Tag Archives: Thomas Friedman

Playing into Hamas’s hands

Posted on 11/09/2010 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman who is an expert – “expert” in this case means being able to say things with no factual support and have no one question you – wrote The Reality Principle in 2003. Have you noticed how often Israel … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged | 2 Comments

The “bash Israel” security blanket

Posted on 10/20/2010 by Soccerdad

The first paragraph of Thomas Friedman’s column today, Just Knock it off, makes sense: Some of Israel’s worst critics are fond of saying that Israel behaves like America’s spoiled child. I’ve always found that analogy excessive. Say what you want … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time | Tagged | 2 Comments

Friedman’s forgotten amendment

Posted on 09/08/2010 by Soccerdad

Saudi Time by Thomas Friedman Some eight years ago, in February 2002, I interviewed then-Crown Prince-now-King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at his horse farm outside Riyadh. I shared with him a column I had written — suggesting that the Arab … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Media Bias | Tagged | 2 Comments

Friedman’s false history

Posted on 09/02/2010 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman – the master of pithy phrase that means nothing and firm believer that there’s always one more Israeli concession that’s necessary for peace in the Middle East – clearly has experienced a different history from the one I … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged | 3 Comments

You’re one of the destructive ones Tom

Posted on 08/08/2010 by Soccerdad

I’m happy today that Thomas Friedman appreciates the difference between “constructive” and “destructive” critics of Israel. I write about this now because there is something foul in the air. It is a trend, both deliberate and inadvertent, to delegitimize Israel … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged | 2 Comments

Could you please shut up?

Posted on 07/19/2010 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman, in Can We Talk? regrets the firing of Octavia Nasr. I find Nasr’s firing troubling. Yes, she made a mistake. Reporters covering a beat should not be issuing condolences for any of the actors they cover. It undermines … Continue reading →

Posted in Lebanon, Media Bias | Tagged | 2 Comments

Friedman’s just another word for nothing left to lose

Posted on 06/27/2010 by Soccerdad

Clearly Friedman doesn’t understand history. It’s even clearer that he hasn’t learned from it either.

… why not be wrong about the Middle East too? He’s got no credibility left to lose. Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Media Bias | Tagged | 6 Comments

Critic, investigate thyself

Posted on 06/16/2010 by Soccerdad

The PA’s Abbas isn’t happy that Israel chose to investigate its actions regarding the attack on Israeli commandos by terrorists on the Mavi Marmara. “We totally agreed with the inquiring commission that was mentioned in the final declaration by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Friedman: imaginary friend

Posted on 06/02/2010 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman is apparently vexed, by the recent conflict between Israel and Turkey in When America’s friends fall out: As a friend of both Turkey and Israel, it has been agonizing to watch the disastrous clash between Israeli naval commandos … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, World | Tagged | 2 Comments

Drunk on his own eloquence

Posted on 03/15/2010 by Soccerdad

In Driving Drunk in Jerusalem Thomas Friedman warns PM Netanayahu: In sum, there may be a real opportunity here — if Netanyahu chooses to seize it. The Israeli leader needs to make up his mind whether he wants to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time | Tagged | 4 Comments

When you’re serious about the Middle East, stop living in the past

Posted on 11/08/2009 by Soccerdad

Thomas Freidman, today relives one of his greatest hits on Israel. In an op-ed entitled “Call White House, Ask for Barack,” Friedman writes: Today, the Arabs, Israel and the Palestinians are clearly not feeling enough pain to do anything hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Media Bias | Tagged | 2 Comments

Worth every penny of “free”

Posted on 08/02/2009 by Soccerdad

In “Free marriage counseling” Thomas Friedman offers advice how to repair the currently strained American Israeli diplomatic impasse. The operative word is “free” because that is exactly what Friedman’s advice is worth. Friedman simply strings together his past positions and … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time | Tagged | 3 Comments

When outrage is in short supply

Posted on 02/18/2009 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman’s No Way, No How, Not Here praises Indian Muslims for refusing to bury the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks. To be sure, Mumbai’s Muslims are a vulnerable minority in a predominantly Hindu country. Nevertheless, their in-your-face defiance … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Hamas, Terrorism | Tagged | Comments Off

Keep it simple Tom

Posted on 02/04/2009 by Soccerdad

In Don’t try this at home, Thomas Friedman unnecessarily complicates the Middle East. For one thing he makes a fundamental mistake. In recent days, some have questioned whether Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was making a big mistake in appointing … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel | Tagged , | Comments Off

Giving Friedman the Boot

Posted on 01/25/2009 by Soccerdad

Thomas Friedman’s “This is not a test,” is a fraudulent exercise in moral equivalence. After making fun of the regular calls for peace in the Middle East over the past two decades or more, claiming that it is absolutely urgent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time, Media Bias | Tagged | 1 Comment

Teaching Thomas

Posted on 01/14/2009 by Soccerdad

In “Israel’s goals in Gaza,” Thomas Friedman sees Israel’s war against Hamas as a teaching action. No, really. I have only one question about Israel’s military operation in Gaza: What is the goal? Is it the education of Hamas or … Continue reading →

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Media Bias | Tagged | Comments Off

Faith in Fatah

Posted on 01/07/2009 by Soccerdad

That’s what Thomas Friedman has. Hamas rejects any recognition of Israel. By contrast, the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, has recognized Israel — and vice versa. If you believe, as I do, that the only stable solution … Continue reading →

Posted in Hamas, palestinian politics | Tagged | Comments Off

Betting with buffett

Posted on 06/08/2008 by Soccerdad

In People vs. Dinosaurs Thomas Friedman shows some surprising optimism about Israel. Question: What do America’s premier investor, Warren Buffett, and Iran’s toxic president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have in common? Answer: They’ve both made a bet about Israel’s future. Ahmadinejad declared … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Israel | Tagged , | Comments Off

Sophomoric oxymorons

Posted on 06/06/2008 by Soccerdad

A few years ago Thomas Friedman wrote a column, “Wanted: Fanatical moderates.” It was advocating the Geneva Accords, a PR exercise undertaken by Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo and a number of others. The point of the exercise was … Continue reading →

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time, palestinian politics | Tagged | 4 Comments