Israel is Crossing the Line
One of the interesting things to observe after George Bush issued his dictate to the world -- "You are with us or against us" -- was how some of those nations "with us" began to assume that their importance to and relationship with the United States was "unconditional" and that they could do virtually anything without worry of harming that relationship.
Taiwan and Israel were the two most interesting nations to watch because both suffer types of identity crises. Taiwan wants to be a state but knows that China's ascending power is undermining that fantasy rapidly. Israel, on the other hand, is the only true superpower in the Middle East but lives within borders that are in dispute and with some of its citizens trying to colonize territory that the international community has determined do not belong to it.
To his credit, George Bush instructed his Ambassadorial equivalent in Taipei, American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal, to tell Taiwan's premier that the US would not countenance any declaration of independent status from China by Taiwan. Bush set his own red line and told Taiwan there were conditions to the relationship -- real ones.
Israel, in contrast, seems not to have been given any red lines or conditions by the Bush team -- other than perhaps pretending to be interested in the Annapolis peace process. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and even Bush himself complained about the ongoing expansion of settlements by Israelis in occupied territories -- but no firm penalties were applied by the US to Israel for these illegal settlements.
Now Israel has gone one better and is issuing instructions to the United States on what America's red lines with Iran should be. The implication of course is that Israel will take matters into its own hands if these lines are crossed -- whether America does or not.
According to a piece that will appear in tomorrow's Haaretz, Barak Ravid writes that these red lines and instructions of Israel to the U.S. will be presented to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:
1. Any dialogue must be both preceded by and accompanied by harsher sanctions against Iran, both within the framework of the UN Security Council and outside it. Otherwise, the talks are liable to be perceived by both Iran and the international community as acceptance of Iran's nuclear program.
2. Before the dialogue begins, the U.S. should formulate an action plan with Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain regarding what to do if the talks fail. Specifically, there must be an agreement that the talks' failure will prompt extremely harsh international sanctions on Iran.3. A time limit must be set for the talks, to prevent Iran from merely buying time to complete its nuclear development. The talks should also be defined as a "one-time opportunity" for Tehran.
4. Timing is critical, and the U.S. should consider whether it makes sense to begin the talks before Iran's presidential election in June.
Iran's pretensions in the region are a problem in my view -- but Iran, which fears regime change efforts by the US and other of its neighbors, is responding to an "ecosystem" that many around the world have complicity in building.
Israel should be rebuffed by Hillary Clinton. She should listen to Israel's views on the region of course -- and consider proposals. But this kind of instruction manual on what red lines can be tolerated or not is pretty outrageous -- and borders on the type of irresponsibilty and consequences of what a Taiwanese declaration of independence from China would mean.
In other words, if Taiwan wants to declare independence from China -- so be it, but America will not be there as a stabilizer, defender or buffer. And if Israel has the audacity to make America's strategic choices -- particularly in public -- then Israel can bomb away -- but needs to know that such an act will irreparably harm US-Israel relations. A collision with Iran has nothing to do with Israel -- despite Obama's and Lieberman's and Cheney's and Clinton's and McCain's rhetoric.
A potential war with Iran will have other drivers than Israel's circumstances and will have truly global ramifications that reach far beyond Israeli security. Such a conflict could happen -- and depending on Iran's course in the future perhaps even should happen (though that's clearly not the case today) -- but such a move would need to be weighed and managed hyper carefully. Israel can not be allowed to determine such a consequential choice for the United States.
Israel can help a lot by trying to become a constructive participant in changing the climate of tension and hostility in the Arab region. Right now, Israel's performance leaves a lot to be desired -- and the act of the victimized, bullied superpower is growing old. Israel controls a great deal of temperature in the Middle East and could significantly change the views of many Arabs towards the US, the West, and even Israel if it tried. Not doing so actually animates the bravado from and tension with Iran's political leadership.
Israel is crossing the line by instructing the American Secretary of State and President where there lines "should be".
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
Follow Steve Clemons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SCClemons
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Israel is the modern South Africa.
israel is a habitual line crosser
"If any other country was being threatened with extermination by another country ten times its size, it would be reasonable to assume that the government would do anything necessary to ensure the survival of its citizens." You, of course are speaking of Israel vs Gaza. I think the US should stand up for those who are being exterminated, but unfortunately we supply Israel with the weapons.
And Iran supplies Gaza.
Right? Iran supplies Gaza with homemade weapons made out of fertilizer.
In a document called "Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century" published by The American Enterprise's "Project for a New American Century", System Planning Corporation (SPC) International executive, Dov Zakheim, called for "some catastrophic and catalyzing event — like a new Pearl Harbor" being necessary to foster the frame of mind needed for the American public to support a war in the Middle East that would politically and culturally reshape the region. A respected and established voice in the intelligence community, his views were eagerly accepted, and Dov went from his position at Systems Planning Corporation to become the Comptroller of the Pentagon in May 2001. Perhaps not so coincidentally, it was an SPC subsidiary, Tridata Corporation, that oversaw the investigation after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 1993
thank you for posting Steven Clemens . . . the US has to stop funding israel . . the hot line to the pentagon must be disconnected . . . sanctions have to be imposed on israel and boycotts and disinvestment must happen fast . . . israel and the US policy towards israel has always been the main stumbling block to peace in the Middle East . . .
