President Obama made an impressive case today at AIPAC. He defended American policy toward Israel and Palestinian statehood more effectively than I have ever heard an American president do. I say this as someone who believes that we suffer from inability to say straight that there is a deep flaw in Israeli democracy - the 45 year occupation of the west bank.
In an ideal world Jews and Palestinians would have a unified state with equal rights for all, and a firm commitment to mutual respect. But neither people seems able to do what Tony Judt believed to be the only wise course. Side by side is the best we can achieve now, as Obama said today, linking the Israelis, Americans and Palestinians through a common belief in self-determination.
And he stood up to the hawks today, describing as "loose talk" the drumbeat for war with Iran by the Israeli lobby, the Republican presidential candidates, and "serious" people. - GWC
In an ideal world Jews and Palestinians would have a unified state with equal rights for all, and a firm commitment to mutual respect. But neither people seems able to do what Tony Judt believed to be the only wise course. Side by side is the best we can achieve now, as Obama said today, linking the Israelis, Americans and Palestinians through a common belief in self-determination.
And he stood up to the hawks today, describing as "loose talk" the drumbeat for war with Iran by the Israeli lobby, the Republican presidential candidates, and "serious" people. - GWC
"Iran's leaders should understand that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And as I have made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.
Moving forward, I would ask that we all remember the weightiness of these issues, the stakes involved for Israel, for America, and for the world. Already, there is too much loose talk of war. Over the last few weeks, such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil, which they depend on to fund their nuclear program. For the sake of Israel's security, America's security and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster. Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in and to sustain the broad international coalition we have built. Now is the time to heed the timeless advice from Teddy Roosevelt: Speak softly; carry a big stick. And as we do, rest assured that the Iranian government will know our resolve and that our coordination with Israel will continue."'via Blog this'
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