I missed this. A hugely important warning from King Abdullah of Jordan to Obama, delivered through the Times of London's Richard Beeston. From the summary:
If Israel procrastinated on a two-state solution, [Abdullah said] or if there was no clear
American vision on what should happen this year, the “tremendous
credibility” that Mr Obama had built up in the Arab world would evaporate
overnight.
And if peace negotiations were delayed, there would be another conflict
between Arabs or Muslims and Israel in the next 12-18 months, with
implications far beyond the Middle East.
“If the call is in May that this is not the right time or we are not
interested, then the world is going to be sucked into another conflict in
the Middle East,” the King said.
He broke off from his busy schedule hosting the Pope in Jordan to give his
warning to The Times. He was the first Arab leader to call on President
Obama in Washington two weeks ago, and is now leading the hectic Arab
efforts to respond to the Administration’s determination to seek a
comprehensive peace.
This really puts the lie to the canard that moderate-Arab states are on board with the US/Israeli war on Iran as the most important issue in the Middle East. So, in fact, does the Pope's call for solidarity with the Palestinians rather than the rant against "radical Islam" that had been hoped for. No wonder Dick Cheney says the world is in a "giant conspiracy" against "us" on Iran. Cheney, by the way, made those remarks at a debate on Iran policy between Liz Cheney and Dan Senor, arguing the neocon position, and Kenneth Pollack and Nicholas Burns, on the other hand, arguing the realist position. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/Chene...
The president will not act unless pushed. AIPAC and Bibi are pushing for more war. Those who oppose Israeli militant, acquisitive aggression must push harder for peace and justice.
He is probably right. After the Gaza destruction in January, people of the world were sickened by Israel and their campaign of lies. Netanyahu already has a plan to delay any progress, and Obama will look like the fool (with the great help of his phony liberal party). Unless you know something I don't? Nothing is going to change. Why would it.
Oh NO! Not war with Arabs!!!!! I bet the Israelis are just SCARED TO DEATH of another war with those incompetent cowards. Let's see, what major Arab capitals will the Merkavot be parked around this time?
I looked at Abdullah's final paragraph, and I think what he means is that Israel will launch another war if it isn't reined in: If you don’t succeed in your peace plans, will it matter? We’re going to have a war. Leading up to the Lebanese war, I said there was going to be a conflict with Israel. I said it four or five months before. I said it would happen either in Lebanon or Gaza. It was Lebanon. In November, I said there would be another war in Lebanon or Gaza. I thought it would happen when Obama was in office but was surprised by it happening a month earlier. If we delay our peace negotiations, then there’s going to be another conflict between Arabs or Muslims and Israel in the next 12 to 18 months — as sure as the other conflicts happened. So that’s the alternative — to have another round of war, and death and destruction. But its implications now resonate far beyond the Middle East region. There are other challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We have a lot more on our plate to deal with. If the call is in May that this is not the right time or we are not interested, then the world is going to be sucked into another conflict in the Middle East.
"Israel will launch another war if it isn't reined in" That sounds more accurate. Who is going to attack Israel? They will devour themselves before a foreign power does.
Abdullah is saying that the world will be sucked into a war with Iran, isn't he? Or will the war with Iran that the US is sucked into be in addition to another war that we don't know about yet?
I would guess that he is at least considering the possibility that Israel will launch a leapfrog war, in the same way that the US seems to do: first you attack one country, then you attack another on the grounds that it is helping the first one, then a third on the grounds that it is helping the first two. I mean: Lebanon, then Syria, then Iran.
I hope Abdullah's efforts are successful.
Me too. Israel does not have the capacity to deal a really stunning blow to Iran that will knock it off its alleged track to acquire military nukes for a good many years, say at least 5 to 10. It cannot do it without US help; in fact there is a good argument it does not have adequate military assets (refueling capacity at a minimum), or in the alternative, US allowance over needed air space path. I can't imagine the Saud clan allowing Israel over its air space–that would be a big ticket item for the Arab Street. The only sure way of stopping Iran in its alleged nuclear military tracks is held solely in US hands. I also can't imagine Obama launching an attack on Iran. I guess we will see if we live another 12 to 18 months… by then Obama's reelection posture will be in full tilt. Damn, this is getting interesting. Will Chris Berel win the day (based on attack on Iran & more land grabs in the OT) with his fanatical assurance if US goys won't attack him today, they will in 30 to 100 years as his narrative of world history tells him so, or will more balanced brains, like Phil's? Stay tuned.
