In the following article by Isi Leibler, we see how the recent events all telegraph the anti-Israel
attitude of the Obama Administration. This should anger any reasonable person who knows that Israel is the only friend that America has in the Middle East.
Comments by Leon Panetta, Hillary Clinton or other functionaries who do Obama's bidding are very clear. This Administration sucks up to the Arabs at the expense of the only democratic country in the area. Why do they do that? Is it the oil? Is it the influence of the Saudis? Does Obama feel a kinship with the Arabs?
Only time and a psychiatrist's couch will really tell us what his real motivation is.
Here is the article, let us know what you think.
Conservative Tom
Islamic ascendancy intensifies US appeasement
Isi Leibler - The Jerusalem Post, December 7th, 2011
Ironically, US President Barack Obama portrays himself as a friend of Israel while soliciting funds from Jewish donors, but two senior members of his team provided chilling insights to what Israel may expect should the current administration be returned to office.
After reaffirming that the US retains “an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security,” US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta crudely told a Brookings Institution forum that it was high time for Israel to “get to the damn negotiating table.” He ignored the fact that even after a 10-month settlement freeze, the Palestinians had refused to engage in direct negotiations with Israel.
Panetta’s repetition of the mindless mantra that Israel is “partly” responsible for its diplomatic isolation and his demand for further Israeli unilateral concessions to end the conflict would certainly be welcomed by the Arabs as an extension of their long-term strategy to dismantle the Jewish state in stages.
Furthermore, Panetta’s demand for Israel to “reach out to mend fences with those who share an interest in regional stability,” specifically with Turkey and Egypt, failed to address either Israel’s extraordinary efforts to retain good relations with Egypt, despite the ascendancy of jihadist groups there or the fact that Erdogan’s Turkey is now openly allied with the genocidal Hamas. For a US secretary of defense to implicitly blame Israel for the erosion of relations with these countries is simply outrageous.
Finally, the secretary warned Israel that if Jerusalem acted alone in relation to Iran, it would place America in an unenviable position, cost many lives and lead to global economic chaos. As former deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams observed afterward, Panetta eased Iranian concerns by effectively nullifying longstanding American statements that “all options are on the table” to curb the nuclear threat.
PANETTA’S ADDRESS was followed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who pontificated on Israel as a democratic state criticizing proposed legislation in Israel that would limit foreign funding for nongovernmental organizations.
This issue has indeed generated a great deal of controversy in Israel, but it is unprecedented and inexcusable for an American official to become involved in a domestic Israeli debate or to publicly criticize the government of a purportedly close ally. This is especially true in light of the fact that Clinton has hardly been forthright in condemning human rights violations or anti-Semitic outbursts in Muslim countries or by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. As these groups emerge as the new dominant forces in these countries, her silence in this matter is deafening.
Even more disconcerting were Clinton’s remarks concerning a marginal number of misguided Israeli soldiers who sought to boycott events in which female singers participated. This issue, and the clumsy manner in which it was handled by the IDF, has admittedly distressed many Israelis. But what business is it of the secretary of state, again – especially when she cannot bring herself to address women’s rights in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries? Furthermore, her comparison of this episode with the segregation of African-Americans in the 1950s does not merely reflect her ignorance. That, and her comment that this Israeli behavior reminded her of the way Iranians treated women, is downright offensive.
Finally, Washington’s ambassador to Belgium, a former major Jewish fundraiser for Obama named Howard Gutman, told European Jewish leaders and lawyers that “a distinction should be made between traditional anti-Semitism, which should be condemned and Muslim hatred for Jews, which stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.” The innuendo was that Muslim anti-Semitism is a by-product of Israeli intransigence in the Middle East, and therefore, can be understood and implicitly justified. It is of note that these sickening remarks were made by the US ambassador to one of the most anti-Israeli countries in Europe, Belgium.
THESE OUTBURSTS signal that despite favorable public opinion and congressional support, Israel continues to face hostility and difficulties from the US administration. Senior officials like secretaries Panetta and Clinton do not make comments like these without the backing of the president.
