March 5, 2012, 11:54 AM
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In his commentary in Maariv's Friday news supplement, the paper's senior diplomatic commentator Ben Caspit laid out a hypothetical lecture that Obama might give Netanyahu when the two leaders meet alone in the Oval Office this afternoon. In Caspit's scenario, Obama used the one-on-one to set out the law to the Israeli premier. If you bomb Iran's nuclear installations before the November elections, in my second term Israel will no longer be able to buy spare parts for its weapons systems from the US. So too, Caspit's Obama said, the US will end its support for Israel at the UN Security Council if Israel dares to take it upon itself to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold before the US elections.
Perhaps Caspit wrote his article after hearing about a meeting between American Jews and Vice President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor Anthony Blinken. According to Commentary's Omri Ceren, Blinken told the assembled Jews that if Israel's supporters discuss Obama's hostile treatment of Israel in the context of the election, they can expect to suffer consequences if Obama is reelected.
It is important to keep Blinken's threats and Caspit's scenario in mind when considering Obama's speech to AIPAC on Sunday morning.
Obama's speech was notable for a number of reasons. First, this was the first speech on an Israel-related theme that Obama has given since the 2008 campaign in which he did not pick a fight with Israel. And it is due to the absence of open hostility in his address that Obama's supporters are touting it as a pro-Israel speech.
While he didn't pick a fight with Israel on Sunday, his speech did mark a clear attempt to undermine Israel's strategic position in a fundamental - indeed existential - way. As many commentators have noted in recent weeks, Israel and the US have different red lines for the Iranian nuclear program. These divergent red lines owe to the fact that the US has more options for attacking Iran's nuclear installations than Israel.
From Israel's perspective, Iran's nuclear program will reportedly become unstoppable as soon as the Iranians move a sufficient quantity of enriched uranium and/or centrifuges to the Fordow nuclear installation by Qom. Since Israel reportedly lacks the ability to destroy the facility, Israel's timeline for attacking Iran will likely end within weeks. The US reportedly has the capacity to successfully bomb Fordow and so its timeline for attacking Iran is longer than Israel's.
The reason this is important is because it tells us the true nature of Obama's demand that Israel give more time for sanctions and diplomacy to work. When one recognizes Israel's short timeline for attacking, one realizes that when Obama demands that Israel give several more months for sanctions to work, what he is actually demanding is for Israel to place its survival in his hands. Again, once Iran's nuclear project is immune from an Israeli strike Obama will effectively hold the key to Israel's survival. Israel will be completely at his mercy.
To understand just how dangerous this would be it is worth considering the other issues Obama covered in his speech. Obama's speech essentially boiled down to three assertions, which he argued prove that he is the best friend Israel has ever had and therefore can be trusted to ensure its survival.
First, Obama asserted that military cooperation between Israel and the US has grown to unprecedented levels under his leadership. Second he claimed that his administration has served as Israel's stalwart defender in the UN and generally when it comes to the Palestinian issue. Finally, he argued that he can be trusted to defend Israel from a nuclear armed Iran because of the sanctions that have been imposed on Iran by the US and the international community since he entered office.
The alleged expansion of US-Israel military cooperation under Obama's watch has served as a regular talking point for Obama administration officials. The claim is convenient because it is based on classified information unavailable to the general public. You and I have no way of knowing if it is true.
But what we do know is that under Obama's leadership, senior US military and defense officials have made repeated statements that are openly hostile to Israel. Then defense secretary Robert Gates called Israel "an ungrateful ally." Current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta demanded that Israel "get back to the damned table" with the Palestinians. General Dempsey and his predecessor Michael Mullen have spoken disparagingly of Israel and its military capabilities and so, at a minimum gave comfort to its enemies.
Aside from these rather uncooperative comments, under Obama the US has adopted policies and taken actions that have endangered Israel militarily on all fronts and in fundamental ways. With Obama at the helm the US not only stood back and allowed Hezbollah and Iran to take over Lebanon. The US has continued to supply the Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese military with sophisticated US arms.
Under Obama, the US intervened in Egypt's internal politics to empower the Muslim Brotherhood and overthrow Hosni Mubarak. The transformation of Israel's border with Egypt from a peaceful border to a hostile one is the direct consequence of the US-supported overthrow of Mubarak and the US-supported rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists. These are indisputable facts. Their military repercussions are enormous and entirely negative.
Then there is Syria. For more than six months, Obama effectively sided with Bashar Assad against his own people who rose up against him. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Assad a reformer. Now, as Assad butchers his people by the thousands, the US has still failed to send even humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. Almost unbelievably, Clinton said that Assad would have to agree to any US assistance to the people who seek his overthrow.