The EU has also been very easy on israel . .. israel is too smug and arrogant for its own good and it will reap as it has sown
Regarding Iran . . Iran has every right to develop nuclear power . . they have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, they have been open about their plans . . . it was the US who encouraged Iran in the 1970s to develop its nuclear programme . . . the only problem here seems to be hypocrisy and israel . . .
meanwhile israel sits on nuclear weapons has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has not signed the Geneva Convention . . . continues to build illegal settlements, maintains its berlin-style wall in violation of international law and keeps the Palestinians locked in a ghetto because israel did not like the fact that the Palestinians voted for Hamas . . . does international law matter . . is israel above the law . . .
I really think it is time for the US and the EU, et al to
Am I the only one who has noticed the below ad popping up whenever there is a blog about Israel?
Support Israeli Soldiers
Support IDF Soldiers! You Too Can Strengthen Israel's Defense.
www.libi-f
How would we feel about ads asking for financial support of the Palestinian Authority forces to fight for an end to the occupation? Probably less sanguine.
No you are not the only one. I was shocked of seeing it. Like we do not help them enough? Part of the taxes we pay every year goes to support Israel without our control at the same time we have many children in this country that go to bed hungry every night.
"Israel can not be allowed to determine such a consequential choice for the United States."
Luckily, the year is not 1938 and Israel is not Chechoslovakia. We, as a nation, cannot just watch as Israel, a true ally of the United States, gets blown away by Iranian nukes. How "important" does a country have to be to earn our protection? Do they need to be European? Do they need to provide us with oil? What kind of conditions are we prepared to set for who should live and who should die?
The Iranian president has repeatedly threatened to "wipe Israel off the map." Should we wait until Iran has already dropped a nuke in the heart of Israel before we get involved?
To say that Israel "crossed the line" in demanding that the United States assist Israel here, is absurd. If any other country was being threatened with extermination by another country ten times its size, it would be reasonable to assume that the government would do anything necessary to ensure the survival of its citizens. However, for some reason, you have decided to treat Israel like the boy who cried wolf. Well, guess what? There actually is a big bad wolf breathing over Israel's neck. And Israelis have every reason to yell.
We should go to the mattresses to protect the territorial integrity of Israel against all who would violate it. And we should go to the mattresses to ensure that Israel does not perpetuate a hugely damaging illegal occupation of territory that is not in Israel and which the USA long declared to be illegal.
The Iranian leaders are dangerous and we should deal with them as such. The Iranian people are considerably less dangerous in my view and we should also take care not to elevate the leadership in their eyes by neocon-oriented behavior.
And, Russell, I'm sure you'll join me is saying that a nuclear-free Middle East, including Israel, must be achieved. Won't you?
This post is an example of someone who gets her or his news from Fox News only. The last time I checked, Israel had more than 200 nuclear bombs and was performing military exercise by shelling on helpless Palestinians and Iran was accused guilty for thinking of having 1.
Fortunately the year is 2009 and Americans are waking up and finding out the truth mostly with the help of Internet. I do not believe you or your associates are able to fool them anymore.
More to the point, this is NOT 2001-2008, and the US Administration (I have a feeling) is not going to be dictated to by Israel.
If it has come to that, then we really need to fundamentally re-evaluate our relationship with that nation,
No country should be in a position to Dictate US foreign policy.
If I rmember correctly, the last US intelligence assessment stated that Iran was quite some time away from developing a bomb, but Israel, and Bibi (whom I trust about as far as I can throw him) vehemently disagreed --sounds like the tail wagging the dog (and how convenient --If we're all pre-occupied with Iran, Israel cna go right on building more settlements).
May I remind everyone that the President of Iran is NOT the commander in chief of Iran's military--that would be Ayatollah Khamenei)
This sounds a lot like the warm up to Iraq--only it's the Israelis wh are doing the selling instead Bush Cheney.
Where are Iraq's WMD's ?
Israel has more pressing maters --like the settlements on the West Bank, and negotiations with the PA.
I think we have the Iran matter well in hand.
Aren't WE giving aid to Israel instead of the other way around?
I love the distinction that you try to make between Ahmedinejad and Khamenei. As if Khamenei were somehow innocent and distanced himself from the threatening comments made by the Iranian president. Just today, Reuters is reporting that Khamenei is calling Israel a "cancerous tumor." Man, what a peaceful dude!
that isn't what the Iranian president said:
watch this: http://www
particularly: Q: You have said that you want Israel off the map. You really cannot accept the existence of Israel?
