to control dialog and discourse, we would not have what some would call “popular approval of Israel”. Is this correct or not?
Ruth, Bernard, and Yamit82 are correct.
@ yamit82:well said.
My comment is in moderation
The price for US aid is Israeli submission to US interests. Obviously the US has no interest in Israel’s ownership of Judea or Jerusalem, nor even in her security: Israel’s destruction wouldn’t affect any president’s chances of reelection, as the Holocaust demonstrated.
America didn’t help the Jewish refugees and victims in WWII.
Abandoned Israel in 1948.
Planned to fight Israel on behalf of Egypt in 1956 and 1967.
America gives Arabs more aid than Israel.
Supports immensely brutal Arab regimes, but remains sensitive to Israeli transgressions.
Arms and trains most of Israel’s enemies.
Rejects moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
Imposes on Israel impossible terms of ceasefires.
American allies among Arabs boycott Israel, support anti-Israeli terrorists, prepare their armies against Israel.
American friends and Arab allies ban Israelis from their countries, while America is silent de-facto approving.
America sustains monarchies and religious exclusivity—and all remain America’s allies.
The US Administration’s logic is simple: it pays its enemies more than its friends.
The American invasion of Iraq was contrary to Israeli interests. No analyst in Israel believed that the American war with Iraq would produce a stable, friendly government; even the US-propped Iraqi government remains hostile to Israel. America supplies massive quantities of advanced weapons to Israel’s Arab enemies, and does nothing to end the boycott of Israel by America’s Arab allies.
Kissinger wasn’t bluffing when he said that Israel wouldn’t receive a nail if it preemptively attacked Egypt in 1973. That only testifies to how weak the purported American bond to Israel is. During the 2006 Lebanon War, the US Administration quickly backed down from its original position that Israel is entitled to destroy Hezbollah, and accepted the European position on immediate cease-fire.
Those who are moved by America’s selfless aid to Israel should ask themselves why does America aid Egypt and Palestine, which obviously don’t share any of its democratic ideals, culture, or religion? Why did America fight for Kuwait and defend Saudi Arabia? It’s all about power politics. Likewise in Israel, America only watches out for its own interests—a reasonable policy but one contrary to Israeli goals.
The US panders to North Korea because of five bombs in an unimportant region. Israel with 400 plus bombs in the world’s oil underbelly would garner all the concessions she needs. Jews just need to establish their nuclear credibility. Fear is always better than love.
This is a very well written, succinct, to the point expose of the main points of this “special relationship” which quite rightly reminds Jews to stop romanticizing. This article clarifies that in spite of popular approval for Israel in the US there are successive Presidents, sec. of State’s and diplomats who continue to wend their evil, corrupt ways. The real special relationship, based on under the table riches for diplomats, is between US politicians and Saudi money. Those in US govt seem to do everything possible to break the bond between US and Israeli people. If Mossad is smart it will keep files on many of these politicians. Hall of infamy and a good reminder: Dulles,Rusk, Kissinger, Brezinski,Weinberger,Schultz, Baker,Bush Sr., Albright, Powell, Rice, not one pro Israel, many representing corporate interests. The quest to break the bond between the 2 peoples is succeeding as saudi money buys the US intelligentsia and universities.