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zorroloco 16-Sep-12, 18:28	israel-us relations in spite of what the right, and its gk spokesman softaire, tells us, us-israeli relations are quite good under obama. this is what ehud barak, the israeli defense minister said: Ehud Barak sings praises of Obama administration CNN's Dana Davidsen (CNN) – Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak said the Obama White House has been the most supportive administration throughout the two countries' diplomatic relations on matters of Israeli security, in an interview to air Monday on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." Barak -also a former prime minister of Israel - said that though historically administrations from both political parties have supported the Jewish state President Obama's support, security-wise, is unparalleled. "I think that from my point of view as defense minister they are extremely good, extremely deep and profound. I can see long years, um, administrations of both sides of political aisle deeply supporting the state of Israeli and I believe that reflects a profound feeling among the American people," said Barak. "But I should tell you honestly that this administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past." Asked by Blitzer if the president has been more supportive than previous administrations' Barak said, "In terms of the support for our security, the cooperation of our intelligence, the sharing of sorts in a very open way even when there are differences which are not simple sometimes, I've found their support for our defense very stable." Pressed if the Obama administration has been the most supportive ever, throughout history of U.S.-Israeli relations, Barak affirmed, saying that from his recollection of President Carter forward - "the defense relation between Israel and the United States are extremely stable and good."
shamash 16-Sep-12, 19:10	Barak on Barak Last summer -- May 2011 -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak cited the notion of a general return to 1967 borders -- delivered as shock therapy by U.S. President Barak Obama in a landmark, policy-setting speech -- as "setting the stage to stigmatize Israel as an apartheid South Africa leading to eventual sanctions" by the UN and internationally.
zorroloco 16-Sep-12, 19:12	but a few weeks ago he said, "I think that from my point of view as defense minister they are extremely good," and, "But I should tell you honestly that this administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past.
shamash 16-Sep-12, 19:59	well of course, and that must have been right after Romney's trip to Israel when Barak picked up the White House telephone and in the same spirit in which he'd reasoned with Putin to let him off easy till after the November election, Barak the elected President must have said to Barak the appointed Defense Minister, <<"He'p me now, he'p me now, help me help you, I hafta get re-elected, ">> and then Hillary, standing by from wherever she was deployed, got on the line and said, "Mr. Minister, the President needs to know what will be required after January 20th for your support Now. . . "
chaz5 16-Sep-12, 20:24	... some presumption there.
shamash 16-Sep-12, 21:00	hello? We Are talking about the U.S. President who has refused to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel during his upcoming visit to the United States.
chaz5 16-Sep-12, 21:03	Shamash ... ... so far, that's been denied by both Israel and the Obama administration ... what gives?
shamash 16-Sep-12, 21:21	mmm-hmmm Backpedaling after the fact with a face-saving excuse there is a schedule conflict on Obama's schedule and that is why the Administration turned down Netanyahu's request to meet in 2 weeks when he speaks at the United Nations in New York -- that is hardly a denial.
chaz5 16-Sep-12, 21:35	... but neither were even scheduled there on the same day. Until I hear something more substantive that suppositions, I guess I do not have an opinion.
brigadecommander 16-Sep-12, 21:47	whats the point?? Do you guys have some information that i don't have? I sense an undercurrent of Hostility here toward The American President. I have heard nothing about this save some Ideological grumbling. I have family at the state Dept, and Friends in Israel and have heard nothing. If someone has 'facts' to share, please enlighten me. And please let it be facts and not Ideology. These innuendos don't cut it.
chaz5 16-Sep-12, 21:52	... hostility? I'm not being hostile ... I've just been asking questions or seeking clarification.
shamash 16-Sep-12, 21:53	Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 09/10/2012 Q Will the President meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu when the Prime Minister is at the U.N. General Assembly towards the end of September? MR. CARNEY: I don’t have scheduling updates this far in advance for you. www.whitehouse.gov
chaz5 16-Sep-12, 21:54	Shamash ... ... but the ambiguities were later clarified by both the White House and by Israel. Again, what am I missing here?
