Comments Related To: Is Obama Throwing Israel Under the Bus?

A very thoughtful article with regards to Obama's many foreign policy
dilemmas. His "Streetcar named Desire/Hope" sometimes seems a "wayward
bus" on an improvised schedule!

Thanks for the note slydog... I agree with the analogy too. Reminds me of a playground scene "pick a side pick a side!"
It's almost as though Obama has a need to be everyone's hero. That could be dangerous for all.

AMEN!

Obama is in WAY over his head on this one. I'm afraid Israel won't be "thrown under the bus" the way Rev. Wright and Obama's own white granny was. Has anyone told Dorothy she's not in Chicago anymore?

AMEN AGAIN!

The moral of the article..You can't please everyone.Someone has to be left behind!In this case if Israel feels they were neglected thats not 100% true.Obama tried to be as fair as possible and chose his words carefully.

Well he's certainly one who tries to please everyone. Does any Muslim country or community really trust a leader who professes to be a Christian but parallels himself to Muslims by virtue of his background? And does any Christian foolishly believe in this same leader who says "we are no longer a Christian country." The scriptures say: "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."

"Fair as possible?" It's not about that. It's about being right.

FauziaSultana

I am not so sure he chose his words carefully or for a purpose. Much of the statements Obama made were incorrect... somewhat turned to be viewed in the wrong context...This is one of the MANY dangerous things Obama has perfected.
I think the moral of the story is actually keep your friends close and your enemies closer - but do not underestimate the enemy at any point.

Obama asked for talks with N Korea - they set off a bomb, he asked again, they fired off a missile, again talk brought another missile. N Korea vould NOT be more upfront about their hatred of the US and neither can Iran. The difference is Iran hates Israel more and is using Obama as a pawn.

Obama is not a Christian. He's trying to be double-minded for political purposes...but Christian he is not.

This article is just a ridiculous religious based analysis of what is a clear cut issue of law and human rights. Whatever right the Jews have to that land, they have no right as part of a state to commit human rights violations on such a massive scale with total impunity because of their relationship with the United States. It's actually just ridiculous. As 'victims of terror' they are surprisingly willing to use terror themselves and with the benefit of tanks and jets, not just home-made rockets (please research what a Qassam is). HAMAS was started in 1987 by the Israeli Mossad, covertly, to counter the PLO. They never imagined it would take on a life of its own. Israel systematically undermined the PLO in favour of HAMAS for 15 odd years until things got out of hand. These are facts that I think people should research on before they comment on Obama's handling of the crisis. Ahemdinejad is a nut and everyone knows it.

down

Howdy everyone
He is not throwing them under the bus. He is merely telling them they are no longer the favorite son driving the Bus telling others they must get in the back.
He is telling them what we learned and are still learning here. We are all equal. They all deserve respect and freedom with respected Boundaries.

so whats so wrong about that? Israel has been in the driving seat for too long and the latest violence against Palestine was all supported by American President Bush (i have read many of your articles in which you said the same thing)

Not that Israelis will bear that to happen. What Obama or all previous presidents of America should have done was some Justice. Obama , i dont know what he will do or not but at least he for once had the courage to say the right thing.

The United States has a country bordering us on the North and one on the South. If EITHER of these two countries were to start launching missles (including Qassam rockets) I would suspect we would fire back aggressively defending our home land. Your suggestion that a Qassam is simply a home made device and not of great effect is absurb. 1 million jews are in danger zones of these "home made" but non the less DEADLY rockets. Additionally, since the Iranians are now supporting Hamas with longer range Iranian-made rockets - as well as reports of the use of 122-mm rockets - it is anticipated this region will further escalate in its fighting. I would anticipate you are referring to the UN reaction to Israel's defense in Gaza and the death toll of civilian casualties in the altercations - but as raids have indicated, rockets are well hidden within civilain homes BY Hamas. HAMAS has escalated violence and placed Palistinians at great risk w/very little regard for the civilians of their own. This article is hardly ridiculous given the threats Israel is receiving currently. Just the year alone Musheir al-Masri, a Hamas spokesman in the Palestinian Legislative Council guaranteed that Israel would “be hit in a way it had never been before,” and that he was not afraid of Israel threats. The population of the villages bordering on the Gaza Strip, as well as Sderot and Ashqelon, would not be secure “as long as Palestinians are not secure”. It may be viewed as human rights violations to you, but I would defend the article by stating Israel is under emminent threat by HAMAS.

I agree with that statement jmsjoin - only would add that Israal should not be forced to allow anyone with a rocket set to blow up the bus on the bus.

The boundaries of these two what should be recognized States... is a question in and of itself...will these two ever agree on the land lines or will their religious hatred and the further development of nuclear technology by Iran force a battle of much larger magnitude?

people always amaze me when they question the 'further development of nuclear technology by Iran'. is that really something to question about ? This thought never crosses my mind when i hear oh USA made this cluster bomb n that nuclear arsenal. Its a nations right to defend itself. SIMPLE!


