The Israelis are pretty used to international condemnation. They weathered the storms over the attack on the Gaza strip in 2009 and the invasion of southern Lebanon in 2006. The Israelis will not be enjoying the current wave of international condemnation, unleashed by their deadly assault on the blockade-busting ships bound for Gaza - but they will assume that it too will pass. Are they right?
There are three particular angles for the Israelis to worry about. First, that there will be some sort of new intifada. Second, the continued deterioration in their relationship with Turkey. Third, their fraying ties with the Obama administration.
“Consider this question: Is it ever justifiable to intentionally target innocent civilians in order to achieve other political or military ends? 86, 81, and 80% of American, Canadian, and British citizens say never. But only 46% of Iranians say never. A striking 24% say attacks on civilians are often or sometimes justified, and 6% say such attacks are completely justified. The previous sentences are lies, dangerous lies. The fact that these lies nestle so easily into our presumed knowledge suggests why we need to rethink what many of us think we know about Islam — and ourselves. An important new book, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, Gallup Press, 2007) would be a great place to begin such a rethinking. The truth is that the scary figures attributed above to Iranians actually apply to Americans, and the more civilized figures attributed to Americans, Canadians, and British citizens apply to the people of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran (Who Speaks? p. 95). In contrast to the 6% of Americans who say civilian attacks are completely justified, only 2% of Iranians or Lebanese would agree, and only 4% of Saudis.”
When asked about the current administration going to war with Iran in its last months, he said:If you engage a world power or a rival, it doesn’t mean you agree with them or subscribe with what they believe or you support them in any way. What it does tell you is that you’ve got a problem you need to resolve. And you’ve got to understand the other side and the other side has got to understand you.
I am confident that if Obama is elected president that is the approach we will take. And my friend John McCain said some other things about that. We’ll see, but in my opinion it has to be done. It is essential.
You’ve got the power of impeachment, now that is a very defined measure if you are willing to bring charges against the president at all. You can’t just say I disagree with him….This is quite a speech for a powerful Republican Senator to make.
