By Barry Rubin
To try to turn American liberals and Democrats–and especially Jews–against Israel on the pretext that they are only opposing Israel’s current government, there’s an attempt to portray Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to make a major speech before Congress as a partisan appeal for Republican support against a Democratic president.
It isn’t. It’s an institutional appeal for congressional support against a partly unfriendly, partly uncomprehending, and partly ideologically stupified president.
While U.S.-Israel relations in terms of military aid and cooperation have remained good, there have been lots of political problems. The truth is that these problems have come amost totally from Washington not Jerusalem. I’ve been documenting this for more than two years.
The truth is also that Israelis across most of the political spectrum know that they cannot trust the Obama administration for help, support, and protection. On many occasions, it has helped Israel’s enemy or to create dangerous situations. Do you really think that Israelis trust Obama to decide the terms of peace with the Palestinians when he and his White House colleagues simply don’t understand the issues involved?
Incidentally, the same applies for most countries in Latin America, Central Europe, the southern Caucasus, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states, India, and several Asian countries. And its becoming increasingly true in much of Western Europe, too.
In Congress, there are not only Republicans but a majority of Democrats whose instincts and knowledge of international affairs exceed those of the president. Among those people is the likely source of a Democratic revolt against the administration’s mistaken policies. We’ve already seen that begin, especially on Israel-related issues. Now that’s the bipartisan spirit in action!
So can Israel be blamed for not wanting to put its fate in Obama’s hands? Come to think of it, given so many mistaken foreign policy positions, should the Democratic Party want to leave its fate and the country’s fortunes in Obama’s hands?
Good work, but nothing can affect Obama, he knows with absolute certainty that Israel is the problem.
The American Jews may not agree entirely with him, but they are so enamored of him and the Democrat Party that shifting them will take the electoral equivalent of a 10.0 earthquake.
If Bibi comes to speak with members of Congress, it is much less likely he will be left to dine alone that evening.
As for Europe, Obama can’t even get an invitation to a wedding with 1900 guests. I guess returning Winston’s bust will do that.
However, Obama couldn’t get invited to a bris in Israel…unless it was his own and the Mohel was Janet Reno.
The day this will change is the day that the Rashid Khalidi tape being held hostage by the administration stooges in the ministry of propaganda is released and it shows Obama scolding the guest of honor and the assembled for the 494878979th UN resolution blaming Israel for the extinction of the dinosaurs and trained sharks attacking only members of a select religion.
Israel has re-emerged as the preeminent strategic power in the Middle East. The Islamic world is in turmoil. Chains-of-Command corrupted, equipment and supplies plundered, political decision making unreliable. In the MIddle East only Israel has maintained both its civilian and military integrity. Israel’s technological superiority and battlefield expertise have never been higher.
So far Israel has thwarted the nuclear ambitions of Iran, Iraq and Syria. Three of the most radical and unstable regimes in the world. As Sept.11th approaches Americans need no reminder of the threat posed by Islamic terrorism. Bibi should emphasize the importance of Israel as a reliable ally and call for a halt to Americas funding, training and equipping unstable regimes.