POST UPDATED BELOW
In an interview with me, Dem Rep Robert Wexler, a leading voice in Congress on Israeli-Arab affairs, made a fascinating point, arguing that one of the most important lines in Obama’s Cairo speech was this one:
“America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and we will say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs.”
Wexler told me he thinks that Obama’s promise to “say in public what we say in private” to all parties was “one of the critical lines in the speech, even though casual observers may gloss over it.”
Wexler explained that this one line concealed far more significance for his audience than many would appreciate. He said Obama was reassuring Arabs that America would no longer give wink-wink-nudge-nudge private support for Israeli military actions, a vow that will have great resonance in the Arab world.
He was saying that “it is no longer acceptable to say in private, `Go Israelis, take on Hezbollah,’ or `Go Israelis, take on Iran,’” Wexler said. “He has called out all of the parties, including ourselves, to step up to the plate as adults and make difficult political decisions.”
Food for thought.
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Update: Wexler just called to say that this isn’t what he meant to say. He says he thought that Obama was saying it would no longer be acceptable for Arab states to tacitly signal support for Israeli military actions while saying something else publicly. He says he didn’t realize Obama was referring to America saying the same thing privately as it says publicly.
The White House transcript clearly shows that Obama did say that “we,” meaning America, would say the same thing publicly that we say privately to all parties. But Wexler didn’t hear it that way. What he meant to tell me is that he thought it significant that Obama was saying Arab states would no longer be permitted to signal tacit support for Israeli military actions. Though that isn’t what Obama said, this is what Wexler meant.
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Very good catch with the Wexler interview. It might get you mentioned on KO again, making it three nights in a row!
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The Obama-Bibi dance has been and will continue to be fascinating to watch. The US-Israel-Palestine knot is the key to so many other knots, terrorism foremost amongst them. I’m convinced Obama sees that and will continue to resist the extreme pro-Israel (read: pro-Likud) forces that so many in DC regard as mainstream.
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BTW, yep, west-coaster here in SF. Nancy Pelosi is my rep, though that mostly means I don’t have a rep
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Yes, indeed – the Obama administration has been so transparent to this point . . .
“BTW, yep, west-coaster here in SF. Nancy Pelosi is my rep, though that mostly means I don’t have a rep
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O puhleeeeze! LOL
My rep is Jeb Hensarling – the Repug twit of twits. My senators are Fluffy Hutchison and John Clowrnyn.
[rolls eyes]
you poor poor thang. ;P
It’s incredible that something so simple could potentially be profound for the peace process. Common sense should convey that mediation — America’s prime role in the peace process — would be hampered by any indication or suspicion of bias towards one party, or by actual partiality toward one party’s interests. The notion that an American president is considered bold, or even “radical,” for doing what common sense instructs is dumbfounding. The question is whether this president can maintain his firm, unbiased approach, or if domestic political pressures will demand deference to Israel’s interests? The irony is that there is much reporting (the American press has largely ignored it) that Israelis tend to support Obama’s approach to achieving the two-state solution.
Is Wexler saying that Israel’s planned military actions in Lebanon are a no-go? This is huge. Because you know that 5-day military drill was a prelude to more military action on Lebanon which was to be justified by Hezbollah winning the elections. Is Wexler saying that UN sanctions for Israel’s aggressive military actions are on the table?
Wexler also just cut AIPAC off at the knees.
So it’s still acceptable for the US to tacitly signal support for Israeli military actions while saying something else publicly.
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Thank goodness!
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Transparency takes another hit.
So the troops are already out of Iraq, we’ve closed Gitmo, warrantless wiretaps are no longer being used, rendition is finished, and we support an undivided Jerusalem just like Obama told AIPAC last year.
Obama promising to be honest about what we say in public is like watching Pinocchio grow his nose.
CUT all funding and STOP all arms exports
CUT ALL funding and STOP the export to Israel of CAT bulldozers and also:
ALL EARTH-MOVING EQUIPMENT
F16 & F15 FIGHTER/ BOMBER AIRCRAFT
CLUSTER BOMBS
BUNKER BUSTING BOMBS
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
TANKS & ARMORED VEHICLES
GUNS & ARTILLERY
ELECTRONIC MISSILE SYSTEMS
COVERT LISTENING DEVICES
UNMANNED DRONES
PLUTONIUM FOR NUCLEAR WARHEADS
CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL FOR WMD
WHITE PHOSPHORUS & TOXIC GASES
– aipacisbadfordemocracy
You can not have a viable peace process until both parties privately and publicly recognize each other’s right to exist. This has been the missing puzzle piece for over 60 years, and I do not think President Obama will achieve anything at all in this area until this recognition is real.
This is the type of “leadership” that we have had from our representative from Maryland for years. This is one of the reasons that I ran against him in 2008 and this is one of the reasons that I am running against him in 2010. My children deserve a better congressman than this. It is time that the Jewish democrats understand that they are better with someone like me who cares about Israel versus Wexler who cares only about his political career and NOTHING about Israel. He sold them a deceptive bill of goods with Obama. A political career marked with deception, corruption and criminal activity. For the truth go to http://www.wexlersweb.com. The FBI is closing in.
Don’t bother looking for Wexler today. Sources say he’s gone to Gaza to intervene…and put The O’Humble One’s plan into action.