NY State Senator Storobin (l) with an Israeli general, center, and the senator’s chief of staff (r)
The office of NY state senator David Storobin, a Republican running for reelection, sent out the above photograph today of the senator in the occupied Golan Heights, on the Syrian border.
The photo came with the following release from aide Steven Stites:
Senator David Storobin (R-Brooklyn, on the left) today visited with General Shmulik Olansky (center), a 3-star general in charge of the Golan Heights Armor Division, directly on the Syrian border in a hostile region. The Senator is on an official state visit approved by the Defense Minister of Israel. To the right is the Senator’s Chief of Staff, Paul Gullo.
“Israel shares a border and a region with multiple dangerous countries,” Storobin said. “Thank G-d for the brave men and women in the Israeli armed services that stare down this danger to protect Israel every day.”
If you need a high-res image sent as an attachment, please email me.
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State Senator David Storobin (R-Brooklyn) represents the 27th Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Bergen Beach, Brighton Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Homecrest, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Midwood and Sheepshead Bay.
And this will not bring his US citizenship into question?
And this will not bring his US citizenship into question?
Don’t we wish! But, come on! Wasn’t Chicago Mayor and ex-Presidential Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel actually serving IN (or as a volunteer WITH) the IDF? Haaretz:
He served as an Israel Defense Forces volunteer not once, but twice. Despite this, during the 1998 Wye Plantation talks, the Israeli delegation was more wary of him than any other member of President Clinton’s staff.
No, dressing in the uniform of a friendly army doesn’t bring your citizenship into question. For that matter, serving in the army of a friendly country doesn’t bring your citizenship into question. A fair number of Americans joined the Canadian army to get into WWII early.
Fredblogs, what do you mean “friendly”? Do the US and Israel have mutual-defense treaties? Would you mind linking us to these treaties?
You don’t have to have a mutual defense treaty to be friendly. Do you make your personal friends sign treaties? In this case however, the definition is pretty narrow. It is more about not entering or serving the armed forces of a foreign state that is engaged in hostilities against the U.S. rather than serving in a friendly one.
“Entering or serving in the armed forces of a foreign state engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of a foreign state;”
Even that one has to be done with intention to give up your citizenship, except as follows:
“The premise that a person intends to retain U.S. citizenship is not applicable when the individual:
1) Formally renounces U.S. citizenship before a consular officer;
2) Takes a policy level position in a foreign state;
3) Is convicted of treason; or
4) Performs an act made potentially expatriating by statute accompanied by conduct which is so inconsistent with retention of U.S. citizenship that it compels a conclusion that the individual intended to relinquish U.S. citizenship. (Such cases are very rare.)
*Cases in categories 2, 3, and 4 will be developed carefully by U.S. consular officers to ascertain the individual’s intent toward U.S. citizenship.
link to hamilton.usconsulate.gov
Merely serving in a foreign army even as an officer isn’t going to be construed as intent to give up citizenship, otherwise they wouldn’t bother including “with intent to give up citizenship” in that rule.
Come to think of it, even the foreign hostile army doesn’t generally do it, look at John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban”. And he apparently denied, though didn’t renounce, his U.S. citizenship when he was being interrogated.
“For that matter, serving in the army of a friendly country doesn’t bring your citizenship into question. A fair number of Americans joined the Canadian army to get into WWII early.”
That was fight Naziism, not support it. What happened to Americans who joined the German army?
To people who were in the German army before we were at war with them, nothing affecting their citizenship. After we were at war with them, I assume there was some penalty, possibly including loss of citizenship though I am unaware of any specific cases.
Sorry, that should have read “who were merely in the German army. I don’t know if they had the same rules then about serving as an officer. Or whether they had an intent to relinquish clause back then.
Freddy
What do you mean by “before we were at war with them”?
Who are “we”?
A “friendly country” that bombed US targets in the Lavon Affair and attacked the USS Liberty! link to en.wikipedia.org and link to gtr5.com
Also fred’s statements sound similar to those who claim the spy Jonathan Pollard should supposedly be freed because he was “only spying for an ‘ally’”. Despite American intelligence officials documenting the massive damage Pollard did to the United States.
And no American (much less a politician!) should go around in the military uniform of any other country! I can only imagine what would happen if Muslim American Keith Ellison went to Saudi Arabia and put on a Saudi military uniform at a parade in Riyadh!! Everyone knows that in this hypothetical scenario Ellison would receive relentless attacks throughout the mainstream media, even though Saudi Arabia is an actual ally of the US that provides real geo-strategic benefits to the US.
