Tag: israel

Otto Does Foreign Policy

Does anyone remember Otto, the brain damaged ex-CIA assassin played so deliciously by Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda? Otto cruised around London in a massive old Chrysler, driving on the right and forcing British drivers off the road while screaming that they were a**holes. Described by one reviewer as a walking id, Otto’s … Continue reading “Otto Does Foreign Policy”

The Natural Map of the Middle East

“Apart from political maps of mankind, there are natural maps of mankind. … One of the first laws of political stability is to draw your political boundaries along the lines of the natural map of mankind.” So wrote H.G. Wells in “What Is Coming: A Forecast of Things After the War” in the year of … Continue reading “The Natural Map of the Middle East”

Shame on All of Us

The shameful spectacle of American politicians trying to outdo each other in demonstrating their love for Israel played out again last week. The sparring began before the Olympic Games in London. Israel asked for a moment of silence at the opening ceremony to commemorate the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered in Munich 40 years … Continue reading “Shame on All of Us”

Is Mitt Being Neoconned Into War?

Has Mitt Romney given Israel a blank check for war? So it seemed from the declaration in Jerusalem by his adviser Dan Senor, who all but flashed Israel a green light for war, signaling the Israelis that, if you go, Mitt’s got your back: “If Israel has to take action on its own in order … Continue reading “Is Mitt Being Neoconned Into War?”

Playing to the Peanut Gallery

Mitt Romney is holding a fundraiser in Israel, where casino magnate and would-be GOP kingmaker Sheldon Adelson is slated to attend: no doubt the fanatically pro-Israel billionaire will be making a substantial contribution to the candidate’s war chest. Adelson is betting Romney will be putty in the Israel lobby’s hands, and make no trouble when … Continue reading “Playing to the Peanut Gallery”

Talking Zionism

“He talks Zionism” used to be a very derogatory comment when I was young. It meant that some elderly functionary had come to waste our time with a boring speech consisting largely of empty phrases. That was before the foundation of the State of Israel. Since then, the term “Zionism” has been elevated to the … Continue reading “Talking Zionism”

Israel Pins Bombing on Hezbollah to Get EU Terror Ruling

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim Sunday of absolutely reliable intelligence linking Hezbollah to the bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria, last week was apparently aimed at supporting his government’s determination to get the EU to declare Hezbollah a terrorist state. The Netanyahu claim in interviews on Fox News Sunday and CBS’s Face the Nation of “rock … Continue reading “Israel Pins Bombing on Hezbollah to Get EU Terror Ruling”

Israel Walls Itself In

JERUSALEM – As Israel continues to build walls and fences along virtually each of its borders, analysts say the country’s isolationist policies and unwillingness to deal with the Palestinians and other Arab neighbors through anything other than forceful means spells disaster. "On the one hand we’re walling the Palestinians in but on the other hand if … Continue reading “Israel Walls Itself In”