Michael Rubin writes:
I see reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is heading to Tbilisi and Moscow. How sad it is that President George Bush remains at the Olympics and isn't in Tbilisi, standing in support of a key U.S. ally who has stood by the U.S. in Iraq. Likewise, it seems Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have no intention of traveling to Georgia. If I were the Baltic states and Poland, like Georgia on the receiving end of Russian threats; Taiwan, on the receiving end of Chinese threats; Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, on the receiving end of Iranian threats; or Columbia, on the receiving end of Veneuzelan subterfuge, I would be very worried indeed at the ineffectiveness of Washington's response. At least those Georgians being killed and all U.S. allies watching can rest assured that the State Department will seek a robust statement from the UN Security Council, at least if Russia doesn't veto it.Bush may be a lame duck--but he is still President.
If this is going to be how he and Rice are going to be down the stretch, will someone please tell Olmert he can stop showing off--the US is no longer paying attention.
Technorati Tag: Israel and Georgia.
McCain on Georgia ("called for an immediate NATO meeting to review measures the alliance can take to stabilize the situation") sound pretty much exactly like Bush on Israel -- both seem to be heading towards using NATO or other international forces to, ahem, stabilize areas in the name of national security (including oil-related national security)or war on terror. James Jones, McCain's friend, has been involved in both regions (NATO/Caspian Guard plan, Annapolis Middle East envoy) too, no wonder. "Transformation."
ReplyDeleteI suppose. But the difference between McCain and Bush I see as the same difference as between McCain and Obama's original statement--McCain does not take the 'evenhanded' approach, but rather holds one party responsible.
ReplyDeleteOne of the flaws of Bush's policy is that he views Israel and the PA as equal 'partners' in search of peace.
"One of the flaws of Bush's policy is that he views Israel and the PA as equal 'partners' in search of peace."
ReplyDeleteIt's past time to wake up and reject that delusion. Bush (and McCain and Obama) continue to very unequally sacrifice Israel for falsely perceived US political expediency.
And just as appeasement of the Islamic nations (particularly KSA) re: Israel worsens the WOT situation, appeasement of the corrupt Azerbaijan will as well.
(And the Jewish community needs to do something about this speeding anti-Israel ecumenical movement that openly states Jerusalem as one of its goals. Obama & McCain are meeting at the church of one of its leaders this week. All sorts of Yale followup meetings are planned for the fall.)
The problem is that Israel advocacy is hamstrung by Israel's own advocacy--as long as the government put's Jerusalem on the table, US politicians will not go out of their way to take a stand to the right of Israel's own stated position.
ReplyDeleteAs it is now, even with a return of Likud, after Kadima is it really possible for Israel to take Jerusalem off the table without incurring a strong backlash from her 'allies'?
Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and the Golan must all be taken off the table, regardless of the sure-to-come backlash, for the backlash of all the nations together is nothing compared to the backlash of the Almighty Creator who disciplines His own by using wicked nations and people as a rod. We must stop trusting in mere men. The Tanakh has never, never been wrong, and it is loud and specific about the land.
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