Stories like this simply show AIPAC control of the United States, the US is used and abused by the Zionist lobby and this provides ZERO benefits to the US whatsoever. US foreign policy interests are served by courting actual countries that can benefit the US in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar (both with oil, and both having a history of US military bases being stationed in them) and a Muslim majority NATO member like Turkey (also with US and NATO forces stationed in it). link to youtube.com
Lavon affair no deaths, no injuries, light damages and about 60 years ago. Liberty a friendly fire incident 45 years ago, get over it. Sorry, if you want to make Israel out to be an unfriendly country, you’re going to have to do a whole lot better than that. As for the Saudi uniform, the Saudis are “allies” who fund the madrases that support terrorism, including against the U.S. Most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis. American oil corporations like the Saudis, the rest of us, not so much.
“Liberty a friendly fire incident 45 years ago.”
I was in the US Navy on June 8, 1967. When I was in the Med, I never met a single person who thought the Israeli attack was an accident. I’ve also talked with people who were on the Liberty that day. They didn’t consider the attack a matter of mistaken identity either.
“Get over it” if we were face to face I would smack you with my glove you swine. I know sailors who were aboard that vessel, that was no friendly fire.
Fredblogs: “Liberty a friendly fire incident 45 years ago, get over it. “
Either (a) watch link to youtube.com , come back, and explain why it’s inaccurate,
or (b) stop repeating the canard that the attack wasn’t intentional.
Just use a baseball bat, with gloves you will not get his attention.
@demize
And I’d have you arrested for battery. Get over yourself as well. From the point of view of someone being fired upon, friendly fire looks exactly the same as deliberate fire. How could they possibly tell the difference between someone firing at what they thought were Egyptians and someone firing at what they thought were Americans?
But it would be friendly fire. #gag
Hahahahaha good one demize!
From Glenn Greenwald’s last post at Salon today:
“The sham “terrorism expert” industry”
link to salon.com
Now Hezbollah, Gaza, and Syria.
“From the start, the central challenge was how to define the term so as to include the violence used by the enemies of the U.S. and Israel, while excluding the violence the U.S., Israel and their allies used, both historically and presently.”
It’s pretty easy to define ‘terrorism’ from usage — which is the only valid criterion anyway.
‘Terrorism’ refers to actions carried out on behalf of a cause the speaker opposes. Looking at usage, the term has no more precise definition. For example, the Gaza flotilla was ‘terrorism.’
Thanks for this. Clearest description of what terrorism really means. U.S. MSM continually describing the Assad regime’s killing as “massacres” but when we do it in Iraq or create the environment for hate and killing to bubble up we call it “collateral damage” not a “massacre” Clinton likes to draw a distinction by saying they are killing their own people. The U.S. and Israel become concerned about human rights when they are not doing the killing. The whole world sees this sham
When Guatemala and El Salvador were killing their own people (and American nuns on occasion) that was OK, because leftist do not count.
Reminds me of poor Mike Dukakis in his helmet peeking out from a tank.
This Storobin is the guy involved in trying to get a mosque in Sheepshead Bay deep-sixed. Now, it’s “fight ‘em in the Golan before they take over Canarsie”, I guess.
GI Shmoe.
“Reminds me of poor Mike Dukakis in his helmet peeking out from a tank”
It shouldn’t. Dukakis was in a US tank.
I don’t know why the good senator bothered to put on an IDF uniform when he could have just hung a sign around his neck reading: “Israel is the most important nation in the world. I humble pledge to follow her lead in every matter. As for my American constituents, there is only one master race in the universe and you aren’t it.”
Oh for crying out LOUD!
Give him a codpiece and call him Dubya.
Is there really anything more to say? This photograph, and accompanying press release, should indicate with perfect clarity a corrupted and unacceptable display of disloyalty; high crimes, in all honesty. Yet, the dismissive and ‘oblivious’ atmosphere will no doubt be palpable. This will not raise the slightest of establishment eyebrows, nor their millions of scores of witless supporters.
That asshole still has his loafers on
Ha!
Best comment in this thread.
“Best comment in this thread.”
Wel, well, look who just got hired as a moderator!
Wouldn’t be much of a moderator Mooser,
i don’t believe in censoring peoples BS
“loafers”
Loafers is a big word for these ‘écrase-merde’. By any stretch these are not something a gentleman would wear.
“That asshole still has his loafers on”
Yes. He also appears to have his finger on the trigger. On the other hand, his CofS on the right demonstrates the (somewhat) correct “Weaver” stance. The drill instructor would still yell at his: “square your shoulders and face your target, they can’t hit you if you’re shooting at ‘em”
Seriously folks, this is shameful on so many levels!
“they can’t hit you if you’re shooting at ‘em”
ROTFL! Of course, soldiers are required to shoot only at the person who is firing at them. All of his buddies must hold their fire.