The timing of these provocative outbursts – concurrent with the radical Islamist tide sweeping across North Africa – makes them especially reprehensible. Egypt’s election victory for the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi groups mean Israel’s worst fears have been realized – the country is now surrounded by a ring of fanatic, hostile Islamic states. The Muslim Brotherhood, creator of Hamas, is an outright jihadist organization whose charter unequivocally calls for the destruction of Israel and the murder of all Jews.
In this context, it is exasperating and sickening to be subjected to delusional spins by Western politicians and liberal media suggesting that the Muslim Brotherhood has turned a new page, is now tolerant and, to quote some US administration officials, is even in the process of becoming “secular.”
In addition, the only issue over which Sunnis and Shi’ites have been able to overcome their passionate differences is their frenzied hatred of Israel. From Sunni Arab Egypt to Shi’ite Persian Iran, the anti-Semitic propaganda that is published in the state-run media of every country in the Islamic Middle East is indistinguishable from the vilest Nazi propaganda. But again, this is an issue that is off the radar for the Obama administration.
IT BEHOOVES the president, and other Western leaders, to take note of the fact that in the Islamic grand order, Israel and the Jews are merely the “canary in the mine” and represent a minor component of their global ambitions. An Islamic victory over Israel and murder of all its Jewish citizens would not ease tensions. Rather to the contrary: it would embolden Islamists towards their goal of conquering Europe and ultimately the world.
Israel can do little to influence the course of events in the Arab countries and its leaders have wisely stood aside, but the time has surely come for the Obama administration to recognize that its policies of appeasement have led to disastrous consequences. Instead of trying to mollify Islamists by distancing themselves and making one-sided criticisms against Israel, they should gird themselves for a long-term struggle against fanatical Islamists who have been conditioned into believing that they can best achieve their global objectives through intransigence and intensification of violence.
American Jews can make an important contribution in this area. Yet alas, most of their leaders fail to condemn these reprehensible remarks directed against Israel by leading Obama Administration officials. While as expected, the Zionist Organization of America and the Jewish Republicans protested, the response from other Jewish organizations was extraordinarily muted.
Abe Foxman of the ADL condemned Panetta’s remarks as did David Harris of the AJC in a far more understated manner. The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the US Belgian Ambassador.
Yet, until now, the Jewish establishment responded to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s offensive remarks with deafening silence.
The traditionally robust responses by American Jewish leaders to such hostile remarks by public officials were sadly lacking.
One is even tempted to suspect that they have collectively decided not to rock the boat and to eliminate any contentious references to Israeli-associated issues from political discourse related to the forthcoming elections. How else can one explain the paucity of meaningful response to such provocations? Which leads us to ask, will Jews at the grassroots level remain satisfied that their principal spokesmen remain silent on these issues?
Tom, I gave you the video link to Panetta's speech. I wish you would watch it. This article is an even worse distortion of what Panetta said than that last article you posted.
ReplyDeleteHere are some absolute LIES…
1. "….his demand for further Israeli unilateral concessions." Never said anything like that.
2. "Panetta eased Iranian concerns by effectively nullifying longstanding American statements that “all options are on the table” to curb the nuclear threat." Another lie. Panetta explicitly stated that the military option is on the table with Iran. He also said that the U.S. will back-up Israel in any military confrontation with Iran.
3. "it was high time for Israel to “get to the damn negotiating table.” No, he said that both Israel AND the Palestinians need to get back to their talks. From the U.S. perspective (not just Obama, but also Bush, Clinton, and all of Obama's predecessors who have also proposed the two-state solution), the fact that previous negotiations have failed is no reason to abandon diplomacy. Obama is pursuing the same policy as prior administrations, so if that makes him "pro Arab", then so were all previous presidents as well. It is a preposterous argument.
I can't comment on Hillary's speech, because I didn't watch it, but I'd be surprised if she said anything contrary to what Obama and Panetta have said. And given this guy's lies about what Panetta said, you shouldn't trust anything he said about Clinton, either.
I laughed when I saw his concluding question, "How else can one explain the paucity of meaningful response to such provocations?" The explanation might be as simple as saying American Jews may have actually LISTENED to Panetta's speech like I did (and I hope you will so that we can have an informed discussion about it, if you are interested).
