I have not been in the habbit of writing diaries, but it seems like too much of the bad news about Israel slips through the cracks. On a site devoted to electing democrats and the discussion of things related to politics I think it is appropriate to remain informed about these things.
I don't think there is any political advantage to be gained by not being extremly pro Israel other than appearing to be more courageous and independent than other politicians on the national stage. Nonetheless I feel holding true to progressive humanistic thinkinging is virtuous and will lead America and humanity in a better direction. We should learn the good the bad and the ugly about our influential ally. Undoubtedly, I will focus on the bad and the ugly with the exception of protest for peace in Israel which also fail to get coverage.
Now for the meat I will start you off with a link to the article in Haaretz the liberal Israeli Newspaper which is bolder than anything mainstream in America when it comes to discussing these issues. Haaretz (Lieberman: U.S. to accept any Israeli policy decision )
The quote:
Believe me, America accepts all our decisions," Lieberman told the Russian daily Moskovskiy Komosolets.
Now for context I will blockquote the rest of his conversation as he did have other intersting things to say.
"Russia has a special influence in the Muslim world, and I consider it a strategic partner that should play a key role in the Middle East,"
I have argued for some time that Israel has insufficient appreciation for the 'Kremlin factor'; I intend to mend this gap,"
"Pakistan is nuclear and unstable, and Afghanistan is faced with a potential Taliban takeover, and the combination form a contiguous area of radicalism ruled in the spirit of Bin Laden,"
I do not think that this makes anyone in China, Russia or the U.S. happy ... these countries [Pakistan and Afghanistan] are a threat not only to Israel, but to the global order as a whole."
What shocks me about this beyond the brazen assumption that the United States is firmly under Israel's control is the respect shown toward other nations like his Liebermans native Russia. He did not assume Russia will obediently serve Israel's interest, instead he appears to be reaching out. I am no expert, but it appears Russia has a stronger position than US in so much that they are not being taken for granted.
His downgrading of Iran from the number one threat position to the number two is also intersting. He is at least thinking and paying attention to the upheavel in nuclear pakistan where the taliban seem to be working toward overthrowing the goverment.
I think Lieberman may be a bigot, but that does not make him a fool. He is simply more honest about his intentions and feelings than others in the Israeli goverment. This could be advantageous since honesty helps us all get to the bottom of things. So at once I celebrate his straight talk and I dismiss his combative and bigoted misrepresentations of Arabs and Palistinains. Americans need to demand more independence from our politicians. We should all recall the bragging Olmert did about getting Condeleeza Rice to change her vote at the last minute with a phone call. That kind of thing is just humiliating. Isreali officails have gotten so brazen as to publically make a mockery of the United States goverment(not that they need much help). Then we have the Harman case to add insult ot injury. I think the time has come to revise America's relationship with Israel. I would much rather policy be set in 200 year fully inclusive open equal democracy of 300 million people than a 60 year old dysfunctional state that ran large numbers of it's original inhabbitants out the country and into refugee camps (where they have no rights) and has entirely too many problems with the mere idea of equal rights. America has had issues with race relations and a indigenous population. It should provide the leadership that experience and maturity bring.