If good Senator and his aid were given loaded weapons, I would court martial those responsible.
Is that CoS ‘Radar’ O’Reilly, wearing a ‘Livestrong’ bracelet?
What a bunch of assclowns.
“The Bund was one of several German-American heritage groups; however, it was one of the few to express National Socialist ideals. As a result, many considered the group anti-American. In the last week of December 1942, led by journalist Dorothy Thompson, fifty leading German-Americans including Babe Ruth signed a “Christmas Declaration by men and women of German ancestry” condemning Nazism, which appeared in ten major American daily newspapers.”
link to en.wikipedia.org
RE: “NY state senator puts on Israeli uniform to play soldier on Syrian border” ~ Weiss
MY COMMENT: Looking at the photo, I can’t help but recall Michael Dukakis’ totally excellent tank adventure in 1998 which is thought to have hurt his election prospects.
Of course, since State Senator Storobin is pretending to be an Israeli soldier rather than an American soldier (as in Dukakis’ case), it will no doubt help Strobin win reelection in his New York district.
Only in America! ! !
• Michael_Dukakis_in_tank.jpg (585 × 442 pixels) – link to en.wikipedia.org
• Michael Dukakis, The Tank Ad, 1988, ElectionWallDotOrg [VIDEO, 00:30] – link to youtube.com
This is even more depraved than the idiotic TV series Stars Earn Stripes that I carelessly forgot to tape for later viewing. It is so wrong on multiple levels. This schmuck is playing soldier to impress his constituents? Oooh, he’s risking his life to defend the endangered Israelis who stole this land in violation of international law. How courageous! Are the people back home as stupid as he is? And is there another country in the world whose military uniform he could don without repercussions? Even if he put on a Brit uniform, he’d get considerable flak back home. But this vulgar display apparently has no downside. I wonder if he’s safe or vulnerable in his district.
Did this Senator serve in the U.S. forces? He needs to choose which country he is serving. What is the status of S yria’s land with the UN that Israel continues to occupy
OMG!
A United States Senator dressed in the military uniform of a foreign country…….particulary a controverisal one.
This will be flashed around the world.
God save America from clueless fools.
“OMG!
A United States Senator dressed in the military uniform of a foreign country…….particulary a controverisal one.
This will be flashed around the world.
God save America from clueless fools.”
Admittedly, the concept that we were an ‘honest broker’ was already kind of dead and buried — but this picture can help decorate the tombstone.
State senator from New York, not a U.S. Senator.
“State senator from New York, not a U.S. Senator.”
Oy What a helpful guy this “Fredblogs” is! What an obsession with getting things exactly right. And always ready to take a pill from the pull bottle.
What are we to make of this: fat politicians in army fatigues of a foreign country?
How low will American zionist politicians get? And by golly how easy to get fear-infected gullible American jews to vote for ya!
The joke is of course that Senator David Storobin is a chickenshithawk who would wet his unmentionables if anyone even suggested they go to the front line of any armed conflict.
This foto is disgusting and, ehm, treasonous. Just ask any enlisted soldier from his constituency who’s wearing the American uniform and serving in Afghanistan.
Re Taxi qustioning:…. How low will American zionist politicians get? ….
Obviously, there is no bottom line!
But – to be honest – it appears to me, especially during these warming-up days to the Presidential elections, the same does equally to apply also for other non-Zionist US-politicians.
Not so low at all, he is standing on the roof! Plus, he is fully clothed, unlike
“Kansas Rep. Yoder apologizes for nude Sea of Galilee swim”
If Storobin has an opponent in the upcoming election, here’s a suggested campaign slogan for the opponent: “We need a state senator from Brooklyn, not from the Middle East!”
There was some other guy — maybe he was just a candidate — who got into trouble for being in a reenactment group that dressed up as some World War Two German unit.
Here we go:
link to thehill.com
Is this better or worse? When one considers the German unit isn’t real, it becomes an interesting question.
“NY State Senator Storobin (l) with an Israeli general, center, and the senator’s chief of staff (r)”
Looking at the picture, the caption could read:
“NY State Senator Storobin (l) admires his fine shot, while an Israeli general, center, points out another Palestinian to the senator’s chief of staff (r).”
Hey, politicians go on hunting trips, and it’s legal in Israel.
Storobin is running for office in a “superjewish” district.
The Politicker reports Storobin isn’t the only Republican candidate in Israel at the moment. NYC Councilman Dan Halloran, who is running against Democratic Assemblywoman Grace Meng in NY-6, is also there.
