U.S. policies have made Israel less safe, experts say

[UpInArms]

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/world/16448718.htm

JERUSALEM - After years of supporting the Bush administration's policy in the Middle East, a growing number of Israelis are openly criticizing the United States for creating more, not less, danger for Israel.

Israeli experts contend that American policies have destabilized Iraq, emboldened anti-Western forces from Iran to Lebanon and paved the way for militant Islamists to gain control of the Palestinian Authority.

"The threats to Middle East security and stability worsened in 2006," experts at Tel Aviv University's Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies recently warned. "The American failure in Iraq has hurt the standing of the U.S. in the Middle East."

Perhaps most strikingly, in their annual evaluation of the situation, the Israeli analysts concluded that it was better for the United States to get out of Iraq than to add troops, as President Bush is proposing.

"There's no Israeli interest being served by continued American presence in Iraq," said Mark A. Heller, a Jaffee Center researcher who helped produce the group's annual "Middle East Strategic Balance" report.

...more...

[Rick Myers]

1. Sharon tried to WARN Dubya!!! n/t

[jody]

2. Not "U.S. policies" it's "Bush's policies"! n/t

[Tom Joad]

3. This is true, but aipac still supports Bush policies.

http://www.forward.com/articles/dear-john/
An example of how the Israel lobby supports even the most extreme of Bush appointees (you may remember, Bolton was a recess appointment, because he could not even get an endorsement from the previous Republican Senate).

Cheney is given standing ovations at aipac. There aren't many other places he could expect such a reception.

aipac has been pushing for a confrontational policy with Iran for years.

[bemildred]

4. Very true, but Israeli policies have made Israel less safe too.

It's like they were in cahoots with Bush to make Israel less safe.

[MadMaddie]

5. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure this out....

the repurcussions will be felt around the world...

[951-Riverside]

6. When was the last suicide bombing in Israel? n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

7. the last major one...

April 17, 2006: Nine people were killed and at least 40 wounded in a suicide bombing near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv. The blast ripped through Falafel Rosh Ha'ir, the same restaurant that was hit by an attack on January 19. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah’s Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades both claimed responsibility for the attack. The Hamas led PA government defended the suicide bombing, calling it an act of "self-defense." Hamas official spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the attack "a natural result of the continued Israeli crimes against our people". ADL

This excludes attacks on Israel during the Hizb'allah/Israel conflict.

[daleo]

8. I seem to recall a war in August

That didn't work out too well.

[Porcupine]

9. But, but, Israel is a paragon of Human Rights and dignity!!

:sarcasm:

Whoops. Maybe that has something to do with their shitty position. Big brother with the club is getting his ass kicked and folks looking at little brother who steals everyones candy.

Crocodile tears.