B-Man Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Why Netanyahu’s Speech Mattersby Mathew Continetti The emerging nuclear deal with Iran is indefensible. The White House knows it. That is why President Obama does not want to subject an agreement to congressional approval, why critics of the deal are dismissed as warmongers, and why the president, his secretary of state, and his national-security adviser have spent several weeks demonizing the prime minister of Israel for having the temerity to accept an invitation by the U.S. Congress to deliver a speech on a subject of existential import for his small country. These tactics distract public attention. They turn a subject of enormous significance to American foreign policy into a petty personal drama. They prevent us from discussing what America is about to give away. And America is about to give away a lot. This week the AP reported on what an agreement with Iran might look like: sanctions relief in exchange for promises to slow down Iranian centrifuges for ten years. At which point the Iranians could manufacture a bomb — assuming they hadn’t produced one in secret. Iran would get international legitimacy, assurance that military intervention was not an option, and no limitations on its ICBM programs, its support for international terrorism, its enrichment of plutonium, its widespread human-rights violations, and its campaign to subvert or co-opt Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria. Then it can announce itself as the first Shia nuclear power. {snip} This sort of contempt for one’s opponents has become so commonplace in American politics since the 2010 “bipartisan health-care summit,” where the president snidely told John McCain “the election’s over,” that I suppose it was only a matter of time before it influenced the administration’s relationships with foreign powers. But it says something about this president that the only country in the world that he treats seriously as an opponent is the state of Israel — that he holds the Israeli government to a standard he applies to no other government, that he is openly hostile to the elected prime minister of Israel and not so secretly hopes for the prime minister to be replaced in the upcoming election, and that he threatens reprisal against a domestic interest group with predominantly Jewish leadership and membership for a disagreement he has with a foreign prime minister — as though Jews were interchangeable when they are not, as in the case of the “deli” where they were “randomly” gunned down, invisible. Netanyahu’s speech on Tuesday matters precisely because it is a rebuke to the Obama mode of politics, to which America has become numb. Netanyahu’s refusal to back down in the face of political and media pressure, his insistence in making his case directly and emphatically, is as much a statement as any of the technical and strategic and moral claims he will make in his speech. And by going to war against Bibi, the White House has inadvertently raised the stature of his address from a diplomatic courtesy to a global event. Netanyahu’s commitment to warning America about a nuclear Iran has given him the opportunity to explain just how devoid of merit the prospective deal is. His speech is proof that Congress is a co-equal branch of government where substantive argument can triumph over vicious personal attacks and executive overreach and utopian aspirations. Of course Barack Obama can’t stand it. Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/414600/why-netanyahus-speech-matters-matthew-continetti Netanyahu’s momentThe coming deal with Iran represents folly of a Chamberlainite proportion. One can easily see it in the administration’s prebuttal of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech, reported in today’s New York Times story by David Sanger and Michael Gordon. I hear the voice of Susan Rice in the unnamed administration official quoted by the Times. Whoever it is speaks out of the love that dare not be identified with his or her own name. More at the link: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/414600/why-netanyahus-speech-matters-matthew-continetti More at the link: . Makes me wish that we had a guy like Bibi leading this country. I so miss the Gipper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truth on hold Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) Well said by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich: "If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is entitled to speak to Congress and the American people on his disagreement with American foreign policy, a lowly former U.S. Secretary of Labor (who also happens to be Jewish) has every right to address the Israeli people on an issue over which he disagrees with official Israeli policy. (He doesn't have a formal way of communicating, so if you know any Israeli’s please forward to them the following message.) People of Israel: You should know that the new-found alliance between your Prime Minister and our Republican Party, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and some wealthy right-wing Jews here (such as billionaire Sheldon Adelson), is poisoning the relationship between Israel and the United States. Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress on Tuesday to argue against a nuclear deal with Iran that’s one of the President’s highest priorities, and also to speak to Aipac – just two weeks before your own national elections – foists your own domestic politics onto ours. As such, it is having a polarizing effect here in the United States, pushing many Americans to side against Israel, and thereby posing a long-term threat to Israel’s security. Meanwhile, many American Jews who have refrained from speaking out against the right-wing radicalism that has taken hold in Israel – a radicalism that rejects a “two-state solution” and continues to build new settlements on the West Bank, and which we believe imperils the future of Israel -- are now feeling emboldened to do so. Aipac does not speak for us. House Republicans do not speak for us. Billionaires do not speak for us. We have been silent for too long. -- Robert Reich" https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/958832447462685 Edited March 2, 2015 by JTSP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Well said by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich: "If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is entitled to speak to Congress and the American people on his disagreement with American foreign policy, a lowly former U.S. Secretary of Labor (who also happens to be Jewish) has every right to address the Israeli people on an issue over which he disagrees with official Israeli policy. (He doesn't have a formal way of communicating, so if you know any Israeli’s please forward to them the following message.) People of Israel: You should know that the new-found alliance between your Prime Minister and our Republican Party, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and some wealthy right-wing Jews here (such as billionaire Sheldon Adelson), is poisoning the relationship between Israel and the United States. Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress on Tuesday to argue against a nuclear deal with Iran that’s one of the President’s highest priorities, and also to speak to Aipac – just two weeks before your own national elections – foists your own domestic politics onto ours. As such, it is having a polarizing effect here in the United States, pushing many Americans to side against Israel, and thereby posing a long-term threat to Israel’s security. Meanwhile, many American Jews who have refrained from speaking out against the right-wing radicalism that has taken hold in Israel – a radicalism that rejects a “two-state solution” and continues to build new settlements on the West Bank, and which we believe imperils the future of Israel -- are now feeling emboldened to do so. Aipac does not speak for us. House Republicans do not speak for us. Billionaires do not speak for us. We have been silent for too long. -- Robert Reich" https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/958832447462685 Aw c'mon now, we all know that POTUS has but few priorities # 1 of which is punishing the Republicans for opening a can of whoop ass last November. After that one, burnishing his already corroded legacy is also on the table. He has no awareness of foreign policy in the international diplomacy sense, but excels at "foreign" policy in that his brand has no foundation of historical importance to the US and consists of a series of one-off gestures that have proven ineffective...see the Iraq withdrawal and his claim that Afghanistan will never again be the point of origin for terrorism. The guy is lame-ducking his way along 'til January, 2017. Don't pressure him by attributing real-life objectives to the remainder of his term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Aw c'mon now, we all know that POTUS has but few priorities # 1 of which is punishing the Republicans for opening a can of whoop ass last November. After that one, burnishing his already corroded legacy is also on the table. He has no awareness of foreign policy in the international diplomacy sense, but excels at "foreign" policy in that his brand has no foundation of historical importance to the US and consists of a series of one-off gestures that have proven ineffective...see the Iraq withdrawal and his claim that Afghanistan will never again be the point of origin for terrorism. The guy is lame-ducking his way along 'til January, 2017. Don't pressure him by attributing real-life objectives to the remainder of his term. Are you saying that leaving Iraq was a bad idea? Seems like it was a good--imo--and a popular decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 No, I'm saying that we're on our way back in, so where is the gain? Back in in terms of "advisors and trainers", equipment, intelligence sharing, etc. In the current administration, "out" doesn't really mean out, does it. POTUS' comments and actions make Bush's, "Mission Accomplished" pale by comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Now Israel has gone and made Obama mad. The entire fourth grade is talking about it. Report: Obama Has Cut Intelligence Cooperation with Israel Arutz Sheva [israel], by Ari Yashar Original Article Everyone following the political dynamics of this administration knows their ‘poker tell’, it’s brutally obvious. This administration shows their fear with the sheer rabidity of what they proclaim not to be doing. Today the White House, and every single senior official, is publically shouting about President Obama NOT going to watch the Benjamin Netanyahu speech to congress. A transparent falsehood identified easily by the scope of the public protestations therein. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Now Israel has gone and made Obama mad. The entire fourth grade is talking about it. With each moment that passes and leads to Netanyahu's speech, it's kind of funny watching this administration throw a long, slow temper tantrum. Embarrassing, but funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truth on hold Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Now Israel has gone and made Obama mad. The entire fourth grade is talking about it. Report: Obama Has Cut Intelligence Cooperation with Israel Arutz Sheva [israel], by Ari Yashar Original Article Everyone following the political dynamics of this administration knows their poker tell, its brutally obvious. This administration shows their fear with the sheer rabidity of what they proclaim not to be doing. Today the White House, and every single senior official, is publically shouting about President Obama NOT going to watch the Benjamin Netanyahu speech to congress. A transparent falsehood identified easily by the scope of the public protestations therein. . Yeah, it's always a good idea to share sensitive info with a leader whose going to address your legislature without you, try to undermine a deal you've been working on for years, and entangle your people in another costly foreign conflict. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 With each moment that passes and leads to Netanyahu's speech, it's kind of funny watching this administration throw a long, slow temper tantrum. Embarrassing, but funny. Doesn't matter. He won't talk a Democrat into committing American lives and treasure to an attack on Iran. A Republican would though. Remember how Reagan got all those Marines killed in Beiruit? Obama would never be that stupid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Doesn't matter. He won't talk a Democrat into committing American lives and treasure to an attack on Iran. A Republican would though. Remember how Reagan got all those Marines killed in Beiruit? Obama would never be that stupid You think Netanyahu is going to ask the US to put boots on the ground to attack Iran. You're an even bigger dumbass than I thought possible. But thanks for the chuckle, even if it was just another copy/paste from your nustucking overlords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 You think Netanyahu is going to ask the US to put boots on the ground to attack Iran. You're an even bigger dumbass than I thought possible. But thanks for the chuckle, even if it was just another copy/paste from your nustucking overlords. It's what he wants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 It's what he wants So in today's speech, Netanyahu will ask the US to go to war with Iran and put US boots on the ground in Iran. Got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truth on hold Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 It's what he wants He's been stumping for it for years. And that other piece of garbage Sheldon adelson, biggest donor to republicans by far. Sheldon Adelson Says Obama Should Nuke Iran http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4150237 What an utter disgrace that party has become sucking up to that guy. And beyond a disgrace flat out wreckless and a danger to the well being of this country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 So in today's speech, Netanyahu will ask the US to go to war with Iran and put US boots on the ground in Iran. Got it. No, he'll say the Obama plan to stop a war is bad, bad! And leave it at that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireChan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Doesn't matter. He won't talk a Democrat into committing American lives and treasure to an attack on Iran. A Republican would though. Remember how Reagan got all those Marines killed in Beiruit? Obama would never be that stupid Remember how Reagan got those hostages released by virtue of not being a Democrat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Remember how Reagan got those hostages released by virtue of not being a Democrat? And how he sent weapons to Iran for them and then more hostages were taken when the terrorists saw how the process worked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 The occasion the Democrats asked for Washington Times, by Wesley Pruden Original Article The Democrats set out to teach John Boehner and Benjamin Netanyahu a lesson. They would boycott the Israeli prime minister’s speech to Congress and apply enough pressure to cancel the speech, keep Mr. Netanyahu at home and embarrass the Republicans who invited him here. What a happy day’s work that would be. What President Obama and his compliant Democrats have actually done, however, is to give Mr. Netanyahu a bigger platform than the Republicans could dream of. The eyes and ears of the world, which might have been distracted by the usual media trivia, are now aimed at the U.S. Capitol. More at the link: Netanyahu Is Everything Obama Is Not Commentary Magazine, by Peter Wehner Original Article . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 He's been stumping for it for years. And that other piece of garbage Sheldon adelson, biggest donor to republicans by far. Sheldon Adelson Says Obama Should Nuke Iran http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4150237 What an utter disgrace that party has become sucking up to that guy. And beyond a disgrace flat out wreckless and a danger to the well being of this country I'm pretty sure as someone who wants all Jews wiped off the face of the earth, your opinion is probably a bit tilted, no? The occasion the Democrats asked for Washington Times, by Wesley Pruden Original Article The Democrats set out to teach John Boehner and Benjamin Netanyahu a lesson. They would boycott the Israeli prime minister’s speech to Congress and apply enough pressure to cancel the speech, keep Mr. Netanyahu at home and embarrass the Republicans who invited him here. What a happy day’s work that would be. What President Obama and his compliant Democrats have actually done, however, is to give Mr. Netanyahu a bigger platform than the Republicans could dream of. The eyes and ears of the world, which might have been distracted by the usual media trivia, are now aimed at the U.S. Capitol. This is something I brought up earlier. The WH went all in with their temper tantrum hissy fit, forcing many Dems to skip the speech, without being even remotely smart to think that if it backfired, the stage for the speech would only grow larger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Is he singing "bomb, bomb, bomb iran?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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