Off topic, but on topic generally–this article articulates how a certain independent journalist left America (where he was born, bred, “cultured” and brought up Zionist) and moved to Israel seeking to enhance his Jewish identity–only to find himself identifying with Palestinians: link to justvision.org
Includes inside view of journalism in Israel.
Often, in his article, the author sounds like he’s describing Phil Weiss and the Phil Weiss mindset.
Note the author stressing that Israelis are very, very afraid of actual facts on the ground getting out to the public at large. (Instead of asymmetrical “competing narratives”)
“Off topic, but on topic generally–this article articulates how a certain independent journalist left America (where he was born, bred, “cultured” and brought up Zionist) and moved to Israel seeking to enhance his Jewish identity–only to find himself identifying with Palestinians: link to justvision.org
Includes inside view of journalism in Israel.”
Well, don’t just stand there, Mondo, go get your next writer!
It should be pointed out that the so called Golan Heights are actually the Occupied “Syrian Heights” illegally annexed by Israel and said annexation declared “Null and Void ” by the UNSCR 497.
Just saying.
“It should be pointed out that the so called Golan Heights are actually the Occupied “Syrian Heights” illegally annexed by Israel and said annexation declared “Null and Void ” by the UNSCR 497.
Just saying.”
Well, they were the ‘Golan Heights’ long before Israel seized them. It’s just that the Golan Heights are no more in Israel than Lodz is in Germany.
How about Konigsberg?
OlegR says ‘How about Konigsberg?’
Is your point that Stalin’s land grabs were no more morally defensible than Israel’s — or that Israel’s land grabs are no more defensible than Stalin’s?
Dave came to America, the ultimate land of opportunity, at age 12–when the USSR collapsed. He says he’s just trying to “play it forward.”
link to nysenate.gov
What a contrast to Edward Said’s experience. Following the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, it was the custom for visitors on the Lebanese side to throw a stone over the border to Israel. Edward Said went to the liberated area and threw a stone too. He was vilified for this in the New York press.
I think Mr. Storobin should also be given a sample of what victims of the Occupation Troops of the Glorious “Jewish State” experience: Start with a rifle-butt smash to the face, follow up with a tear-gas canister to the eye and, after a sadistic beating and a bit of torture, wrap things up by running him over with a bulldozer.
LOL. Yeah, instead of dressing like everyone else on the border, he should have worn a suit and tie so the Syrians would know who to shoot.
Fred,
I will ask you again: how much $$$ do you get paid to sit here and defend Israel, even though you are a US citizen.
We all know you get paid for this. At least be a man and admit it.
“Fred,
I will ask you again: how much $$$ do you get paid to sit here and defend Israel, even though you are a US citizen.
We all know you get paid for this. At least be a man and admit it.”
Be fair. He can’t get paid much. He doesn’t do a very good job.
Pay him? If they paid him, I presume they would want to see his work. If a competent hasbarist looked at Fredblog’s postings, they would wonder which side he’s on.
Or is the idea to present Fredblogs as somebody not-very-smart (gotta relate to potential recruits) but oh, so earnest?
Shmuel has had a lot of experience in this, at one time he did work in press communications for the IDF (if memory serves). I’d like to know what he thinks about the question.
I mean, we have a stereotypical reputation for not wasting money.
Good point Colin.
I thought maybe Mondoweiss was paying Fredblogs to post. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect set-up for the commentators here.
It’s not a border, Fredo, it’s a cease-fire line. And no American should be in occupied Syria to begin with. (Although calling this Russian scum an “American” is stretch.)
Fredo, Storobin is now seen as a pathetic joke dressing up in a foreign uniform, posing with arms and then claiming the IDF made him do it. Sure, right.
As even one of his own constituents wrote:
That is truly hilarious. Every one of us who have been on group trips to Israel have been to the border with Syria. Not a single one of us was told to put on an IDF uniform and carry a gun. It would actually be against Israeli law to do so, to masquerade as a member of the IDF. It would also be against international law for the IDF to compel any civilian to dress as a combatant.
link to capitalnewyork.com
I say have him keep his IDF uniform on and send him across the border into South Lebanon. See how he does there ;)
I’d love a video of this rolly-polly frat boy doing the last 10 yrds. with a Hezbollah unit. But putting that aside, I think someone should suggest that Glenn extend his research on the term “terrorist” a decade or two further back. I’m quite certain that there is a published, well known Norwegian historian that has identified the earliest source of the term by the German occupiers of Norway in WW2 when referring to the Norwegian resistance. How ironic, the zionists are far better Nazis than the Nazis when it comes to effective propaganda?
For anyone interested, he was 12 when he was interned in the camps with his “terrorist” parents by the Germans and no, they weren’t Jews.
Hej! Tumta