Supreme U.S. commander in Europe calls Israel 'model state'

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The supreme commander of NATO operations in Europe and head of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), John Craddock, has called Israel a "model state" and the United States' closest ally in the Middle East.

Craddock, speaking before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in Washington Thursday, said Israel consistently and directly supported U.S. interests by means of security cooperation and understanding U.S. policy in the region.

He commended the stability of Israel's government and said Israel was a model state that encouraged democratic ideals and pro-Western values and economics.

Craddock also said Israel was the main beneficiary of U.S. security aid funds and was a "critical military partner" in what he called "this entangled seam of the Middle East."

Craddock's comments were unusual for a senior officer in the U.S. military, especially compared with his predecessor, U.S. Marine Corps General James L. Jones, who retired from EUCOM around three months ago. The hearing Craddock spoke at is an annual event. Jones, in his address a year ago, ignored Israel."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/838950.html

[babylonsister]

1. Ugh. Now we don't only need a separation of church and state, but

a separation of military and state. WTF? He's right about the funds. :eyes:

[TheConstantGardener]

2. None of those words mean anything

It's just a bunch of nice words scattered onto Israeli soil, although I'm not so sure we should model ourselves after a religious state that practices apartheid against a minority.

[aquart]

3. Arabs are a minority in the MidEast? Since when?

But why are Israelis expected to be comfortable living next door to a suicide bomber? Most Arabs aren't, of course...and they would never look the other way or facilitate mass murder, no indeed...but can you give me your infallible formula for being sure you are NOT living next door to a suicide bomber?

In India they chose civil disobedience. In the MidEast, they chose violence and suicide. Why should there not be consequences to that choice?

Amazing how people are willing to invest money in India and not the Palestinian territories. Why would that be, do you think?

[The Stranger]

12. Oh please. The 40-year old military occupation and ethnic cleansing is not a response to suicide

bombers, it is the cause.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Oh please, indeed.

But no surprises from you.

[carla]

4. A model of what?

Terror? Oppression? Bad policies? General Craddock has his head up his ass.

[cali]

5. What a bonehead

Israel may not be the demon, rogue, evil blah, blah, blah state that many DUers so righteously claim it to be, (all the while, vigorously justifying or defending Iran, for instance), but with its forty year occupation and brutal and demeaning treatment of the Palestinians in the WB and Gaza, it sure ain't a model state.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. let's see Israeli papers are discussing how their country falls apart

due to fraud, corruption, infighting, and a growing lack of trust in the political leadership, and this general says that this is a "model state"? really. How nice.

[kedrys]

7. Yeah, it's a great model if what you're trying to achieve is a f*cking theocracy

Sometimes I just don't know if any of those dickheads has ANY clue as to what's going on. Evidently not. :eyes:

[cali]

10. Aargh. Israel is NOT a theocracy anymore than

Great Britain is a theocracy. Socially it's a fuck of a lot more liberal in most ways than the U.S. Gay rights are protected. There's freedom of speech. There's a hell of a lot more vigorous debate about the Occupation and the wrongs perpetrated against the Palestinians in Israeli society and media than there is in the U.S. Lots wrong with Israel, but it ain't a theocracy. Try again.

[The Stranger]

13. Talk a bit about the Orthodox rabbis and the constant fighting between them

and the rest of the secular state. Or are you ignoring that part?

[cali]

14. Are you claiming that Israel is a theocracy?

How funny. Yes, there are religious influences on the government, and the Orthodox Rabbis wield some real power, but that's entirely different from claiming Israel is a theocracy. but you know that already, don't you?

[The Stranger]

17. "Religious influences" on the government, indeed.

Apparently, there are "religious influences" on many governments, including that of the U.S. Whether any of these governments is a "theocracy" or "theocracy-leaning" or has "theocratic elements" -- really -- is an exercise in semantics.

Even the Western media reports that there are struggles going on in Iran (which are encouraging, to say the least) between secular elements/student organizations and the Muslim clerics that seek (and wield) political power through religion.

And, honestly, the whole "theocracy" question really evaporates when one considers the power of religion and religious organizations when it is not directly (but is tacitly) involved in government. Consider the Dominionists and their influence on the U.S. government. The fact that it is not out in the open (yet its influence is palpable) makes it even more insidious and more difficult to combat.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Israel is a "model state" like the segregated American South was democratic

Craddock sees the Palestinians as invisible subhumans, much as Southern segregationists saw Blacks.

I can't hardly wait to hear General Craddock's views on the morality of being gay.

[Jim Sagle]

15. "Craddock sees the Palestinians as invisible subhumans."

Maybe, but I'd bet most Israelis don't. They just don't want to be blown up.

[RushIsRot]

9. A model is

"a small imitation of the real thing."

[Cobalt-60]

11. I had a model of a Brewster Buffalo

that didn't make it a better fighter.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. I still think building a country around a religion is a bad idea.

Does that make me a bad person?