Tom Friedman: Driving Drunk in Jerusalem

[nsd]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/opinion/14friedman.html

I am a big Joe Biden fan. The vice president is an indefatigable defender of U.S. interests abroad. So it pains me to say that on his recent trip to Israel, when Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government rubbed his nose in some new housing plans for contested East Jerusalem, the vice president missed a chance to send a powerful public signal: He should have snapped his notebook shut, gotten right back on Air Force Two, flown home and left the following scribbled note behind: “Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious. We need to focus on building our country.”


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Usually I have mixed feelings about Tom Friedman, but here he's right on. Netanyahu is a disgrace. He's not quite the Dick Cheney of Israel, but he's at least the John McCain. That is, an enabler. Biden should have kicked him in the balls. The Israeli right wing needs a wake-up call, and the Israeli left wing needs to know that Americans realize that Netanyahu et al. don't represent all of Israel.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Hillary kicked Bibi in the balls instead.

I find that more satisfying somehow! :shrug:

[nsd]

2. You're right. Clinton did good. /nt

[Better Today]

3. Using his analogy though, by leaving, he's giving them no choice but to drive drunk,

no one else is going to step in a drive 'em home. That being said, I think the analogy sucks, but the response he suggests is appropriate. I'd go so far as to want to see all US Arms shipments, and US Aid to Isreal withheld till the settlements stop and aid, food, utilities, and essentials are restored to Arab sectors. It's time to say enough is enough.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. +1!

[Jennicut]

5. I have two things to say about this

I think it was not Biden's decision to stay or leave.

Also, there are more effective ways to tell Bibi to stick it up his ass: cut aid to Israel. Period. Until we get serious with them, they won't treat us seriously. I hope Obama really considers this.

[Pirate Smile]

6. As usual, the problem is Congress. If Obama tries to cut any funding off then the RW along with

a lot of Democrats will do it anyway and trash him for attempting it.

It is such a bizarre situation when the RW evangelicals want Israel to be as provocative as possible because they think it is required for the end of the world which they want as soon as possible. Add to them the neocons and the RW Republicans kowtowing to their base and it is a recipe for nutbag policies being supported by Republicans. Then you have the Dems that will support Israel no matter what and you end up with the mess we have in the Middle East and Obama boxed in. Grrrrr.

[Jennicut]

7. I agree. Congress will try to stop it.

I dislike the pathetic support for allowing Israel to act the way it does. I am not anti-Israeli, just against their RW. Just as dangerous as ours is.

[Pirate Smile]

13. I agree although I used to just think of Bibi as Israel's Bush where half the country hates him

but after I see the horrible poll numbers of Israeli's toward Obama it is clear that there is other stuff going on there and it's ugly.

[Jennicut]

14. The youth is being brainwashed over there as well. It does not look pretty.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. Technically the Vice President doesn't answer to anybody (except the American people)

That being said I think the President would have been pretty pissed if he didn't consult with him or his aides about such a decision.

[mudplanet]

8. Friedman is 70% conservative nutcake, 30% normal human.

I remember his series on Asia a couple of years ago wherein his whole take on India was that they would solve all their problems once they harnessed their "entrepreneurial" spirit. Kind of like Reagan opposing sanctions on South Africa during apartheid because "they don't have segregated lunch counters there."

Even the stupid and crazy will get something right if they talk long enough.

[babylonsister]

9. Walking away in a huff would have accomplished nothing.

That'd be the equivalent of throwing a public hissy fit, to what end?

I think SoS Clinton's response was the way to go, and am glad it got the coverage it did.

[hulka38]

10. The response should be

Look, if you're not even going to pretend to hold up your end of the "we're trying to find a peaceful solution" charade that we do to give you cover, then we're cutting off $ and weapons immediately.

But instead it's, "Don't embarrass us like that! Friends?? Okay, let's pick it up from the top. Now when I say, 'The two sides are very, very close to a solution', you say....

[ensho]

11. agree with you

nt

[lunatica]

12. That's Hillary Clinton's job as Sec of State

and she kicked him in the balls, which is her job.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Labour, Likud, and Kadima have allowed the expansion of settlements

There is nothing new here. We should be grateful to Israel for unintentionally exposing the hypocrisy that has been the so-called peace process and its endless pursuit of the mythical 2-state solution.

Israel 1
US 0

[donco]

16. Everyone should realize that the midterms

are this year, I’m sure if it wasn’t for that Netanyahu’s wouldn’t have been so bold.