--David
David, Point one: Here is what Panetta says:
ReplyDeleteIt is Israel's responsibility to make agreements with Turkey and Egypt. That is a ridiculous suggestion as both are pro-Islamic governments which are not friendly to Israel, regardless to previous agreements and relations.
Point 2--you missed the statement regarding nuclear weapons, it is not very obvious, but it is there and the Arab street heard it.
Point 3--Panetta, along with Clinton and other members of the Administration keep saying things which are intrepreted as anti-Israel. It is what has been heard.
Point 4--I did read the speech and dissected it. It is what was written. Sorry, I hear it completely different.
We need to get down to verbatim quotes from the speech. Panetta did NOT say what this guy claims. I will work on this for a couple hours tomorrow and supply you with his exact quotes to prove it.
ReplyDelete--David
David, you are going to have a hard time proving your point. I looked up the speech and questions as released by the Department of Defense. One point, in the after speech questions, he was asked what Israel should do and his comment, mentioned twice, was get to the "damned" table. He said it and it is there in black and white!
ReplyDeleteSorry David.
We need to analyze Panetta's speech by discussing quotes the same way we did with Obama's speech -- "1967 borders with mutually-agreed land swaps" does not mean "1967 borders." We need to focus on Panetta's real words with that kind of clarity.
Here is my "Reader's Digest" synopsis of Panetta's speech organized by topic and verbatim quotes on each topic.
OVERVIEW OF FOREIGN POLICY
The three prongs of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel…
"I want to be clear that Israel can count on three enduring pillars in U.S. policy in the region, all of which contribute directly to the safety and prosperity of the Israeli people. First, our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security. Second, our broader commitment to regional stability. And third, our determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."
ABOUT EGYPT
1. "Egypt will require great leadership in the weeks and months ahead if it is to successfully transition to a fully civilian-controlled government that respects democratic principles and maintains all of its international commitments, including the treaty of peace with Israel."
2. "Our best course is to continue to put pressure on them to make sure that they stand by the promises that they made to the Egyptian people that they will implement these changes and convert to civilian control. That’s something we’ll do and when they do form a government, we have an obligation to stay with them to make sure that they abide by the commitment to respect the treaty that was signed with Israel and that they abide by the other redlines that we’ve established with regards to Egypt."
2. "Meanwhile, even as turmoil continues to rock the region, Egypt’s current leaders, along with Jordan, have made very clear to me privately and publicly that they are committed to their peace treaties with Israel. We have been clear to all parties in Egypt that sustaining a peace treaty with Israel is in the critical interests of the United States. While we share Israel’s legitimate concerns about instability in the Sinai Peninsula and the attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo, the best way to address these concerns is through increasing communication and cooperation – increasing communication and cooperation with Egyptian authorities, not by stepping away from it."
Here's why it is important for Israel to attempt communication with the new Egyptian government even if their government ends up as a bunch of insane radicals determined to start a war with Israel…
"This is an important time to be able to develop and restore those key relationships in this crucial area. This is not impossible. If gestures are rebuked, the world will see those rebukes for what they are. That is exactly why Israel should pursue them."
continued...
ABOUT ISRAEL MILITARY SECURITY
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. is totally committed to Israel's security…
"But in this time of understandable anxiety, I would like to underscore one thing that has stayed constant over the past three years of this administration: The determination of the United States to safeguard Israel’s security. And that commitment will not change."
Concrete proof...
1. "Next year, the U.S. armed forces and the IDF will conduct the largest joint exercises in the history of that partnership, enhancing the ability of our militaries to operate together and also testing our new ballistic missile and rocket defense capabilities. Those new capabilities are themselves a product of this unprecedented defense cooperation."
2. "We are especially proud that above and beyond the annual foreign military financing that we provide to Israel, the Obama administration has provided more than $200 million for the Iron Dome rocket defense system – support that recently enabled the fielding of a third battery. This system – this system has already saved the lives of Israeli civilians facing rocket barrages from Gaza."
3. "United States will ensure that Israel continues to enjoy unquestioned air superiority by delivering to Israel the advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter."
ABOUT IRAN
Core policy…
"Our approach to countering the threat posed by Iran is focused on diplomacy, including organizing unprecedented sanctions and strengthening our security partnerships with key partners in the Gulf and in the broader Middle East."
