Obama Defense Aide Responds To 'Anti-Israel' Criticism

ABC:

How is it that Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak (Ret.) gave an interview to Shalom TV -- "America's first national Jewish cable television network covering the panorama of Jewish life"?

It starts when the Clinton campaign sent around a story by The American Spectator.

(That gives you an idea of where the Clinton campaign is, right now, given the fact that the Spectator at one point was devoted to exploring the Clintons' transgressions, personal and political. The magazine continues to be quite a source of criticism, as with a recent column by magazine founder and editor in chief R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., who recently wrote of Bill and Hillary Clinton: "They skirt the law. They defy ethical standards. Most brazenly, they lie when there is no reason to lie, and they deploy a whopper when a little white lie would be perfectly adequate and even understandable." Or see the January 1994 "Living With the Clintons: Bill's Arkansas bodyguards tell the story the press missed", a story of some historical significance.)

Read the whole story: ABC

Comments

[betz55]

Cut US aid to Israel.The US should stop pandering to Israel and it`s destructive policies.Cut off aid and stop the loan guarantees.Demand peace and fair settlement with the Palestinians and extract the US from Israel`s damaging,h­armful,and negative policies.Israel is not a third world country. It is a theocracy that uses US monetary aid, which requires no accountability,to oppress the Palestinians, perpetuate apartheid,and build settlements in the occupied territories.Israeli policies are not longer in line with US policies,and,as a result are making the US more of a target than ever in the Islamic world.If Israel cannot exist without the U.S. giving them billions of dollars every year,then the Israels need to pack their bags and move on. Each year US aid to Israel gives each man, woman, and child the equivalent of over $1500.00 each while cutting programs in the US due to "funding".Why on earth are American taxpayers forced to give 10 billion dollars yearly to Israel when our own people are homeless or soon to be, have no jobs, no healthcare.There is no justification for forcing the U.S. public to pay for health care,education, and housing for the Israelis while their our own people go without.

[MetalCanuck]

Criticizing is not anti-semitic. People need to wake up.

[mrdontplay]

PBS aired a special on the history of Jewish and Black americans in New York.

I think it was amazing.

Check it out if you can.

Lots of people don't remember this but it was BLACK America that first embraced the Jewish community.

Somehow this all changed.

The documentary details some of what changed this.

[charlietuna11]

since israel is by far the largest recipiant of us aid , plus the largest recipiant of transferred technology free of charge..wouldn't it be a good idea to make israel our 51st state?at least we might be able to tax them on the federal level and recoup some of our losses..every one running for federal office knows more about the likud than they do about the c i a or our justice dept..the sad part about this unhealthy influence is the notion that any one who supports a balanced policy in the middle east is instantly labeled an anti semite..and if you are jewish your labeled a self hating jew..mcpeak and the national security director under carter are despised for their opinions which a large percentage of people agree with. our country , after much reflection helped end the apartied govt. of south africa.. we should do the same in israel but don't hold your breath.. some day, some defining event will make it happen..when it becomes a reality the jews and palastinians will visit their loved ones at the cemetary and wonder why they will grieve for ever when all it took was a little courage from spineless polititions..

[Tumult]

If sinking a US warship didn't do it, then nothing will.
Too many people here celebrate strong arm tactics, and demonize the enemies of Israel.
What people fail to relate to is the fact that the petitions of the Palestinian moderates have long been denied. When it happend to Americans we took up arms against the British government, too bad we are incapable of acknowledging drives to liberty or independence for people that are not American.

[WomanInOrangeSweater]

Anyone who thinks it's anti-semitic to question Israel's continued settlement building (illegal under international law) is probably part of one the radicalized elements McPeak speaks of. It may not be the only thing fueling this particular quagmire, but it's certainly a factor. Ignoring it as we have for the past decades serves no one, including the Israelis.

[MetalCanuck]

You are right but people are brainwashed.

[WomanInOrangeSweater]

I seem to remember reading that the majority of Israeli citizens are for dismantling the settlements and it's their radical right fighting it. So once again we are supporting a policy that isn't supporting the will of the people.

[ruscle]

How to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. Just add Clinton talking point and shake vigorously.

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

I'm so confused: Is Obama running for the Knesset? The last time I checked he was running for the Presidency of the US of A. Besides, I'm not seeing anything anti-Israel here. Trust me: I looked.

What I AM seeing is something that looks a great deal like (unwarranted) narcissism and paranoia on the part of a teenyweeny subset of political extremists. News flash: It's not about you.

Come on: Israel is a powerful, prosperous country with a massive military arsenal (200+ nuclear weapons?), the best doctors in the world and a well educated and trained army. Meanwhile America is a freaking MESS: Educationally, economically, medically, militarily, politically. Our present Administration is just moments away from driving this national bus off the cliff and into a fascistic abyss. We need a president who can drive the bus AWAY from the cliff and lead us back to the creative, prosperous and MORAL country we used to be proud citizens of.

