Obama and Israel

[Gunny]

New York Sun Editorial
January 9, 2008

New York Republicans, according to an article in the New York Post yesterday, are preparing to attack Senator Obama for his supposed lack of support for Israel. "Obama's commitment to Israel is open to question, and that would help us with Jews," the Post quotes a "prominent New York Republican" as saying. We're no shills for Mr. Obama, but these Republicans haven't checked their facts. At least by our lights, Mr. Obama's commitment to Israel, as he has articulated it so far in his campaign, is quite moving and a tribute to the broad, bipartisan support that the Jewish state has in America.

In remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Chicago in March, Mr. Obama spoke about his first visit to Israel, in January 2006. "I flew on an IDF helicopter to the border zone. The helicopter took us over the most troubled and dangerous areas and that narrow strip between the West Bank and the Mediterranean Sea. At that height, I could see the hills and the terrain that generations have walked across. I could truly see how close everything is and why peace through security is the only way for Israel," Mr. Obama said, sounding like a certain governor of Texas recounting the helicopter tour he got as a presidential candidate from a future prime minister named Ariel Sharon.

Mr. Obama spoke of "a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy." Quoth he: "That will always be my starting point." Mr. Obama spoke of the threat of Iran. "President Ahmadinejad has denied the Holocaust. He held a conference in his country, claiming it was a myth. But we know the Holocaust was as real as the 6 million who died in mass graves at Buchenwald, or the cattle cars to Dachau or whose ashes clouded the sky at Auschwitz. We have seen the pictures. We have walked the halls of the Holocaust museum in Washington and Yad Vashem. We have touched the tattoos on loved-ones arms. After 60 years, it is time to deny the deniers," he said.

Mr. Obama went further, stating: "In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that a member state of the United Nations would openly call for the elimination of another member state. But that is exactly what he has done. Neither Israel nor the United States has the luxury of dismissing these outrages as mere rhetoric." Mr. Obama added: "We must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs. This would help Israel maintain its military edge and deter and repel attacks from as far as Tehran and as close as Gaza."

He took Israel's side against those who would fault it for its actions in Lebanon in the Summer of 2006. "When Israel is attacked, we must stand up for Israel's legitimate right to defend itself," Mr. Obama said. "Last summer, Hezbollah attacked Israel. By using Lebanon as an outpost for terrorism, and innocent people as shields, Hezbollah has also engulfed that entire nation in violence and conflict, and threatened the fledgling movement for democracy there."

And Mr. Obama rejected the idea, put forth by Israel's false friends, that America does Israel any favors by exerting pressure in the name of peace. "We should never seek to dictate what is best for the Israelis and their security interests. No Israeli Prime Minister should ever feel dragged to or blocked from the negotiating table by the United States," Mr. Obama said. "When I am president, the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel," Mr. Obama told the National Jewish Democratic Council in February of 2007.

http://www2.nysun.com/article/69154

At least he's got his head and ass wired right on one topic.

 

[jillian]

At least he's got his head and ass wired right on one topic.

Hate to say "I told you so". But I told you so.

Just goes to show he doesn't think like his buddy rev wright (who said something about "state sponsored terrorism" in regard to Israel) ... so the right should stop being hysterical on the subject of whether Wright reflects Obama's views. Obama also made a similar supportive statement about Israel in his speech on race in the U.S.

 

[Swamp Fox]

Time will tell, still don't trust him on a myriad of other issues.

 

[Gunny]

Hate to say "I told you so". But I told you so.

Just goes to show he doesn't think like his buddy rev wright (who said something about "state sponsored terrorism" in regard to Israel) ... so the right should stop being hysterical on the subject of whether Wright reflects Obama's views. Obama also made a similar supportive statement about Israel in his speech on race in the U.S.

Nice try but no cigar. I have not once stated that Obama believed everything Wright does, exactly as he does, so there is no "I told you so," to it.

I HAVE stated that Obama attending Wright's church does not necessarily mean he embraces each and evey one of Wright's viewpoints.

That in no way negates the fact that when one attends a church for over 20 years, one generally believes in a majority of that church's views as expressed by its pastor. THAT is what church is about. Belief. If you don't believe the message, you don't go to that church. Really simple math there.

That makes the relationship between Wright and Obama STILL a valid concern. I want to know what issues he DOES agree with Wright on -- what ideals of Wright's he DOES embrace, and I'm not going to be satisfied until I get answers.

You on the left who continue to deflect saying it's not an issue, crying racism, or that it's some right wing conspiracy only do yourselves and Obama a disservice by using such lame copouts as your sole arguments.

 

[jakbo]

I don't understand why people care if we (the US) supports Israel, or not. The Israeli state represents a brutal occupation and oppression of Palestine. Hell, the Israelis have absolutely no right to be in Palestine at all! In fact, I'm of the opinion that we should focus our efforts on forcing the Israelis to get out of Palestine altogether.

It's embarrassing, to me, that we actually support this sort of tyranny.