Comments on: Rahm Volunteered for IDF Twice. And Maybe That’s a Good Thing http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html The War of Ideas in the Middle East Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:53:53 +0000 hourly 1 By: Duscany http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46485 Duscany Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46485 <p>How come guys like Emanuel repeatedly volunteer to serve in the IDF but never once in the US Marines? Isn't the usual practice to volunteer for the country you are living in and in whose government you serve?</p> How come guys like Emanuel repeatedly volunteer to serve in the IDF but never once in the US Marines? Isn't the usual practice to volunteer for the country you are living in and in whose government you serve?

]]> By: anon http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46486 anon Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46486 <p>Interesting. McCain actually has a son in the service, as does Palin, and even Biden (though not in a position where his life will likely be threatened--all three in Iraq, or at least Biden's is scheduled to go there.</p> <p>That's a better record than nearly all of congress and the current <br /> POTUS.</p> <p>Still, Duscany's question is a good one. Emanuel was for, and has never retracted, the USA's decision to attack Iraq--why didn't he<br /> go in the US military and repair or organize brake shoes?</p> <p>Our government leaders have long reminded me of securities manipulators, playing with other people's money for their own<br /> benefit, and so they've played in Iraq--with no skin in the game<br /> they could call their own.</p> <p>Other people's skin doesn't matter much.</p> Interesting. McCain actually has a son in the service, as does Palin, and even Biden (though not in a position where his life will likely be threatened–all three in Iraq, or at least Biden's is scheduled to go there.

That's a better record than nearly all of congress and the current
POTUS.

Still, Duscany's question is a good one. Emanuel was for, and has never retracted, the USA's decision to attack Iraq–why didn't he
go in the US military and repair or organize brake shoes?

Our government leaders have long reminded me of securities manipulators, playing with other people's money for their own
benefit, and so they've played in Iraq–with no skin in the game
they could call their own.

Other people's skin doesn't matter much.

]]> By: Tommy http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46487 Tommy Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46487 <p>Had Rahm volunteered for the Taliban, he would have received twenty years in prison. </p> Had Rahm volunteered for the Taliban, he would have received twenty years in prison.

]]> By: Todd http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46488 Todd Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46488 <p>There is no positive way to spin Emanuel's service in a foreign military. Why don't we just dissolve the Union if that is acceptable?</p> There is no positive way to spin Emanuel's service in a foreign military. Why don't we just dissolve the Union if that is acceptable?

]]> By: Todd http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46489 Todd Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46489 <p>If hiring an illegal nanny can't be justified, how can serving in a foreign military be acceptable?</p> If hiring an illegal nanny can't be justified, how can serving in a foreign military be acceptable?

]]> By: Colin Murray http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46490 Colin Murray Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46490 <p>Haaretz: His knowledge of Hebrew and appreciation of the Israeli psyche enabled him to advise his boss on just how to handle the recalcitrant Israelis.</p> <p>C.M.: This is an interesting notion, insofar as he is willing to use this insight to do right by putting American interests first. The ugly reality that "there is no positive way to spin Emanuel's service in a foreign military" during a time when OUR nation was at WAR makes me suspicious of the relevance of any additional expertise he acquired through his choice in previous employment. All we can do is keep our eyes open and hope for the best. President-Elect Obama has not given me the slightest vibe that he doesn't know exactly what he is doing. I will continue trusting his judgment until shown otherwise.</p> Haaretz: His knowledge of Hebrew and appreciation of the Israeli psyche enabled him to advise his boss on just how to handle the recalcitrant Israelis.

C.M.: This is an interesting notion, insofar as he is willing to use this insight to do right by putting American interests first. The ugly reality that "there is no positive way to spin Emanuel's service in a foreign military" during a time when OUR nation was at WAR makes me suspicious of the relevance of any additional expertise he acquired through his choice in previous employment. All we can do is keep our eyes open and hope for the best. President-Elect Obama has not given me the slightest vibe that he doesn't know exactly what he is doing. I will continue trusting his judgment until shown otherwise.

