Israel
Obama’s first move as President-elect is a good one
While I’m sure there are still millions of Republicans throughout the country mourning John McCain’s electoral shortcomings, there is another group within the Party that realizes that you have to suck it up and move on.
Even though some might not like it, the fact of the matter is that Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States.
It would be too easy for me to just sit back and attack the prospects of an Obama presidency, so instead of being another talking head, I figure that for the time being, I’ll just call things as I see them. If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you know first hand that I don’t subscribe to Party talking points.
Rahm Emanuel, 2009 White House Chief of Staff
With that, it brings me no dissatisfaction to praise President-elect Obama in his selection of Congressman Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff.
Despite that fact that Rahm Emanuel and I disagree on many issues, I think that he brings a point-of-view that will be healthy for setting the tone of the Obama Administration.
Yes, I’m sure you think I’m crazy right about now. However one of the biggest doubts that people have about Barack Obama is whether or not he’ll be able to make the right decision should the United States, or one of our allies face significant conflict.
For those of you who know about Rahm Emanuel, odds are you also know that he comes from a very devout Jewish family (he’s Orthodox) and is one of the most ardent supporters of Israel in the United States Congress. In fact, during the Gulf War, Congressman Emanuel even volunteered to serve with the Israel Defense Forces.
I think it’s extremely symbolic for a candidate who was attacked for allegedly being Muslim and anti-Israel, to make a modern-Orthodox and openly pro-Israel Congressman the first pick of his Administration.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that in Congress his nickname is “Rahm-bo,” due to his aggressive nature of getting things done. Don’t expect him to hide his opinions from President Obama, especially when it comes to issues (like Israel) that he is passionate about.
The Chief of Staff is one of the few people in the Administration that havs daily access to the President, so there should be no doubt that Rahm Emanuel will play a key role in President Obama’s decision making process.
While I don’t think that I’m going to agree with all of President-elect Obama’s choices, I definitely believe that he has started his trek to the White House on the right foot by picking Congressman Emanuel.
Question for Obama #6, Topic: Israel
From the New York Sun:
One of your foreign policy advisers, Zbigniew Brzezinski, has been an outspoken and harsh critic of Israel. What role would Mr. Brzezinski play on Middle East policy in an Obama administration?
One of the few times I’ve disagreed with the Israeli government
Very rarely are there times where you’ll find me holding a position that is opposite to one that is held by the Israeli government, at least to the point where a blog post is in order. I firmly believe that Israel has been, and remains to be a great example of the power of democracy and one of the United States’ best friends. However, today Israel made a move that I have an extremely hard time comprehending.
In a deal that would bring back the bodies of two Israeli soldiers (1st Sgt. Ehud Goldwasser and Sgt. 1st Class Eldad Regev.), the Knesset agreed to release five militants they have been holding in their prisons. However, what was even more unique about this swap, was that one of the prisoners included Samir Kuntar, by far one of the most horrific murders I’ve ever heard of.
While I’m not a fan of gorey details, I do not believe it’s possible to understand my frustration without knowing more background on what landed Kuntar in prison. This is something that has received very little news attention here, but I think it’s an extremely important story.
From CNN.com:
A member of the Palestine Liberation Front, Kuntar led a group of four men who entered Israel from Lebanon by boat in 1979. They killed a police officer who came across them. Then they took a 28-year-old man and his 4-year-old daughter hostage.
Kuntar shot the father dead at close range in front of his daughter and tossed his body in the sea. He then smashed the girl’s head, killing her. In addition, a 2-year-old girl from the same family suffocated as her mother tried to stop her from crying while they hid during the violence.
Kuntar was sentenced to 542 years in prison.
In the United States, not only would this have landed you in an electric chair, but it also would have led to the first pay-per-view execution.
As an American, these actions made absolutely no sense to me. However, since I’m not an Israeli, I went and sought the opinion of someone who is there, knows the culture, and the rationale. The following is a reitiration of an online conversation with Tal Siach, Israeli blogger at Walyou.com.
If you want to know my thoughts, we the Israelis are very moral. To bring back dead bodies is important to us; they (the terorists) don’t care about it too much. They didn’t say if they’re alive or not until the last second and they made their family believe they are alive.