So, so. Fake "Jim Haygood" still spluttering occasionally?
Now Netanyahu has found another way to deny a Palestinian state: apparently he told the Pope "a Palestinian state backed by Iran would jeopardize Israel’s security": An Israeli official who briefed reporters said Netanyahu told Benedict that “we don’t want a terror state backed by Iran to rise alongside us and jeopardize Israel’s safety." Hamas, the Islamic group that won the most recent Palestinian elections and controls the Gaza Strip, is an ally of Iran. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la...
RE: "If Obama doesn't deliver for Palestinians, there will be another 'conflict' with Israel within 18 months" *TAKE ACTION TO END THE OCCUPATION Send a personalized letter (E-mail) to the Members of Congress on the Appropriations Subcommittee. Let these Members of Congress know that you oppose the President's FY2010 budget request for $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel. *To send your letter (E-mail) – http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/c...
I think that King Abdullah of Jordan is most afraid of Israel starting another war in the region because he understands that it could very well lead to his or some of the other so-called moderate Arab dictator's possible overthrow by their own people. Can the Arabs or Palestinians, just like that, forget and forgive what Zionist Israel has been doing to their people without getting some form of justice served on behalf of their people which is what Zionist Israel would expect at the very least in return for peace…? Once again I think that King Abdullah is delusional in that his seeking peace with Israel seems to be based on the thinking that the Arabs will just forgive and forget if Israel would just grab the opportunity for peace that he and the other "moderate" dictators have been offering in the hopes of keeping their hold on power. They do not think according to the logic that a peace process which stands in support of justice, that is based on the rights of the Palestinian people, is the only way forward, more than likely because they themselves do not represent or stand for justice or guarantee rights when it comes to their people…
I'd add that many military analysts think that even with US assistance, Israel couldn't defeat Iran, unless it simply expended its nuclear arsenal on the country. The Israelis are insane, no doubt, but that insane? Gabriel Kolko also points out that small islands along which oil tankers pass are doubtless extremely heavily fortified by now, capable of withstanding nuclear assault, from which Iran could launch a devastating response, whether on Israel directly or via retaliatory attacks on passing ships.
Obama lost all credibility when he didn't squek out even a word when Gazans were being massacred.
You mean, zionism is really a project for the liberation of the Muslim world? Funny then how zionism tends to foster the dictators, not the people.
You can attempt to elect an American in four years who will kiss arab ass. Until then, you'll just have to suffer.
watching Obama kiss Jewish ass … yes, it's tedious in the extreme.
I don't think so. Even hawkish Israeli leaders realize this would be total suicide. The so called moderate arabs will run for cover as their own people will rise against them and then total chaos in the Middle East. Israel is smart and although will take chances, they are usually well calculated. If anything, Israel would limit itself to another short term and likely this time again against Hizballah in Lebanon. They first have to bring the US in on their side to make sure they can use US forces for cover. With Egypt's Mobarak lashing out at Hizballah, Hamas still bleeding, Israel can try another adventure with the backing of Mobarak and the Saudis. A strike against Hizballah may cause rockets to land in Tel Aviv, this will give cause to widen the conflict with US help.
Maybe that is what the West was thinking when it decided to support zionist Israel Rowan….But as you rightly pointed out, zionism has tended to foster the dictators in the region, and I also think that the effects of zionism in the region have in a sense liberated the Muslim world from blindly accepting U.S./ Western imperialism in their regions, and even helped stoke outright rejection by most Muslims to the Western agenda …..
