How far do politicians conflate US and Israeli interests? Well Romney’s choice for veep, Paul Ryan, puts the issue “Israel” under the category “Homeland Security” on his Congressional website. Homeland Security also includes, Iraq, Afghanistan, Support Our Troops, and Defense Appropriations.
This political site says that Ryan has co-sponsored a lot of hawkishly pro-Israel legislation.
Ryan’s website statement on Israel is typical of the Republican right, and Democratic left for that matter: the only “fully functioning democracy” in the Middle East, shared values, and Hamas is a terrorist organization.
Israel
America has no better friend in the Middle East than the nation of Israel. Not only is Israel the region’s only fully functioning democracy, with a government based on popular consent and the rule of law, but it is also a valuable ally against Islamic extremism and terrorism. Our shared democratic values and national interests are supported by maintaining a close friendship with Israel. Americans also have a strong interest in Israel achieving a lasting peace with its neighbors – including the Palestinians.
Reasonable people – including those who live in the Middle East – differ about how the conflict between Israel and Palestine can be resolved. However, I believe at least one thing is clear: we cannot advocate for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that jeopardizes Israel’s safety or legitimizes terrorism. Hamas, which is one of the two major Palestinian political factions, is an Islamist terrorist group whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction, refuses to recognize Israel’s existence, and calls Osama Bin Laden a “martyr.”
While I do not have a role in the diplomatic discussions over the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, America should not pressure Israel to agree to a peace deal that is unlikely to result in peace and security. Real peace will require Palestinians to recognize that Israel has a right to exist, even as it will require two states for the two peoples. Introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on May 13, 2011, H. Res. 268 reaffirms the United States’ commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations. I co-sponsored this legislation, and it passed the House on July 7, 2011 by a vote of 407-13. I was also a cosponsor of H.R. 4133, the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, also introduced by Majority Leader Eric Cantor, which passed the House on May 9, 2012 by a vote of 411-2. H.R. 4133 states that it is United States policy to reaffirm the commitment to Israel’s security as a state, provide Israel with the military capabilities to defend itself, expand military and civilian cooperation, assist in a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and encourage Israel’s neighbors to recognize its right to exist.
Let’s just go ahead and do it: annex Israel and let it become the 51st state.
Netanyahu is already more powerful than our president on all matters Middle Eastern policy. Why not extend it to the rest of the policies?
The Democrats won’t say no, they’re busy trying to out-flank the right – from the right.
After all, if they fail to support annexation, people will start to suspect that they are perhaps a bit too influenced by the Keynan anti-colonialist muslim marxist anti-Semite Obama.
Better not let that perception take more root than it already has.
Although I trust the leadership in Congress will put the dangerous anti-Semite Obama in check if he were ever to try to attempt stab Israel in the back by annexing Israel.
That Congressional leadership would probably take shape from our friends from AIPAC by making sure that an amendment got in before the legislation was signed; ethnically cleanse those Arabs first.
It’s the pro-Israel and the pro-American thing to do.
Shares our values etc etc.
Before there was Israel, America had no enemies in the Middle East.
I’m keeping an open mind on Ryan. That statement he appends could be signed by Bill Clinton. Of course a two state solution would provide for Israeli security. That’s the point.
Cantor was on the phone with Blitzer this morning on CNN right after the speech.
He said that he and Ryan had traveled to the ME together, and that Ryan understood that Iran is the biggest threat of all and that they represent danger to our ally, Israel.
That was pretty much the end of the foreign policy portion of the phone interview.
I’m pretty sure all of what Phil highlights in this post are credentials for him to be A) chosen as the VP candidate for the GOP Party and B) Vice President of the United States.