It’s not human whatsoever to me, Kontar killed someone and we let him go for bodies. As you can see its not an eye for an eye, I hate that, but you can do an eye for an eye with animals. I respect the families and happy their soldier will be buried in Israel, but on the same note sad for the mother who lost her son and her murderer is free now.
I don’t like the fact that the terrorists can think now that’s OK to not keep prisoners alive since dead bodies are value to us, and they know it, unlike them.
That is personally what i think.
I believe in peace and want it to happen, but there are ways every human been should act. How come we are bringing the prisoners alive, and not in coffins? Why do we keep them, feed them, and they kill ours.
me: i read he got a college degree while in prison I’m guessing that was at your expense
For sure, we are very moral. The citizens pay for his stay, while the Hezbollah kills everything they see. Yeah , really they’re not humans, what the press is showing is not the truth; they bomb Israel.
There are good people who do want peace in the Arab countries, I believe that. I have good friends here online, from Iran, too. But where democracy fails, it’s hard to get peace.”
While it’s extremely easy for me to illustrate my point of view, my frustration is nothing compared to what must be going through the minds of many Israeli’s today.
Even though I have a very limited number of readers in Isreal, to those who do read my blog, I encourage you to share your thoughts on this as well.
Again, a special thanks to Tal Siach for helping me get a better understanding of this. Please visit Tal’s blog here.
So when will Hillary step out?
For those of you haven’t already heard, Barack Obama has finally clinched the Democratic nomination, finally bringing a start to the much awaited general election.
Even though Senator McCain has already acknowledged that the general election begins today, there is still the factor (or non-factor) of Hillary Clinton.
There were many reports today that Hillary Clinton was going to be dropping out of the race this evening, giving Barack Obama the go-ahead and guaranteed nomination. However, I knew from the beginning that those reports were inaccurate for one reason, her Wednesday morning schedule.
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) policy conference, where she will address over 6,500 pro-Israel activists. It should be no surprise to anyone that if Hillary Clinton wants to remain successful in bankrolling her future elections, keeping the New York Jewish community (that is in heavy attendance) happy is an absolute must.
Walking into the conference the morning after (I guess a political walk of shame could apply here?), giving a speech as the loser is something that no Clinton would ever do. She will take advantage of this speaking opportunity in some way, whether that be by finally stepping aside, or declaring that she will remain steadfast. But, no matter what she says, she’ll get media coverage and will have text for a future fundraising letter.
This could also be a good venue for Senator Clinton to make the case that even if she cant be on the ticket as the Presidential candidate, she still can bring a lot to the table as the Vice-Presidential candidate.
Currently, Barack Obama does not have strong support within the Jewish community. In fact, this past weekend at the Israel @ 60 birthday celebration here in Washington, I was shocked to count over 300 John McCain stickers on random attendees, and only 30 or so Obama stickers.
Unfortunately the Clinton campaign didn’t send any staff to this event, however I have no doubt that there would have been an exponentially higher number of people showing their support for Hillary Clinton over Obama at this event.
This is something that Obama is really going to have to consider if he wants to even come close in this election.
Without someone like Clinton on the ticket, someone who is down with the chosen people, Obama is going to have a hard time getting to many of the pro-Israel, Jewish Democrats, simply because they don’t see him as someone who will stand up to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah when Israel is in her time of need.
With that observation, this should be the time that the McCain campaign, Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) go after the Jewish, pro-Israel vote more aggressively. This is a base that Republican Party must make great inroads with if we want to be successful in any upcoming election. Based on what I saw this weekend, it appears that McCain is right on cue with their outreach.
I’m hoping the RNC will soon follow.
McCain addresses AIPAC Policy Conference
Is McCain going to dominate the pro-Israel community? Here is the latest from the AIPAC Policy Conference, and I’ll have more on this later this evening:
McCain Emphasizes Importance of U.S.-Israel Alliance
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, opened AIPAC Policy Conference 2008 in Washington, D.C. in front of more than 6,500 pro-Israel activists from all 50 states.
Sen. McCain said that Iran must be stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons and reaffirmed his support of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
“My friends, as the people of Israel know better than most, the safety of free people can never be taken for granted,” McCain said. “And in a world full of dangers, Israel and the United States must always stand together.”
The Democratic candidates for president, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will address Policy Conference attendees on the morning of June 4.
