Last night on 60 Minutes, President Obama said, "When it comes to our national security decisions—any pressure that I feel is simply to do what's right for the American people. And I am going to block out—any noise that's out there." What "noise" was he referring to? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's growing concern that America isn't truly backing his country in the effort to stop Iran from becoming nuclear.
Obama's comments follow his shameful behavior towards Israel and Netanyahu lately, specifically the White House claiming the president was unable to meet with the prime minister during the UN General Assembly in New York because of "scheduling problems." Not surprising, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed with Obama in the apparent insignificance of the matter. "We, generally speaking, do not take very seriously the issue of the Zionists and the possible dangers emanating from them." He went on to say he didn't believe anything significant would happen in the nuclear talks until after the election.
The dictator's comments are generally expected because of his over-inflated ego, but certainly it's been boosted after seeing the president's disregard for Netanyahu and Israel, again. So boosted, in fact, that he thinks America is on his side. David Ignatius, who interviewed Ahmadinejad, wrote, "I had the sense that he genuinely believes the world is going Iran's way. He sees an America that is facing reversals across the Muslim world — in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and most recently, in dealing with the Arab uprisings." The reason he says everything is on hold until after the election? He implied that President Obama is slowing negotiations because it would be embarrassing for him to make certain concessions before the election. He also feels America is changing its mind about Israel, while saying he believes Americans are "peace-loving people." Peace-loving, yes, but also overwhelmingly in support of Israel, even if the president isn't.
Obama's message for Israel is coming through loud and clear. The nice words on 60 Minutes..."Now I feel an obligation, not pressure but obligation, to make sure that we're in close consultation with the Israelis—on these issues," mean nothing without action behind them. Instead, the action Obama took was to make time for Jay-Z, TV talk shows, campaigning and more which equal a big "you're on your own" to the people of Israel. Mitt Romney, who was also interviewed for 60 Minutes, summed up the situation perfectly. He said the decision not to meet with Netanyahu "is a mistake and sends a message throughout the Middle East that somehow we distance ourselves from our friends and I think the exact opposite approach is what's necessary."
Photo Credit: David Shankbone
© Margie Wilson-Mars 2012
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Comments: 32
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who heads the missile command for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards just said, “In circumstances in which [the Israelis] have prepared everything for an attack, it is possible that we will make a preemptive attack.†He continued to say that “Iran would also attack US bases in the region, saying that the ensuing military engagement would “turn into World War III.â€
Seems like a great time for Obama to dis the Prime Minister of Israel for David Letterman. The world has gone mad.
I disagree with you, Big Nana...
I do not like what Obama is doing "against" Israel, however, I do understand (a little) why he is doing nothing... just because if he tries, Iran may react with Syria and strangle Israel...
huh????????
Netanyahu has been beating the drums of war for a long time. By deliberately choosing to not meet with him, and citing a "scheduling conflict", Obama is giving him a firm message. That message?
"America is your friend, your ally, your patron... not your servant! We will not be goaded into joining Israel in an attack on Iran just because that's what you want. America stands ready to defend Israel, not to join in an unnecessary war of choice."
"America is your friend, your ally, your patron... not your servant! We will not be goaded into joining Israel in an attack on Iran just because that's what you want. America stands ready to defend Israel, not to join in an unnecessary war of choice."
Actually, the message being sent is Obama's priorities are quite skewed ... the message being sent is that he is unwilling to talk face to face once again, with proven allies on the world stage but is in general more than willing to blow them off  (Israel in particular) in favor (for instance) of recording an interview with "Pimp the Limp" (a "big time" radio talk show host out of Florida), scampering off to Vegas to support his own campaign fund-raising efforts (even though he had just learned of the murder of our Ambassador), or to meet again with the Ladies on the View. Â
Then again if, like you and Rory, one agrees with his priorities, it will seem as if there is no problem. Â A difference of opinion, worldview, and perspective. Â
However, it's more than obvious that at least one player on the world stage is getting and agreeing with the same message whether it's just opinion and optics or not (or is Obama is getting and agreeing with the message from Ahmadinejad?)...
