Comments on: Yale Political Union Votes 44-25 to ‘End the Special Relationship’ Between U.S. and Israel http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html The War of Ideas in the Middle East Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:02:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: D. http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52185 D. Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52185 <p>I hope someone recorded the event.</p> <p>Last May, Britain's Oxford Union debated, <a href="http://justice4lebanon.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/oxford-union-israel-lobby-stifling-debate/" rel="nofollow">"This house believes the pro-Israel lobby has successfully stifled Western debate about Israel’s actions."</a> (Motion passed by a two-thirds margin.)</p> <p>And in 2006, the Cambridge Union debated, <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4507.shtml" rel="nofollow">"This House believes that Zionism is a danger to the Jewish people."</a> (Motion passed by a small margin.)</p> <p>The rest of the world is talking about this stuff.</p> I hope someone recorded the event.

Last May, Britain's Oxford Union debated, "This house believes the pro-Israel lobby has successfully stifled Western debate about Israel’s actions." (Motion passed by a two-thirds margin.)

And in 2006, the Cambridge Union debated, "This House believes that Zionism is a danger to the Jewish people." (Motion passed by a small margin.)

The rest of the world is talking about this stuff.

]]> By: NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52186 NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52186 <p>Talking about the Israel Lobby with Brig. Gen. James Davidon the Liberty Hour. The Lobby's power blocked President Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention:</p> <p><br /> http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot.com/2008/09/talking-about-israel-lobby-with-brig.html</p> <p><br /> http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot.com/2008/08/dont-let-neocon-agenda-get-us-into.html</p> <p>http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot.com/2008/06/scott-mcclellan-questioned-about-neocon.html</p> <p>http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.COM</p> Talking about the Israel Lobby with Brig. Gen. James Davidon the Liberty Hour. The Lobby's power blocked President Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention:

“>link to neoconzionistthreat.blogspot.com

http://neoconzionistthreat.blogspot.com/2008/06/scott-mcclellan-questioned-about-neocon.html

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.COM

]]> By: NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52187 NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52187 <p>U.S. Middle East policy motivated by pro-Israel lobby</p> <p>http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=49800</p> U.S. Middle East policy motivated by pro-Israel lobby

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=49800

]]> By: Richard Witty http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52188 Richard Witty Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52188 <p>"End the special relationship".</p> <p>Why not end all personal friendships in which a person bears any responsibility for someone that they consider uncomfortable in any way?</p> <p>I prefer the corollary, ENGAGE more in the special relationship, sufficient to transform it.</p> <p>The presumption being that that sets the bar high for the US, to be as worthy as possible, worthy to guide others.</p> "End the special relationship".

Why not end all personal friendships in which a person bears any responsibility for someone that they consider uncomfortable in any way?

I prefer the corollary, ENGAGE more in the special relationship, sufficient to transform it.

The presumption being that that sets the bar high for the US, to be as worthy as possible, worthy to guide others.

]]> By: Richard Witty http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52189 Richard Witty Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52189 <p>The prerequisite to normalizing the relationship between Israel and the US is a FIRMLY confident peace between Israel and its neighbors.</p> <p>So long as Hezbollah remains armed to the teeth in disregard of UN resolutions, and Hamas continues to pursue a path of terror (even if deferred), then that remains a dream deferred.</p> <p>Its not resistance when Hezbollah declares that it will continue harrassment of Israel independant of resolution of Lebanese border issues.</p> The prerequisite to normalizing the relationship between Israel and the US is a FIRMLY confident peace between Israel and its neighbors.

So long as Hezbollah remains armed to the teeth in disregard of UN resolutions, and Hamas continues to pursue a path of terror (even if deferred), then that remains a dream deferred.

Its not resistance when Hezbollah declares that it will continue harrassment of Israel independant of resolution of Lebanese border issues.

]]> By: Bill http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52190 Bill Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52190 <p>Richard, I have read your almost daily comments for the past year(s)to get to know that you are a good and thoughtful person, except when it comes to Israel. You are blinded by zionism. You are a family man. Put yourself in the shoes of a father in the outdoor prison camp, imagine the humilation and dispair he must feel when his children are harassed by the settlers,or herded through the checkpoints, and he cannot help them. Can't you see the damage this relationship is doing to your country? "Be there ever a man with soul so dead, thet never to himself hath said...this is my home, my native land." You are an American! Act like one!<br /> Bill</p> Richard, I have read your almost daily comments for the past year(s)to get to know that you are a good and thoughtful person, except when it comes to Israel. You are blinded by zionism. You are a family man. Put yourself in the shoes of a father in the outdoor prison camp, imagine the humilation and dispair he must feel when his children are harassed by the settlers,or herded through the checkpoints, and he cannot help them. Can't you see the damage this relationship is doing to your country? "Be there ever a man with soul so dead, thet never to himself hath said…this is my home, my native land." You are an American! Act like one!
Bill

]]> By: LeaNder http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52191 LeaNder Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52191 <p>75% of Israel think that the US should attack Iran, and since no conventional weapons can achieve the wanted outcome, that means they support nuking Iran.</p> <p>That's the part of the special relationship the world watches with irritation.</p> <p>I don't know why, but reading your lines the poem's end below was on my mind.</p> <p>Why wasn't there as much as whisper with very, very few exceptions heard against the war again Iraq? In spite of the fact the evidence was so obviously fabricated?</p> <p><br /> <a href="http://www.fln.vcu.edu/goethe/zauber_e3.html" rel="nofollow">The sorcerer's apprentice</a></p> <p>Sir, my need is sore.<br /> Spirits that I've cited<br /> My commands ignore. </p> 75% of Israel think that the US should attack Iran, and since no conventional weapons can achieve the wanted outcome, that means they support nuking Iran.