Please can we all come out of it? the only this question is in our heads because its been fed!

maryannscarangello
I agree! At this point I do not care who did what but they share equal responsibility to ensure a two state solution with honored borders. Any success will take 2 otherwise you have war!

There has been a resurgence of nuclear build-up. The Cold War ending was suppose to join the super powers together in the dismantling of nuclear weapons.

You're right - maidiya - it's a nation's right to defend itself but blowing up nukes for hatred of a religion will benefit no one - it will just destroy the world.

I simply will not agree on the Iran comment - we will have to disagree there. I in no way shape or form believe that Iran has ANY intentions of developing nuke. power - their reasoning is purely for purposes of war.

Developing to defend is one thing - developing to destroy another.

It always amazes ME that anyone believes N Korea and Iran have glorious energy on their minds when they develop their nuclear arsenal.

The MINUTE one country sets off a nuke - sharonhodges said it in a former article. It's just a matter of time until there is no longer any.

The first and only nuclear power in the Middle East is Israel. I don't see how you can continue to defend a position based on the perspective that Israel was or is a nation under constant threat of attack. The 1948 war was started by Israelis (then just Jews) with the backing of the major colonial powers against 250,000 odd unarmed villagers. That is hardly a strategy to make allies and particularly those people legally owned the land and were not aware of any prior Jewish claim to it from 2000 years ago. It is similar to what happened to native americans in that regard. In 1967 Israel pre-emptively struck Egypt in reaction to the possibility of an Egyptian build up in the Sinai. Furthermore most Israelis themselves (please visit the Gosh Shalom 'Peace Bloc' website) recognise that the greatest existential threat facing Israel right now is not from Hamas but from the hardliners within their own government and military who are intent on playing war-games to win votes and are participating in what is essentially a giant land grab for their own political and monetary gain. The Jerusalem Post is a well known hardline newspaper, which is understandable since the large majority of Jews in Jerusalem are fundamentalist and orthodox, the liberal parts being in the North, near the coast and Tel-aviv. The figures speak for themselves really when it comes to human rights violations. 13 Israelis dead of qassam rocket fire and 1166-1417 palestinians dead in 2 weeks from operation 'Molten Lead' in december and january this year, a week before the Israeli elections. The blatancy of it is actually what is most astounding. So defending a state that essentially ignores the will of it's own people, violates international law on a daily basis (as per the Oslo accords 1993 that established a halt on settlement activity)and also engages in obvious acts of state terror, on the basis that it is under attack is simply contradictory or hypocritical. Following the simple norms of international law would probably serve Israel far better in the long run than military action by a small group of dedicated fundamentalists.

The Six Day war you are referring to is a battle of stories. I was not old enough to witness it - so I can only take the history as reported and as most history of this time period is told - is from a perspective of "still alive" historians.

1948 - also has very different accounts - many which state the war started when the British Mandate of Palestine was terminated. There was a plan put in place to form a Jewish state and Palestine which fell apart and lead to the conflict which included Israel and the FIVE arab nations who invaded the territory of the former British Mandate of Palestine. These five Arab States invaded Israel, and again - conflicting stories on both sides of history.

I fully believe their should be TWO states formed and the conflict should end. However, my point is the question should be raised on Obama's discussions and speeches. He is Muslim leaning in this issue... that the Israeli/Palestinians are fighting over land is not really my area of expertise and I will only say that you are making very good points and it IS worth my reading of what you are suggesting.

The only question I have is your claim that Israel is the only country in the middle east with nuclear weapons? Pakistan and India have nuclear capabilities acknowledged. Iran is seeking.

I too believe international law should be followed for the formation of two seperate states, but I am not sure peace will ever be reached in that region of the world.

India and Pakistan happen to be part of South Asia... not the Middle East. Israel is the only nuclear state in the Middle East.

Haven't we armed Israel to the teeth since World War II in nuclear weaponry so that they can take care of their own borders and boundaries in "providing for the common defense" of their nation?

I do believe Israel already is in possession of the highest tech nuclear weaponry, or am I mistaken?

Don't you think this country has been far too involved in the nation of Israel's internal and external affairs at this point, after all we are now over 70 years since World War II....and should be taking care of our own borders and nation - since we most likely will face a war from the South far sooner than we will be attacked by a nuke from the Middle Eastern countries, especially since Reagan's Star Wars Defense Program provided this country with enough nukes to bomb the world 100 times over?

No Ross - you're completely correct

TEchically then - Eygpt is an African country.

I think the opinion as to whether Pakistan and India being Southeast Asia are a part of the middle east is a debate ongoing, most maps show Pakistan as yes, and India as no - but since you are actually there - I would agree you would know best as you know your country boundaries much more than I do.

Many thanks,
MA

Your writing is amazing, I really enjoy reading your articles. I live in a conservative state, but it's still difficult to find someone that shares the same views!

Thanks Caitlin - try living in Massachusetts and having a very vocal opinion!! :)