Ahmadinajad, in response to a direct question about Israel, in an interview September 9, 2012 with David Ignatius of the Washington Post,
Obama in an interview September 23, 2012 (Transcript provided by the Weekly Standard), in response to a specific question about P.M. Netanyahu-R. F. you quoted me:
the message being sent is that he is unwilling to talk face to face once again, with proven allies on the world stage but is in general more than willing to blow them off
Then you responded to me this way: Yes, that is the message the right is getting. I don't think anyone would dispute that. They're getting that message because it's a convenient message for them to get. Plays right into the Romney campaign. That doesn't mean it's the message being sent or being received by others.
He is the public face of Iran and what I do or don't know about his actual status in Iran is probably comparable to what you profess to know.
However, in the context of Obama's commet about "noise" and my comments in regard to that, Ahmadinnawhatever's status in Iran is irrelevant (except to someone who would rather try to impune a Conservative's knowledge than face an actual Obama revelation of his own worldview).. The fact that Obama chooses to parrot his words and attitudes is not so irrelevant to an observant electorate or to the interests of the US as a whole and Israel in particular. +sigh+
His statement quoted above makes no reference to Obama's statements or actions and is not substantially different in tone or wording to anything he has said in the past. So if Iran is feeling emboldened by Obama's refusal to meet with Netanyahu it is not readily evident in his statement.
Netanyahu has been the author of tensions in the relationship with Obama more than the reverse is true. If any other leader of a foreign country were to show the kind of disrespect that Netanyahu has at times over the past three years Americans would expect their president to rebuke him, at least, with a diplomatic cold shoulder, which is what Obama has done. If any other POTUS had acted as Obama has, the right wing would not object.
But because its Obama the right wing has created a narrative in which it is some kind of Muslim plot against Israel. And because of the right wing's apocalyptic projections for the role of Israel in the rapture they are all jonesing for they are encouraging Netanyahu's warlike posture.
That is reason enough for Obama to give him the cold shoulder. Also, he cannot seriously damage the enrichment plants without our help, and is frustrated that Obama is resisting the cries of the military-industrial people to start yet another war. Listen to Bolton et al.
But its Israel, whom the right wing has decided is important to them in a Biblical context, and it is Obama, whom the right wing claims is not even an American, not eligible to hold the office of the president, and is not white.
The Tea Party: putting the "repugnant" in Republican since 2009!
Then Hilly and Obama spend 70 thousand on running an ad, saying that the US government did not have anything to do with this video... What are they thinking? If these attacks had nothing to do with this video( the video was used as an excuse) where was the necessity to waste the taxpayers money?
Then you have him going around on his apology tours saying, that the US is sorry to these countries... sorry, for what? Killing Saddam, the taxpayers should be happy that the Oil for Food Scandal was found out about... Oddie and Cootie along with many others monsters was taken out of commission... The torture, killings, rapes, chemical weapons that the Bathe' party and Saddam did was now over with... The first time these people were allowed to vote... THey didnt have to worry about their little girls being raped and tortured or thrown to the dogs to eat anymore... They didnt have to worry about their husbands being drug from their beds in the middle of the night, to be executed and thrown into mass graves...
I saw the coverage where some Iraqi people from the US who had family in Iraq asked Congress for help to rid that country of a murderous monster... BUT yet, there are those among us who feel that these people didnt deserve our attention, our military to intervene over there... We have become a country that wants to take the easy way out and just ignore the crimes committed against humanity... Sometimes, whether we like it or not we have to stand up and make our presence known... .
If Al Gore had listened to Oliver North, when North had to go before Congress on the Iran Contra Scandal, when North tried to warn Gore about an up and coming young terrorist, by the name of Osama Bin Laden, if Clinton had taken this monster into custody when he was offered to the US, then gee, many American lives might of been saved and there might not of been a 9/11. A war in Afghanistan and maybe not a war in Iraq either...
We need to stand by Israel or History may repeat itself and I dont blame Israel one bit for being cautious and trying to protect itself and its citizens... Israel has every right to exist... They are surrounded by countries who hate them... About like many of these countries hate us, but yet we still support them.. We give money to countries for what protection? Thats a good one...