There have been reports that the US has warned Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia about the possibility that Assad's ballistic missiles and chemical and biological arsenals may be transferred to terrorists. Such a prospect constitutes a clear and present danger to US national security - as well as Israel's national security. Indeed, the threat of proliferation of WMD is so dangerous that the administration could be expected to take preemptive steps to destroy or commandeer those arsenals. Certainly it could be expected to support an Israeli operation to do so. But according to reports, Obama has sufficed with empty warnings to the Arabs - not Israel - that this could perhaps be a problem.
By failing to act against Assad, the Obama administration is effectively acting as the guardian of Iran's most important regional ally. That is, far from enhancing Israel's military posture, Obama's behavior towards Syria is enhancing Iran's military posture. He is acting in a manner one would expect Iran's ally to behave, not in the manner that one would expect Israel's ally to behave.
As to Iran, while Obama touts the new anti-Iran sanctions that have been imposed since he took office as proof that he can be trusted to take action against Iran, the fact is that Obama has been forced to implement sanctions against his will by the US Congress and Europe. So too, Obama still refuses to implement the sanctions against Iran's Central Bank that Congress passed against his strong objections earlier in the year. As with the case of Syria - and Hezbollah in Lebanon - on the issue of sanctions, Obama's behavior has served to help rather than hinder Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
Beyond Israel's immediate borders, and beyond Iran, Obama's behavior towards Turkey has had a destructive impact on Israel's military position and strategic posture. Obama has said that Turkey's Islamist, anti-Semitic Prime Minister Recip Erdogan is one of the five foreign leaders he is closest to. He reportedly speaks to Erdogan at least once a week. The Turkish leader is the Middle Eastern leader that Obama trusts the most.
Erdogan gained Obama's trust at the same time that he ended his country's strategic alliance with Israel and began directly funding the Hamas terrorist organization and providing aid and comfort to Hamas by seeking to end Israel's lawful maritime blockade of Gaza's coastline.
What is notable about Obama's relationship with NATO member Turkey is that he has not used his relationship with Erdogan to influence Erdogan's behavior. Instead he has rewarded Erdogan's behavior.
Obama's self-congratulatory statements about US assistance to the development of Israel's missile defense systems ring depressingly hollow for two main reasons. First, the military cooperation agreement between Israel and the US for the development of the Iron Dome anti-mortar and rocket shield was concluded and financed under President George W. Bush due to the peripatetic actions of Senator Mark Kirk. Obama inherited the program. And in his 2012 budget, Obama reduced US funding of the project.
The second reason his statements ring hollow is because his actions as President have increased Israel's need to defend itself from Palestinian mortars and rockets from Gaza. Obama has empowered the Palestinians to attack Israel at will and pressured Israel to take no offensive steps to reduce the Palestinians' ability to attack it.
This brings us to Obama's statements about his support for Israel at the UN and towards the Palestinians. The fact is that it is Obama's hostile position towards Israel that fuelled the Palestinians' rejection of negotiations with Israel. As Mahmoud Abbas told the Washington Post's Jackson Diehl, Obama's demand for a Jewish building freeze convinced him that he has no reason to hold talks with Israel.
Then there is his "support" for Israel at the UN. The fact is that the Palestinians only sought a UN Security Council resolution condemning Jewish construction in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria because Obama made them think that he would support it. It was Obama after all who called Israeli settlements "illegitimate," and demanded an abrogation of Jewish building rights outside the armistice lines.
The same is the case with the Palestinian decision to have the UN accept "Palestine" as a member. In his September 2010 address to the UN General Assembly Obama called for the establishment of a Palestinian state within a year. It was his statement that made the Palestinians think the US would back their decision to abandon negotiations with Israel and turn their cause over to the UN.
So in both cases where Obama was compelled to defend Israel at the UN, Obama created the crisis that Israel was them compelled to beg him to defuse. And in both cases, he made Israel pay dearly for his protection.
The fact is that Obama's actions and his words have made clear that Israel cannot trust him, not on Iran and not on anything. The only thing that has been consistent about his Israel policy has been its hostility. As a consequence, the only messages emanating from his administration we can trust are those telling us that if Obama is reelected, he will no longer feel constrained to hide his hatred for Israel.
What these messages make clear is that if our leaders are too weak to stand up to Obama today, we will pay a steep price for their cowardice if he wins the elections in November.