shamash 16-Sep-12, 22:08	accolades for the President, rewards & punishment for the Prime Minister The irony here is that I fully believe that after Bush let Lehman Brothers collapse -- an event I remember as if it were yesterday, I was stunned and told colleagues to expect the worst -- I fully believe that it was the gutsy, creative leadership of President Obama that saved the American economy from a disaster that would have spiraled out of control, with the ruin spreading at a rate of acceleration faster than the ability of a Republican Administration under John McCain to contain it. This is based on extensive conversations with an economist once-upon-a-time in charge of leading an Administration's war on a runaway economy. As for what you call clarification, chaz -- I call it obfuscation. But that's part of the political game -- snubbing even an ally if he shows the slightest signs of disloyalty, or public, negative criticism -- as has Netanyahu. And that gets you ostracized. Even if at the last minute the US President may deign to receive him.
brigadecommander 16-Sep-12, 22:26	yes please clarify!! what is the point??. That way we can discuss it. If it is being suggested that The President somehow 'snubbed' the Prime Minister then say it. America has been snubbed before also. I can remember when The Israeli prime ministers Brother went on FOXNEWS(UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED) and said, and i quote'Obama' is 'anti Semitic. {Mr Ben-Artzi was responding to US criticism of Israeli approval of plans for 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem. Later, Mr Obama said the decision had not been helpful to the peace process. But despite the disagreement, he told Fox News that there was no crisis in US-Israeli relations and that the two countries had a special bond that was not going to go away. "Friends are going to disagree sometimes," he added. On Sunday, a top aide to Mr Obama called Israel's announcement "calculated", "destructive" to peace efforts and an "insult" to the US. Both sides had just agreed to hold indirect "proximity talks" to revive the peace process, which has been stalled for more than a year. In an interview with Israel Army Radio, Mr Ben-Artzi said his brother-in-law should learn from previous Israeli prime ministers. "Once the Americans tried to intervene in anything related to Jerusalem we told them one simple word: 'No'," he explained. Mr Obama, he added, not only disliked Mr Netanyahu personally, but "dislikes the people of Israel". "For 20 years, Obama sat with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who is anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli, and anti-Jewish." He said it was clear Mr Obama agreed with Rev Wright because he had remained a member of his congregation. "Think about it. If you had heard of someone who for 20 years sat in church and heard anti-Semitic sermons and didn't get up to leave after two weeks, wouldn't you think he identifies with it?" he asked. "As a politician running for presidency he had to hide it, but it comes out every time and I think we just have to say it plainly - there is an anti-Semitic president in America," he said. "Unfortunately this creates a difficult situation for Israel, but we will never give up our deepest interests - Jerusalem and our ties with it.".} Now surely someone can disagree with Likud party policies yes???? That does not mean their anti-Semitic!!!. That's hogwash.Just going on Foxnews disqualifies Hagai Ben-Artzi in my mind. The body politic in Israel is not overwhelmingly against trading land for peace. Going on FOXNEWS is a cheap trick that does Israel no good and the US no good.
ace_kyi 16-Sep-12, 22:48	Will the US do Israel's plan to attack Iran now? Netanyahu said Iran will have nuclear bombs in 7 months. So, the US should attack now. Otherwise, it will be too late for Israel to exist, he said. What do you all think of? I don't think US should get involved considering the lives of 300 million Americans. Even, if the US is not involved with US boots on the ground, I believe war is looming between Islamic nations there, between Sunni and Shiite muslims starting now with Syria.
changeling 16-Sep-12, 22:59	How does he know that? Perhaps the 'west' should stay out of it then and hope they all cancel each other out (providing of course they do not attack Israel!).
brigadecommander 16-Sep-12, 23:08	Let me be clear. My personal Opinion about the west bank is somewhat ambiguous. On one hand i think that under no circumstances should Israel give back the land unless the Core attitude of the states surrounding Israel changes dramatically. On the other hand i don't think the Present right wing Government in Israel will ever willingly return the land, no matter what the Arabs do. But annexing more Arab land does not contribute to anything. It will lead to War unimaginable. But also if i were the Israeli prime minister i would not believe any promises the Arabs make either. I would not gamble my peoples safety on just promises. So there is a long term problem here. Perhaps it will one day be solved. But one thing i see very clearly, If romney is elected and the right wing takes the Senate, War will come to us all. The Russians and the Chinese will not tolerate the neo-cons and there bluster. If the ICBM's start flying there will be no Israel,there will be no United States,or Russia or China.....or west bank.
changeling 16-Sep-12, 23:44	Perhaps we actually deserve it!

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