The associate editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the main paper in Jimmah’s stomping grounds, thinks that Carter is dead wrong on Israel.
The matter of Israel’s survival and this country’s relationship with it is much too consequential to discuss in the normal language of political debate. But I do sense a growing willingness, on the left especially, to regard Israel as the villain and America as the enabler.
As the war in Iraq has grown more unpopular in this country, there’s an eagerness to make peace, or at least the illusion of peace, so that we can get out. If we leave in defeat, the entire world knows we won’t go back, even in defense of Israel, for at least the time it took to recover from Vietnam.
For me this is not a time to be equivocal, either about Iraq, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas or our commitments to friends who believe in our word.
Israel’s right to exist has never been affirmed by its enemies. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vows to see it destroyed. Palestinians chose a terrorist organization, Hamas, in parliamentary elections a year ago. Syria arms Hezbollah, which seeks to destroy Israel, as Syria would directly if it could.
For my part, there can be no “balance” in U.S. policy in the region. Retreating from Gaza in the summer of 2005, Israel did something this country would never have done, sending 25,000 soldiers to haul 8,500 of its citizens from their abodes, sacrificing their homes and land to the prospect of peace. What did they get in return? A rain of missiles.
With that example, with Hezbollah and Hamas, and a frighteningly dangerous leader in Iran who is no more than five years away from nuclear weaponry —- sworn enemies all —- you’ll not find a word here that undermines support in this country for Israel. That was surely not Carter’s intentions, but I fear it will be a consequence.
We have one permanent friend in the region and that is Israel.
When longtime Carter supporters speak out, as Stein and Konner and board members who resigned last week did, the rest of us should listen.
I’m pretty sure that Wooten is not a Jewish name. Wonder what Carter’s going to have to say about this?
What is needed is for Clinton to describe what actually happened during his “peace” conference with Arafat and Barak and debunk Carter’s twisted interpretation of the facts.
I am also looking forward to the
expose’ of the radical Arab funds that support his biased ideas.
They’ll accuse him of being a Zionist and say that his real name is probably Wootenofsky
The whole point of his attacking Israel is because he cannot admit that he was wrong all those years ago.
Didn’t the settlers get 350 000 for leaving land that wasn’t their own anyways?
Paul, I would be interested in seeing some authentic, credible sources to back up both your assertions: that the Jews who used to live in those areas (I assume that you are referring to the destroyed Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria) received the amount of compensation you mention (are you talking shekels or dollars?), and that the land was not theirs to begin with.
I’m not holding my breath.
Paul are youi smoking dope?
Carter is a constipated old fool.
Spengler (of Asia Times) to Jimmy-the-dhimmi: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a d-mn.”
to be fair, I believe Carter only looks constipated.
Aren’t settlers also known as squatters?
Paul: You’re new here.
Read this.
All of it.
Then read this.
Then watch yourself.