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Thank you for your patience in reviewing this speech. I'm not going to sit through it myself. I can't even bring myself to read the transcripts.
We will in any case pay a steep price if Obama wins the elections in November.
Much less steep, though, than if Israel fails to act timely and decisively.
It's a choice between the bad and the worse, and unfortunately that's always the toughest choice for leaders in the habit of pandering to electoral factions.
Never in the political history of the United States have Jews had to fear for their existence as they do with Obama in the White House. There is no hidden agenda. His animosity towards Jews and especially towards the Jewish state is obvious with every utterance both Obama and his minions make and that does include his Court Jews. Caroline, you've summed it up well, "What these messages make clear is that if our leaders are too weak to stand up to Obama today, we will pay a steep price for their cowardice if he wins the elections in November."
President Obama reminded P.M. Netanyahu that the United States always has Israel's back and the whip is always close by.
"The vassal's (assimilated Jews) here on the Plantation always applaud my speeches and ignore my actions,they know who is in charge and how it done,or else."
He underscored the master vs. slave bond between the U.S and Israel reminding reporters how it was the U.S. which came to Hezbollah and Hamas' rescue both times when the IDF was closing in and how well the U.S. peace process has worked to weaken Israel and strengthen their enemies.
We have been quite successful in keeping our Jewish slaves restrained and their enemies growing stronger and this will bring about our agenda of a Global Caliphate, oops,excuse me I meant Global Government.
He also reminded Israel's P.M. how it was he who brought down Mubarak and helped install the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as well as in Libya.
The Jewish voters here in the U.S. are wise enough to give me another four years especially after my AIPAC speech.
Israel has been and always will be my whipping boy,nothing's going to change that until we've brought about Yasser Arafat's peace of the grave he said in closing.
twelve minutes...
US: don't worry PM, I have your back.
Israel: but we only have twelve minutes
US: plenty of time, none to worry. twelve minutes, it will only take 1 minute for the sanctions to work.
Israel: it is now ten minutes to impact!
US: yes, yes, we have your back.
Israel: sound the alarm it is eight minutes to destruction of our country...
US: we are watching, I just wrote Iran another message asking for a diplomatic solution.
Israel: but it is not only 3 minutes...
US: ready to launch on my mark
Israel: I guess you do have our back...it is less than a minute, please launch.
US: now where did I put those launch codes?
boom!
US: here Joe, wipe this knife off. I told them I had his back...he just didn't understand what I meant, exactly.
First the Jews in Israel, next the Jews in the U.S.
If there is some way (any way) to awaken U.S. Jews to the enemy within, it would be a game changer for the presidential election.
I believe most of them have turned you off.
How will we get their attention in time?
Excellent article Caroline on Obama! I’ve copied, pasted and saved it for future reference if you don’t mind. Also, please allow me to comment on a couple of comments posted so far and then to make my short point at the end.
Paul, you really should educate yourself on Obama’s speech for there’s a saying in Hebrew that “one should know his enemies.”
Naomi, the Israeli Jews do not fear for their existence with Obama nor with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in office for HaShem will protect us. There is a Hebrew law that states one is not to put oneself in danger. We as Jews are commanded by HaShem to live in Israel not New York. So, I don’t fear living in Israel as I would fearing living in New York.
Marcel, you have claimed in Jpost talk backs that you are not Jewish but rather an xian who is against Israel for you claim that Israel is worshiping America as an idol. Now, you’re presenting Israel as a slave next to his master (America’s President Obama). If you are so supportive of Israel, then why not give some encouragement to us Israelis and if you are so against America, then why do you keep giving your hard earned money to support Obama’s attempts to destroy us?
IMO, this whole ME conflict is a religious war, not one of real-estate. Obama was raised as a Muslim and later changed to xian both of which were founded on the destruction of Jews. Obama bowed down to Islamic financier Saudi King Abdullah and publically shunned and berated Bibi Netanyahu. Many of Obama’s actions against Israel Caroline has explained very well and all of his words today in praise of Israel are only for re-election so that he will be able to continue his efforts against Israel. Like the Muslim Brotherhood of whom Obama supports, he wants to destroy Israel and it is not for political gain but rather he believes like a Muslim that all infidels should be killed. Bibi, who is not of the religious strength of his ancient predecessors of whom he claims to have one of their ancient rings with his name on it, is not looking to HaShem as his predecessors did for directions and support but rather Bibi is pandering to/for/with this Muslim annihilator. Only no good can/will become of this as we all can see. We need to get back to our roots as Jews and throw all of these “klipot” that we have piled on us in this world of materialism.
