The relationship between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu has become so toxic that it’s gotten to the point that we no longer trust the Israelis, at least not for the moment. Additionally, Netanyahu’s damage has been so extensive to the point that he almost fully inserted himself into the presidential election back in 2012.
Monthly Archives: March 2015
Keeping In Mind The Mindboggling Mindlessness of the Republicans and Likudniks
I’m not going to say that Iran did anything crazy, and so far they’re not going to bother for the sole reason that their economy is crippled very badly from the comprehensive sanctions regime imposed backed in 2010. They’d like these sanctions lifted so they can regrow their economy and so far have been willing to allow intrusive inspections from the IAEA to verify their claims that they’re not seeking to build a nuclear bomb. In addition, it’s to put the entire international community at ease so they can pursue their right to generate peaceful nuclear electricity and nuclear isotopes for medicinal purposes.
For the Republicans, their insanity is easy enough to explain. They’re unwilling to allow anything to happen with Iran unless it’s a war with that nation, a war with the goal of regime change. Let me be very clear, we have no leverage in terms of using force on Iran, our military is exhausted from fighting long wars in Afghanistan (13 years) and Iraq (8 years). We don’t have the capacity to execute a war, much to the GOP’s disdain. The only way to resolve the crisis over Iran’s lack of disclosures for its nuclear program is by talking to them.
Which leads me to my next point about the GOP: real cute in penning that op-ed (I’m calling on you Tom Cotton) signed by 47 of the 54 members of the +Senate GOP. There’s nothing in terms of the history of the United States Senate, as the +CBS Evening News reported Joe Biden saying in a strongly worded statement. Enclosed is the video, from that segment, via +YouTube. It’s easy to understand why +The White House was so livid when they learned about this. However, I’m not so upset by the fact that Cotton even penned that letter, as to do something stupid like that is absolutely expected by a freshman politician. What’s pissed me off more than anything is the fact that Mitch McConnell, the Republicans’ leader in the Senate signed the letter as well as other senior Republicans like Chuck Grassley and +Senator John McCain, who should have known better than to sign that letter undermining the White House during a time of critical negotiations with Iran. It’s easy to see why President Obama and Vice President Biden are livid about this act, in addition to Secretary John Kerry.
This is where Likud (the party of the +Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu) comes into play. Their playbook is the same as the Republicans’, fear-monger and war-monger. To both, only war can resolve this crisis. This is also Likud’s stance towards the Palestinians, only force is the means of solving the crisis of their attempts to take Israeli land for a state of their own and their support for Hamas and other “terrorist” networks. And by “their”, he means all the Palestinians, which is completely bogus. However, that’s not what has me irked about Likud.
Apparently the fear-mongering worked for Likud, who managed to pull of an upset victory in Tuesday’s election.
Republicans And War Via Israel
Somehow the Republicans’ lust for war and especially so in the Mideast says a lot about where their priorities lay. I’m not surprised by the treasonous letter sent by 47 of the 54 Senate Republicans, as they’ll do anything to undermine the President. Moreover, it’s also not surprising that Republicans in Congress are just not willing to resolve the crisis diplomatically as it takes too long, while war resolves the crisis with Iran quickly and with the added effect of giving them pleasure in seeing innocents die while they profit off their deaths. This may be 1 reason they’re colluding with Benjamin Netanyahu to undermine the intense negotiations with Iran.
Netanyahu Returns To Washington A La Boehner
In terms of Boehner, that’s also simple. It’s to get another +GOP President in +The White House and to instill the permanent reign of the far-right wing. And we thought George W. Bush would be the last of these ultra-radicalized, war-mongering conservatives. Nope, not even close. This next crop of Republican Presidential candidates will be even more reactionary than Bush, Jr. ever was. They will make him seem left-wing/center-left and/or centrist in comparison.
Additionally, there’s a second reason, which is to undermine +Barack Obama‘s authority as President of the United States. If anything, it’s Boehner’s means of throwing a tantrum since Obama’s not caving, at all. For Boehner, this would be the best day in his life if he successfully helps Netanyahu undermine and potentially kill off the negotiations to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.
I find that Bibi has a problem with honesty, as he helped to lie us into Iraq back in 2002, just like he’s trying to do now with Iran in 2015.
Sources:
http://www.netanyahu.org.il/en/
http://www.jgsf1987.com/2012/02/a-new-round-of-threats-between-israel.html
http://www.alternet.org/world/benjamin-netanyahu-has-been-lying-americans-20-years