Comments on: What did Freud say about the Israel lobby? (State Department spokesman ‘jokes’ about being canned for talking about Dennis Ross)

By: dalybean

dalybean — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:21:26 +0000

I saw the original Haaretz article in the middle of the night and posted it here. The original headline was the same as the piece by Marty Peretz: Dennis Ross, Out As Special Envoy To Iran; Was He Ousted Because He's A Jew? I believe the Haaretz article came directly from Ross. In the space of a few hours in the middle of the night, the article and the headline started being adjusted to provide better and better news for Ross. But the original article was clear that he was being abruptly ousted. Ross and Peretz' first inclination was to spin it as antisemitism on the part of the Iranians and the Administration. What they are doing now is allowing him to save face and reassuring the Lobby of their power. It is easy to get a nepotistic fool like Massimo Calabresi at Time to write a sycophantic article saying Ross has been promoted. It's all well and good if this will help keep the muzzle on the Lobby.

By: DICKERSON3870

DICKERSON3870 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:10:58 +0000

RE: "State Department spokesman 'jokes' about being canned for talking about Dennis Ross" MY COMMENT: Those blankety-blank State Department Arabist's!

By: David One

David One — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:59:41 +0000

The NYTimes article on the reassignment (by Mark Landler) says this about Ross, "His negotiations over the State Department position had been long and complicated, in part because the department’s career diplomats balked at giving him a broader portfolio to include the Middle East." But not a word about WHY they balked. And not a word about how's Ross is perceived by the nations in the region. " target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/world/16diplo.h...

By: Colin_Murray

Colin_Murray — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:09:51 +0000

At State, Ross had to navigate a crowded field of players, including Richard Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Bill Burns, who leads the stalled negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program; and George Mitchell, the Administration's envoy for Arab-Israeli affairs. Sounds like a lot of people doing important work that want him out of their hair. So what if he is in a better position to give 'advice' to Pres. Obama? As long as there is one information pathway into the presidential bubble that Pres. Obama can rely on for truth, and we are lucky to have General Jones as ANSA, then it doesn't matter how many liars get their say. The President is smart enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. He knows where Mr. Ross's loyalties lie, and that the appearance of influence via Ross is useful to mollify the Lobby.

By: Colin_Murray

Colin_Murray — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:57:55 +0000

That was pretty funny. :) I love watching spokesmen squirm. His admission that he was in Mr. Ross's office earlier in the day was revealing. Anyone want to bet that he wasn't being given his talking points? Dennis: Ian, list carefully. Whatever they ask you, tell them I work hard. Very, very hard. Tell them that I am in the office today working very hard. Tell them you actually saw me in my office today working very hard. Tell them I was in the office all weekend working very hard. Did I mention that I have been working very hard? Don't screw up if you want to keep that good federal employee health insurance for your wife and kids.

By: Ira

Ira — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:18:44 +0000

Hold on. Ross could become boss. What was originally portrayed as a demotion is now being called in some reports an upgrade or promotion. What a revolting development. This from Time: Ross is likely to have a greater role advising the President on the Arab-Israeli peace process. [ He was Bill Clinton's top envoy for Middle Eastern peace and knows the region and its players well. At the NSC, Ross will have a freer hand in some regards. Though there are already senior advisers for Arab-Israeli affairs and for Iran and the Gulf, he will be closer to Obama, who relied on him for advice on the region during the 2008 presidential campaign. At State, Ross had to navigate a crowded field of players, including Richard Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Bill Burns, who leads the stalled negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program; and George Mitchell, the Administration's envoy for Arab-Israeli affairs. " target="_blank">http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,... This is an update of the original article that started the rumor. It now contains an indication that Ross is both expanding and upgrading his responsibilities. Another possible reason for the reshuffle could be Ross' dissatisfaction with his present standing in the State Department, particularly given the fact that Washington's two other envoys to the region - George Mitchell, who is overseeing the Mideast peace process; and Richard Holbrooke, who is dealing with Pakistan and Afghanistan - wield great influence and are featured prominently. A diplomatic source in Jerusalem speculated that perhaps Ross preferred to work for the National Security Agency, which answers directly to President Barack Obama, and would thus be considered a more enhanced role. " target="_blank">http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1093058.html

By: Citizen

Citizen — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:05:08 +0000

No doubt about it; AIPAC is more powerful than any other special interest group in the USA, a nation ruled by such groups. The tail is wagging the dog furiously.