Many times I have wondered who's President he actually was. This because he seems to do nothing but harm US interests and US allies, while empowering every enemy he can find.
If Israel believes him, if Americans believe him the price will become unavoidable. Why do I see him smiling in my mind's eye? And why do I believe it is an accurate visualization?
Because it is.
He is evil and so are his friends and associates. The truth is he and they have an agenda of world change and it is a world where Israel does not exist. A blind man can see this but apparently our medias cannot. I know that they have chosen their sides and courses of action and that they are committed to them and so they will not serve the truth because it is their enemy also. They are the enemy because they will not tell the truth, even though they know those truths and the costs involved.
America is very starkly divided into the Progressives who care only about re-electing Obama and championing the Palestinians on the one hand and the Conservatives who stand solidly behind Israel and our whole civilisation against the Iranina nuclear threat on the other. It's one of the saddest and most worrying historical phenomena that most US Jews continue to belong to the first camp.
We as Jews are commanded by HaShem to not live like the sodomites and perverse pagans which surround us and Israel has disobeyed Him even going so far as to attack those Jews obedient to His command to rebuild Zion, drive them off their land and tear down their homes and we are always rewarding our evil enemies because the Super idol we serve commands us to do so.
So, I do fear living in Israel as I would fearing living in New York.
Jeremiah 17:5
Caroline, you are SPOT ON!!
Thank you!
Hmmm... links working??
http://occupywhitehousevideos.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/prompter-dent-obama-at-2012-aipac-policy-conference/
Bibi really has no choice. Israel is unlikely to survive a second Obama term. Pull the trigger before its too late.
Bibi's address at AIPAC was masterful, IMO. It's on the NRO frontpage right now. BTW Caroline, this is the first time I've posted a comment but I am a long-time admirer. Keep your family safe.
Don't post this. I did not realize you were moderating the comments (doh). Feel free to edit the last one. I would remove the final sentence ...
Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,
The President of the United States is almost completely unable to understand and appreciate the reality you face in the land of Israel. Please feel free to ignore most of what he says (like we do here in Texas, and as do all of our enemies and yours). Get this: he actually believes that the U.S. prevents rockets from coming in and landing in any towns in Israel. His inability to guard anyone's liberty is heart-warming to our enemies.
Obama's actions scream, "I'm a Muslim," as do many of his previous speeches...
Looking at Obama's photo at the top of this article a speech balloon came unbidden into my mind
"...and let there be no misunderstanding about this,my willy is that big."
If Bibi believes Obama when he says he has Israel's back, I have a bridge to sell him. If Israel decided to take no action against Iran and then called on Obama to fulfill his promise, he'd say "We didn't know all the facts when we made our promise, and now that we do we can't fulfill that promise. So goodbye, Israel, and good luck."
Regarding Netanyahu giving the Megillah of Esther to President Obama, I worry that Netanyahu is overlooking that Esther caused a demonstration of Jewish unity by requesting the three days of fasting and praying.
What is wrong with the Jews in this country? When Blinken made such a vile black-mailing threat...why did they not all rise as one and walk out?! What has Obama done for Jews OR Israel in his first (and hopefully last) term? How much worse can he make it? It is finally time for us to realize we are NOT in the shtetl anymore! He needs our votes from big states like FL, PE, OH, etc. more than we need him! Show some backbone & stop taking this crap. We can't let the Israelis be the only brave Jews. Does the term "never again" not mean anything anymore? Do people understand that we Jews are being beaten & vilified on university campuses? And as Jews, not just Israelis. DO SOMETHING! Step away from the computer & come help defend our people & Israel at a hate Israel demonstration. You will hear such hatred of Jews you will think it's the 1930s...and it is, all over again!
It's hard to trust a benefactor who tried to live up to billing as an honest broker for peace and failed both because neither side was actually willing and the issue he championed, (a Settlement freeze), was the wrong issue, and clearly the wrong way forward. Obama is learning as the world is changing. There has been an Arab Spring and now what many consider to be an Arab Winter with extremists winning elections and power across the Middle East and beyond. Obama has used power directly, indirectly and through a screen of military sensors in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and other locations. He has become more involved in the war of UAV's than his predecessor. Does he have Israel's back? Will he follow through if Iran continues and Israel does not take unilateral action. I don't know. I believe it is in US strategic interests for Iran not to get the bomb but......
if israel is crazy enough to wait until "talks with iran" have been exhausted or obama attacks iran-6,000,000 more jews will be incinerated.
the purpose of jews having nukes is to use them when those who call for the annihilation of jews are moments away from employing nuclear weapons. nuke iran's nuclear facilities now!!!!!