No we don't need it and we have a solution for the Israeli and the Zionist Regime. We told them that they should let the Palestinians express their views in a referendum so that the people can chose - we think that this is a humanitarian solution. We are fundamentally opposed to war.
Q: But you speak with more determination. The collapse of Soviet Union was a surprise - you're saying you want Israel off the map now.
Because we analyse the problems of the region carefully and realistically, We do not deceive ourselves. We say a regime that does not have a proper philosophy of existence, which is an occupier which bullies people, and which is without culture and civilisation and which has all the powers of the region against it and only relies on its military power- this cannot survive."
I agree with a lot of what he says. I will add a country that blackmails another country into supporting it . . . has no integrity . . .these are the tactics of a rogue state . . let israel go it alone . . no more financial or military aid . . the UN must impose sanctions on israel . . . disinvestment must happen . . it is the only road to peace
We have become so poor economicaly even Israel is blackmailing politicaly.
The question that keeps begging is this: which country is to the shill of the other?
Do not blame these people for watching behind their backs. After all, for them the most important agenda is to remain in office and power. For now that is guaranteed mainly by AIPAC and their associates. Blame the uninformed gullible people who believe in them and elect them to their offices.
When Israel agrees to get rid of their nukes then they can preach to the rest of the world!
Not going to happen.
Just in.
The ben Gurion university scientists have invented a compound that can solve the worlds problems.
the compound is mixed in the fuel that is provided by nuclear nations to start power plants.
So Egypt , and all arab states can have nuclear energy.
Oh ! I forgot the best part...the compound stops the enriched uranuim from becoming weaponized.
Et voila...
Lets see if Iran agrees to this, since they swear they only want nuclear energy and not the bomb.
It doesn’t sound logical that a country like Iran that has been isolated for so many years and constantly been threatened by countries with nuclear capability would abandon nuclear military ambitions. No one with a healthy working brain would do such a dumb act.
Hysterical. Poor Iran, they would never ever threaten anyone.
I'm sure they would agree to use just as soon as Israel gave up all its hundreds of nuclear weapons and used this compound itself. I wouldn't hold my breath.
There are no reports of this fabrication on the University website.
"Now Israel has gone one better and is issuing instructions to the United States on what America's red lines with Iran should be. The implication of course is that Israel will take matters into its own hands if these lines are crossed -- whether America does or not"
Be very afraid the evil is Israel, not Iran.
How long has this propaganda been going on...'79 and recently upgraded in the last 3 years; It's time to realize that it is big oil pushing this agenda and to not heed MSM sounding nuclear bombs versus nuclear energy.
And as a side note, why is all pages of Huffington Post, at least on the World part, coming up Operation aborted! that what censorship looks like as demonstrated during the Olympic games in Beijing last summer.
""""""How long has this propaganda been going on""" since 1948.
We don't need to read Ha'aretz to find out who is setting the tone for no dialogue with Iran.
U.S. Statements are the same old policies we have heard before. Apparently dialogue with Iran is based on abiding by U.S. and Israeli dictates. Dialogue means do as I say or else - absolutely no difference between Obama and Bush on U.S. foreign policy.
Of course Israel is above the law and nothing that Israel does in definace of international law is ever questioned.
As Clinton visits Tel-Aviv she doesn't mention anything about the devastation in Gaza but continues to indicate that U.S. is 100% behind Israel this wonderful democratic civilized country who is such a victim of all of her regional foes. This poor country who has been surviving on US tax payers for her survival. Pathetic!
Hillary doesn't speak to the killing in the war on Gaza just as Condie ignored the killing in the war on Lebanon. Our ladies are, of course, very concerned about the security of all those Israelis, as if the humanity & dire needs of the Palestinians do not exist, much less equate. I can't imagine any of the neighbors in the region, including Iran, who would respect our leaders who have such an unequitable concept of humanity, in that we need concern ourselves about only one party & reserve little or no sympathy for the others.
Do not blame these people for watching behind their backs. After all for them the most important agenda is to remain in office and power. For now that is guaranteed mainly by AIPAC and their associates. Blame the uninformed gullible people who believe in them and elect them to their offices.
During the most recent incursion into Gaza was the direct fault of Hamas, the ruling government in Gaza. The terrorist group that rules Gaza fired rockets and mortars into Israel from civilian sites and when the incurrsion began the cowards in Hamas hid among the innocent civilians of Gaza, putting them in harm's way. The fault for any injuries suffered by civilians is the directly the responsibility of Hamas.
The folks blaming Israel need to understand that Hamas complaining about the results of the attack is a lot like a fighter getting in the ring with Shane Moseley and then complaining about getting hit really hard. If you don't start something, there won't be anything.
The biggest danger that nuclear Iran would pose is to speed up, secure and maintain durable peace in the ME finally!
I agree with you louisamast . . .
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