That's the part of the special relationship the world watches with irritation.

I don't know why, but reading your lines the poem's end below was on my mind.

Why wasn't there as much as whisper with very, very few exceptions heard against the war again Iraq? In spite of the fact the evidence was so obviously fabricated?

The sorcerer's apprentice

Sir, my need is sore.
Spirits that I've cited
My commands ignore.

]]> By: Hlmeankin http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52192 Hlmeankin Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52192 <p>Richard writes:<br /> "The prerequisite to normalizing the relationship between Israel and the US is a FIRMLY confident peace between Israel and its neighbors"<br /> Of course for you Richard, this consists of an arrangement where the Palestinians(and or their families) have no right to return to the land which was stolen from them. <br /> The political reality is that a STABLE peace is not possible if JUSTICE is denied..<br /> </p> Richard writes:
"The prerequisite to normalizing the relationship between Israel and the US is a FIRMLY confident peace between Israel and its neighbors"
Of course for you Richard, this consists of an arrangement where the Palestinians(and or their families) have no right to return to the land which was stolen from them.
The political reality is that a STABLE peace is not possible if JUSTICE is denied..

]]> By: Richard Witty http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52193 Richard Witty Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52193 <p>The "special" relationship is one of the US to an ally, a close ally in MANY respects. It deserves to be special for the degree of historical and present mutual benefit that the two states offer (and NOT the unholy elements).</p> <p>The US has a special relationship with Great Britain, with Canada, even with Saudi Arabia. Each of whom, the US will spend hundreds of billions of dollars to defend.</p> <p>(To most rational people, the war in Iraq was fought primarily to defend Saudi Arabia from Iraq moreso than to defend Israel.)</p> <p>I wish I heard you or others speaking about the "American interest" of defending Saudi Arabia's monarchy. (Which I think in the context of our continued dependance on oil, is in America's interest.)</p> <p>One of Dershowitz plausible points is the SELECTIVE contempt for Israel. The anger at Israel is not part of a general accounting of US relationships, by critics or officers. Its selective.</p> <p>Its selective by Walt/Mearsheimer. Its selective by Phil. Its selective by the left. Its selective by the right/left.</p> <p>If you wish to normalize the relationship, advocate for the prerequisite, confident peace and acceptance of Israel as Israel.</p> <p><br /> </p> The "special" relationship is one of the US to an ally, a close ally in MANY respects. It deserves to be special for the degree of historical and present mutual benefit that the two states offer (and NOT the unholy elements).

The US has a special relationship with Great Britain, with Canada, even with Saudi Arabia. Each of whom, the US will spend hundreds of billions of dollars to defend.

(To most rational people, the war in Iraq was fought primarily to defend Saudi Arabia from Iraq moreso than to defend Israel.)

I wish I heard you or others speaking about the "American interest" of defending Saudi Arabia's monarchy. (Which I think in the context of our continued dependance on oil, is in America's interest.)

One of Dershowitz plausible points is the SELECTIVE contempt for Israel. The anger at Israel is not part of a general accounting of US relationships, by critics or officers. Its selective.

Its selective by Walt/Mearsheimer. Its selective by Phil. Its selective by the left. Its selective by the right/left.

If you wish to normalize the relationship, advocate for the prerequisite, confident peace and acceptance of Israel as Israel.

]]> By: Paul Malfara http://mondoweiss.net/2008/09/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html/comment-page-1#comment-52194 Paul Malfara Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/09/10/yale-political-union-votes-to-end-the-special-relationship-between-us-and-israel.html#comment-52194 <p>Richard Witty is so full of bullshit and smokescreens that it has become an ongoing comedy! </p> <p>Who is armed to the teeth Richard?</p> <p>Who is in disregard of UN Resolutions?</p> <p>Who is pursuing state-sponsored terrorism?</p> <p>Let's ENGAGE this bullshit, and TRANSFORM it, and then, when ACCEPTANCE is attained, rather than NEGATIVITY, we can continue to OBFUSCATE the situation until everyone feels good about discussing SOLUTIONS involving PERFECTING titles to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....</p> <p>I prefer STINKFISH HASBARAH (I would write the real moniker, but doing so would profess that there is no Palestine, a distorted view that I cannot condone). However, at least STINKFISH HASBARAH spouts his/her poison without the sugar coated chocolate that comes along with Witty's.</p> <p>PM</p> <p></p> <p><br /> </p> Richard Witty is so full of bullshit and smokescreens that it has become an ongoing comedy!

Who is armed to the teeth Richard?

Who is in disregard of UN Resolutions?

Who is pursuing state-sponsored terrorism?

Let's ENGAGE this bullshit, and TRANSFORM it, and then, when ACCEPTANCE is attained, rather than NEGATIVITY, we can continue to OBFUSCATE the situation until everyone feels good about discussing SOLUTIONS involving PERFECTING titles to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah….

I prefer STINKFISH HASBARAH (I would write the real moniker, but doing so would profess that there is no Palestine, a distorted view that I cannot condone). However, at least STINKFISH HASBARAH spouts his/her poison without the sugar coated chocolate that comes along with Witty's.

PM

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