Comments on Under My Olive Tree: Obama's Love Story with Israel

Not sure why, but took a while to find a way to le...

2009-11-19T07:24:47.880+02:00

Not sure why, but took a while to find a way to leave a comment. Technical glitch?

I can understand your frustration. It's the same with universal health care in the USA. But Obama from my perspective requires patience. He is governing from "the center" in a fairly conservative country. I'd love to see faster progress on a number of fronts -- including Palestine and Cuba; yet remain optimistic. Which is easier for me, with less at stake in the outcome. Let us hope -- and work -- for the best. Believe me, this president is far better for the world than McCain-Palin-Joe the Plumber would have been.

EOTR: (a) "It seems that US officials can't show...

2009-11-16T20:25:13.095+02:00

EOTR:

(a) "It seems that US officials can't show or declare publicly thier real stand from the Jewish State, after all the Israeli Lobby in Washington is very powerful and influential."

(b) why do we need to refuse it - we do whatever we want anyway and according to ali you do whatever we want too :)

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anyt...

2009-11-14T18:58:16.993+02:00

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't see anything in the post that says the Jews control everything.

Obama may not love Israel, but recent actions or lack thereof has shown that he isn't a threat to Israeli security. That may change as I do agree with Marvin that Obama would like to refuse aid to Israel unless more effort on the settlement issue and Palestinian sovereignity has been established. Yet he isn't doing it because of a variety of factors: trouble at home, a escalating unemployment, a failed stimulus plan, increasing troops in Afghanistan, a military that is at the edge--we have our own troubles here and it would be nice if an American president did more for the people who elected him than decided how other countries should run their business. Big pet peeve of mine.

If you don't think American aide to Israel is significant and perhaps it isn't--Israel has a strong GNP and one of the best longeivity rates in Asia, then why not refuse it? Heck, I would if I thought America was trying to make me dance to a tune that I don't like. This way Israel can do whatever it wants, and maybe (although this is highly unlikely) the money that goes to Israel can be invested in helping Americans who have lost jobs, faced foreclosure and cannot find respite.

goodness.. its only a few billion bucks.. we gener...

2009-11-11T21:18:44.705+02:00

goodness.. its only a few billion bucks.. we generate a lot more ourselves - normally have a surplus and can do without.. besides.. in our feverish gratitude we have to spend that money mostly with the likes of lockhead in any event.. people really inflate the aid issue..

the US is paying for the clout it got for brokering deals.. like advertising rights.. its like when someone gets married and they sell the publishing rights.. or like exclusive photos of famous babies.. no celeb really needs the dosh..

i think obama doesnt love us AT ALL.. on the contrary - we fucked up his bubble and he is in free fall politically around the world.. he has lost so much clout in so little time that i think the biggest damage is that america may well think harder before it re-elects a multicultural hippie again.. which is a shame (at least for the hippie movement)..

then again if this is just another one of those "the jews control everyone" posts then who am i to get in the way.. they're very very fashionable these days.. normally served with a dash of aipac bashing..

bon appetite! :)

ps my word/ver was zessarr in case it matters to anyone..

I think the US is closer at any time in recent mem...

2009-11-11T12:46:17.683+02:00

I think the US is closer at any time in recent memory to cutting off all funding to Israel. It would certainly change the equation for everyone in the area. I think they should cut off funding for everyone, everywhere. Foreign aid only makes people hate the US, paradoxically. Ergo, stop the aid. There are better uses for that money at home.

My word verification is "sycho" :) When Obama was...

2009-11-11T03:56:50.701+02:00

My word verification is "sycho" :)

When Obama was elected I thinking more about what he woudl do in iraq and Afghanistan. Didn't really wonder about his Israel-Palestine policy. Time will tell what's going on.

I think Clinton's recent statements about Israel s...

2009-11-10T21:43:32.526+02:00

I think Clinton's recent statements about Israel show the direction in which Obama is heading. Maybe everyone expected too much from him--I don't know, but like most Democrats he is dithering between moderatation and sounding like a right wing Republican. At least you know what you are getting with Republicans, so if anything good happens, it becomes a pleasant surprise. I am also concerned about how Obama will handle the Fort Hood shooting; will he distance himself from his Muslim heritage in order to appease those who claim he is soft on terrorism, even though the incident had nothing to do with that? Obama reminds me of the beginning of Bill Clinton's presidency in which he started out with good intentions, but gave into the more powerful lobby forces. My guess is that he wants to be reelected, so he will play footsie with Bibi. I don't blame you for being upset. It is hard to see all of these things.