]]> By: Doppler http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46491 Doppler Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46491 <p>Obama got to know Emanuel before either one of them thought Obama was likely to be president. Obama is "wicked smart" to use Phil's term. Since we're in the honeymoon phase of the Obama presidency, I like to think his choice of Emanuel is very clever. It compensates for his own image as tall, thin, young, black, intellectual, inexperienced, by putting a pushy Jewish mafia type, with a take-no-prisoners attitude, and proven penchant for getting things done, out there as his chief of staff. The people who report to Obama will have Emanuel to report to, too, so intellect is balanced by operations. Emanuel was also the guy who introduced him and vouched for him to AIPAC, an old friend of a made man, a son of the Irgun. He had a mountain to climb at AIPAC, he isn't done climbing it, either, but Emanuel has been as effective as anyone could be in neutralizing his substantial opposition in this sector. Obama has also been very re-assuring to AIPAC, more so than most of us on this blog would like. He's been more pro-escalation in Afghanistan, more intolerant in his statements toward Iran, and less sympathetic toward the Palestinians than I would prefer. But I like his instincts. I put a lot of hope in his ability to mediate disparate interests. It should be obvious to all but the pathologically warmongering, those who envision a generations long clash of civilizations, that everyone in Israel as well as the Middle East will be better off with a lasting peace than with the unsustainable status quo. I will hope that Obama can work his magic of listening and hearing what is in the hearts and minds of Israelis and Palestinians, and find ways forward for both sides to improve their lots, to shed their corrosive hatred, and start playing a plus sum, instead of a negative sum game.</p> Obama got to know Emanuel before either one of them thought Obama was likely to be president. Obama is "wicked smart" to use Phil's term. Since we're in the honeymoon phase of the Obama presidency, I like to think his choice of Emanuel is very clever. It compensates for his own image as tall, thin, young, black, intellectual, inexperienced, by putting a pushy Jewish mafia type, with a take-no-prisoners attitude, and proven penchant for getting things done, out there as his chief of staff. The people who report to Obama will have Emanuel to report to, too, so intellect is balanced by operations. Emanuel was also the guy who introduced him and vouched for him to AIPAC, an old friend of a made man, a son of the Irgun. He had a mountain to climb at AIPAC, he isn't done climbing it, either, but Emanuel has been as effective as anyone could be in neutralizing his substantial opposition in this sector. Obama has also been very re-assuring to AIPAC, more so than most of us on this blog would like. He's been more pro-escalation in Afghanistan, more intolerant in his statements toward Iran, and less sympathetic toward the Palestinians than I would prefer. But I like his instincts. I put a lot of hope in his ability to mediate disparate interests. It should be obvious to all but the pathologically warmongering, those who envision a generations long clash of civilizations, that everyone in Israel as well as the Middle East will be better off with a lasting peace than with the unsustainable status quo. I will hope that Obama can work his magic of listening and hearing what is in the hearts and minds of Israelis and Palestinians, and find ways forward for both sides to improve their lots, to shed their corrosive hatred, and start playing a plus sum, instead of a negative sum game.

]]> By: Colin Murray http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46492 Colin Murray Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46492 <p>Well spoken Doppler, here's to hoping you are right! *raises can of nasty cherry zero that i can't stop myself from drinking, blech*</p> Well spoken Doppler, here's to hoping you are right! *raises can of nasty cherry zero that i can't stop myself from drinking, blech*

]]> By: anon http://mondoweiss.net/2008/11/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html/comment-page-1#comment-46493 anon Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/14/rahm-volunteered-for-idf-twice-and-maybe-thats-a-good-thing.html#comment-46493 <p>Maybe all USA patriots should go overseas to support a foreign army? A new litmus test for what is good for the USA.</p> <p>Talk about turning something on its head.</p> Maybe all USA patriots should go overseas to support a foreign army? A new litmus test for what is good for the USA.

Talk about turning something on its head.

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