"…Israel is smart and although will take chances, they are usually well calculated. If anything, Israel would limit itself to another short term and likely this time again against Hizballah in Lebanon,…"–bradallen Zionist Israel is extremely arrogant and therefore very stupid, not smart brad… If they think they can fight another war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and somehow be coming out ahead from it, they are even more arrogantly stupid than I thought….Hezbollah and the people of South Lebanon are even more prepared for the next war than they were for the last war…..The Lebanese traitors that have been working for the Israeli Mossad are being uncovered left and right these days, and it has been revealed that many of those arrested have relatives that are members of Fatah Islam, an Al Qaeda linked group…. Maybe it is just coincidental..But when you think about it the Israeli Mossad, Egypt's Mubarak(where Al Qaeda's number two in charge Ayman Zawahiri came from ), Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (where Al Qaeda's number one, Bin Laden and 15 out of 19 hijackers in 9/11 came from) ) all teaming up together against Hezbollah in Lebanon to give cause to a wider conflict in the region on behalf of Israel, it all kind of makes sense in a covert kind of way…..
" all teaming up together against Hezbollah in Lebanon to give cause to a wider conflict in the region on behalf of Israel, it all kind of makes sense in a covert kind of way….. " I think so Marion. The idea is not to fight Hizballah, but to provoke a response. If in the next adventure they can provoke a rocket attack that could hit Tel-Aviv, then, bingo, you got your excuse that even the US will support.
What efforts. He has been sitting on the fence for years now relaizing he can't contribute anything but lip service. Israel has already marginalized Jordan and is more interested in what Egypt's Mobarak will do. Mobarak has the Saudis and the Emirates backing, that's a lot of money and US support. I fear Abdullah slept too long. He enjoys the toys(weapons) he gets from the US, but also realizes he is no longer a player, just a figure head. 12 months, is what I give the region before the next outbreak. God help us.
Yes, but I also think of the state of Israel as a 'tethered goat' for the western imperialist 'Anglo-Saxon' plus Jewish bloc, making up what together I call ZUKUSA (Zion plus UK, US & Australia, which are the official UKUSA bloc). The function of a tethered goat is to draw out the tigers, so that the hunter can get a clear shot at them. The fate of the goat itself is not necessarily a primary consideration.
brad, the only way that Hezbollah will be provoked into attacking Tel Aviv, would be if Israel goes berserk in Lebanon and starts indiscriminately attacking Beirut.
"The idea is not to fight Hizballah, but to provoke a response. If in the next adventure they can provoke a rocket attack that could hit Tel-Aviv, then, bingo, you got your excuse that even the US will support…."–bradallen brad the only way Israel will be able to provoke Hezbollah into attacking Tel Aviv is if it starts to indiscriminately attack Lebanon and its capital Beirut….
Yours is an Interesting analysis which I am going to keep in mind Rowan…. Israel certainly is a destructive and dangerous to itself and others 'tethered goat' don't you think? So how do you think the tigers are fairing out?
No. We can attempt to elect an American who will not kiss Israeli/AIPAC ass and ignore America's best interests and its highest values.
The goat tethers itself because it is locked into its own repetitive small brain.
The tigers do get successfully goaded into saying things that can then be used by the so-called 'global media' to demonise them — Ahmadinejad being a good example. But also, the general climate of fury can be used to make threats which actually fabricated seem more credible, like 'al Qaeda' (at least, I think al Qaeda is fabricated … it always turns up exactly where the USA wants to invade next, etc.
By the way, this comments engine is rather unreliable; it keeps losing comments and finding them again, especially replies and replies to replies. This may have to do with the mechanism that hides the replies and expands them again.
And ???… what happened in 2006 ? Israel has invested a lot in its lebanese allies (phalangists). Samir Jajja (not sure about the spelling, is dreaming about this and has made several visits to Tel Aviv and Washington during the Bush administration to get this going. Sounds like Chalabi in Iraq doesn't it, except this guy is more sinister. Hizballah is expected to do very well in the next Lebanese elections, if this happens, well…I am sure everyone knows what the consequences will be.
American and Israeli values are the same. Massacre people and steal from them.
Of course Abdullah is afraid of getting drawn into a regional military conflict. Who wouldn't be?
HOw about Israel Richard, isn't Israel afraid to draw itself into a regional military conflict? Or is this what they are wishing for? Who exactly do you think would draw the Jordan into a regional conflict Richard? Israel? Who has been threatening to attack who in the region Richard? Do you think that the Jordanian (dictator) King would help Israel fight against Iran and possibly Syria, considering that the Jordanian people for the most part would be opposed to helping Zionist Israel fight against their Arab and Muslim brethren?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samir_Geagea