Brad Armentrout Wrote:
Iran is the nexus of troubles in the Middle East, with Syria a willing ally. Background:
• Since 1979 Iran has been an implacable foe of the United States. Their version of Islam instructs that the Mahdi will return after the world has fallen into a chaotic state. Iran’s government made a movie to teach the world about their role in bringing back the Mahdi. Neutralization of the current Iranian regime is the world’s best hope of avoiding nuclear attacks on Iran’s neighbours, and on the United States.
• Syria is Iran’s only close ally. Syria’s Assad collaborated with Iran funnelling weapons and men into Iraq to kill American soldiers. Syria is the conduit of fighters and weapons into Lebanon to fire rockets into civilian areas in Israel.
Development of potent SCUD delivery systems and nuclear weapons by these regimes makes this is a question of what the United States must do it we would continue to exist, not what we would prefer to do if the world was perfect with peace breaking out everywhere. That is what puts such importance to our steps in the Middle East.
The correct lesson to illustrate is to show that opposing the United States brings certain and final retribution, a la Saddam. The worst lesson we could give in the Middle East is to show weakness in the face of those who oppose us (to include Iran and Syria).
Obama ignored a God-given opportunity in the Iranian uprising in 2009 and allowed its leaders to murder its people.
In Egypt Obama called early for the overthrow of ‘our’ ‘friendly’ dictator, Mubarak.
In Libya Obama chose inaction until well past the critical moment, demanded a UN resolution that took weeks and allowed our opponent to make huge military gains, finally started a fight under a UN imprimatur that hobbled our actual war goals, then after one week demanded our allies carry the load while we withdrew to a ‘support’ role. Observers would recognize irresolution and fecklessness, and conclude that for dictators who wish to stay in power, the right choice is to use military force against their people early and often.
Neutralization of the Syrian regime takes away Iran’s best ally and weakens Iran.
To those who prefer the enemy you know: When it comes to Iran, or Syria, since those evil regimes cannot last forever, why fear learning what must come next? Can these amazingly brave souls in the streets really install and support worse leaders than the implacable enemies we have who are working to develop nuclear weapons?
For any other president in United States History, taking down these hostile regimes would be on a ‘To Do’ list on Inauguration Day.
Obama’s foreign policy can be summarized as follows: America’s enemies have legitimate grievances and deserve to be treated as equals, while America’s friends and allies are partners in America’s historic injustices and deserve punishment.
Obama’s domestic policy: spend so much money that America is brought to the very brink of bankruptcy, thus denying America the means to influence world events in the future.
Obama does nothing as Iran develops nuclear weapons, fights tooth and nail against sanctions on Iran, then tries to take credit for the sanctions that aren't working.
I certainly hope Jan 20 2013 brings a new President in an America yet untouched by Iranian nuclear weapons. If so, it will be only by the grace of God.
After Obama's speech to AIPAC, I did not read or hear of any comment anywhere from any imam, any leader of a muslim country, any US muslim organization, or any world leaders who send money to the Palestinians or who prefer to do business with Iran.
Why is that? So much love for Isreal by Obama and how he has your back and all, one would think muslims would be very unhappy...
Great article Caroline. I'm hoping the American Jews open their eyes before it is too late.
Obama can call himself a "Christian" all he wants but the Bible says, you will know the true believer by their fruit.
It is the evangelical, washed in the blood of Jesus, dispensational follower of Christ that Israel can trust. We truly have your back!
We believe in the literal interpretation of scripture and fully subscribe to Genesis 12:3. "Those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed"
We are praying for Benjamin Netanyahu and the nation of Israel. May G_d continue to bless and protect you.
You have to be aware at some level that these interpretations (not facts) are stretches that don't have much traction beyond the Faux News crowd. Its all well and good to campaign for the candidate for president of your choice (even stretching the truth a bit in that cause), but linking Israel's security to this should give anyone pause, at least. This business of using Israel as a wedge issue in the US culture wars, and the attempt to herd American Jews into the far right, is directly opposed to Israel's best interests. Israel's interests dictate that Israel not be perceived as picking sides in the US culture wars. Talk to any AIPAC official. Making Israel's security an instrument of the far right just succeeds in making enemies of Israel in the rest of the population. Israel can't afford that. Please listen to what AIPAC is telling you. Don't make political enemies for Israel. If you have problems with Obama, fine, but don't drag Israel into it.
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