The military option is on the table…
1. "Still, it is my department’s responsibility to plan for all contingencies and to provide the president with a wide range of military options should they become necessary."
2. "That is a responsibility I take very seriously because when it comes to the threat posed by Iran, the president has made it very clear that we have not taken any options off the table."
3. From Q&A: "Well, as I said, we have to approach this – as the president said, with all options on the table."
4. From Q&A: "We always – as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, force should be only a last resort, and if that is truly the case, then I believe it is incumbent on us to implement all of our diplomatic and economic pressure as possible to try to continue this effort to make clear to the world that we are dealing with an international pariah in Iran."
Geez Tom, do you call this "pro Arab" language?
continued....
ABOUT TURKEY
ReplyDeleteIsrael's responsibility…
"And Israel, too, has responsibility to pursue our shared goals to build regional support for Israel and the United States’ security objectives."
1. "…unfortunately, over the past year we have seen Israel’s isolation from its traditional security partners in the region grow, and the pursuit of a comprehensive Middle East peace has effectively been put on hold."
2. "I want to be clear: This isolation is due to a number of factors. Indeed, there is an international campaign underway to isolate Israel."
3. "President Obama has stood steadfastly in the way of that effort, especially in the United Nations."
4. "I’ve been working with the leaders there, Minister Barak and others, to find ways to help Israel take steps which are profoundly in its interests. For example, Israel can reach out and mend fences with those who share an interest in regional stability – countries like Turkey and Egypt, as well as Jordan."
5. "It is in Israel’s interest, Turkey’s interest, and U.S. interest, for Israel to reconcile with Turkey. And both Turkey and Israel need to do more to put their relationship back on the right track. That’s a message I’ve taken to Jerusalem, and it’s a message I’ll be taking to Ankara later this month."
Panetta is going to Turkey to do what he can to improve Israel-Turkey relations.
ABOUT PALESTINIANS
1. "I was pleased to see the Israeli government announce that it will release the tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, averting a situation that would have undermined Israel’s security and damaged the important institution-building work of Prime Minister Fayyad and strengthened the hands of extremist Palestinian factions."
2. "…the security cooperation between Israel, the Palestinians, the U.S. security forces led by United States security coordinator Lieutenant General Mike Muller, has paid real dividends. Israel should look for ways to bolster this cooperation. And President Abbas must take the difficult steps to do exactly the same thing."
3. "All Israelis should know that the United States will always stand behind their country, providing a secure safety net as it takes those necessary risks."
Panetta says the two-state solution is a risk for Israel, but if independent Palestine starts a war with Israel, the U.S. "will always stand behind Israel providing a secure safety net."
4. Closing words of the speech…
"To secure that peace, Israel will always have the unshakable backing of the United States. And the United States must always have the unshakable trust of Israel."
ABOUT THE DAMN TABLE
The full quote in context…
"Just get to the damn table. The problem right now is we can’t get them to the damn table to at least sit down and begin to discuss their differences – you know, we all know what the pieces are here for a potential agreement. We’ve talked it out, worked through, we understand the concerns, we understand the concerns of Israel, understand the concerns of the Palestinians. If they sit at a table and work through those concerns, and the United States can be of assistance in that process, then I think you have the beginning of what could be a process that would lead to a peace agreement. But if they aren’t there – if they aren’t at the table, this will never happen."
Two points about this quote:
1. This was a call for BOTH Israel AND Palestine to get back to the damn table. Your articles claim he was only talking about Israel.
2. If you actually watch the speech instead of just read the transcript, you will see that "get back to the damn table" was not said in an angry or threatening tone of voice. It was said more as a plea delivered with good-will toward both sides.
--David
Comment on Panetta's speech from Ed Rettig, Director, AJC Jerusalem…
ReplyDelete"Sometimes media can make a public event into a Rorschach test, reporting what they are predisposed to want us to see. Coverage of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s speech to the Saban Forum is an example. The transcript simply does not bear out the headlines."
http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=849241&ct=11536269
--David
U.S. military bases surrounding Iran…
ReplyDeletehttp://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9398/usbasesme.jpg
Do you think we need a few more?
--David