Whether or not ANY candidate for US office is "good for" ANY foreign country is of secondary importance to thinking people, especially NOW. That this point is LOST on so many distresses me. We should be asking the supposedly brilliant and astute people of Israel for THEIR foreign aid and moral/military support, not the other way around.

"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

[DRaymond]

Isn't this whole story dripping with irony? McPeak says that the reason why american politicians are reluctant to say anything critical of the current Israeli government or suggest any sort of middle ground is the backlash they would get from Jewish lobbying groups. And for that the RJC demands his immediate resignation. Isn't the RJC by their actions proving McPeak's statement?

[Nicolaus]

I can't imagine there is a machine powerful enough to drag me to vote for the New York Senator.
I probably will move to New York to work against her re-election there to.
I think our country should through away politicians like her.

Carl Rove must be anxious. She is excelling him...

[GravitonX]

Why should Israel be discussed any differently than France, the UK, China, Venezuela, or Zambia? American interests are for America first. We are free to work with anyone in the MiddleEast if it suites our interest.

[rwe]

Obama's grasp of liberal political spin is right there. He will disavow and apologize if the hate and bigotry and antisemitism and anti american anti Italian vews have offended any one , but he will show no remorse and deflect and buffer himself from Wrights and Michelles beliefs. He can say let Hillary stay , and let his minions of Obamaciders come out and cry for her ouster.

[abot]

Obama has no control over his supporters. He can only be responsible for people DIRECTLY involved with his campaign. The same goes for Hillary.

I 'm tired of folks saying that they will vote for the other candidate due to how they are treated by supporters. Who care what supporters or blogs say Are you voting for the candidate or are you voting for the supporters and surrogates. YOU VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE. If you don't agree then maybe you should just sit this one out. The last thing I want is a stupid ignorant electorate choosing the next POTUS.

[williamg]

Anyone tired of the Israel worshiping?

[rudyinbama]

Whether you agree with McPeak or not, he will have to go as there's a cumulative effect here.
Start with the Muslim name and all that baggage.
Add that "Jeremiah Wright Trumpeter Award" given to Louis Farrakhan and all the Muslim nonsense, And of course he's got son of "Hymietown" co-chairing his campaign.
It doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong - you're dealing with a political third rail here, and if you want to win, you stay clear of it.

[AguynamedWayne]

Add to that, the fact that Obama's church posted bulletins on their Pastor Page section of their website that made outrageously offensive remarks about Jews being worse than the Nazi's, as well as defending the terrorist group Hamas.

And I disagree, It does matter who is right and who is wrong. And Obama has sided with too many people on the wrong side.

[JavaCityGal]

"their website that made outrageously offensive remarks about Jews being worse than the Nazi's, as well as defending the terrorist group Hamas"

Links please, thanks.

[cmbaldwin]

give it a rest rudyinbama boy, there is no reason for McPeak to go anywhere. I didn't read anything that was anti-semitic. He is merely pointing out the truth as he sees it. Your anti-muslim banter is proof enough that you have not raised your level of consciousness during this lifetime. So cast your vote for McLame or Rove's sister, Hillary and quit talking about issues you obviously know nothing about..

[cambio]

I'm so sick of people accusing others of being anti-Semitic every time anyone has the slightest criticism of any Israeli policy, no matter how correct. That is insanity. We live in a democracy, and the freedom of speech and the free flow of ideas is a requirement of democracy. It is absolutely contrary to our values to not be able to whisper a peep of a criticism, or even a perceived criticism, without being branded a witch or a commie and run out of town. The days of Salem and McCarthy are behind us, why the hell should we have to sensor ourselves just because Israel and its US neoconservative allies don't want their actions scrutinized? I'm sick of it.

[MetalCanuck]

Welcome to reality.

[LeftLeaner]

Here we go again. Spin, spin, spin to "EXPLAIN" the continued HATEFUL rhetoric from WRIGHT.

ANOTHER, group smeared by the infamous Preacher.

It wouldn't be quite so bad if they didn't have such a close relationship for over 20 years.

This is making me more and more uncomfortable with each passing day.

[DGregory]

wth are you talking about? this has nothing to do with Wright

This is about McPeak if you took the time to read this.
Let me give you the synopsis since you wanted to be ignorant in your comment, which doesn't pertain to the topic.

1. he says that we just cant have just negotiations, but peace and both sides to come together where to have such peace one side may have to give up something to the other.

2. he criticizes a harsh truism that people who are have ancestry or strong ties to Israel influences America's involvement over there.

3. A jewish newspaper wants Obama to fire mcPeak because McPeak puts blame on both Israel, Palestinians and america and not solely on Palestinians .