Politico Magazine has a special report up called, “Obama’s World: America’s 25 Most Awkward Allies.” The list is endless and includes Equatorial Guinea and Turkey and Bahrain. The story begins:
“Let’s be honest,” [National Security Adviser Susan Rice] said, “at times … we do business with governments that do not respect the rights we hold most dear.”
American presidents have long wrestled with this dilemma…[Politico has] put together a damning, revelatory collection of reports on the following pages about the “imperfect choices” the United States has made…
Here’s the list of 25 Awkward allies:
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Cambodia, Honduras, Uganda, Qatar, UAE, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Djibouti, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Turkey.
The absence of Israel is laughable. Obama has been repeatedly attacked by Israeli politicians and the country’s U.S. supporters for not being more supportive, and for not visiting Israel in his first term. He corrected that alleged error in his second term. He has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu 12 times, as of yesterday; and the relationship has been famously strained. Even American media bridled when Netanyahu lectured Obama at the White House three years ago, and when France’s Sarkozy called Netanyahu a liar in a private conversation that went out on an open mike, Obama said, “You’re tired of him; what about me? I have to deal with him every day.” Yesterday the pool reporter said that John Kerry got a “grave” expression as Netanyahu defied the president again on his push for two states in the Middle East, saying:
Israel has been doing its part and I regret to say that the Palestinians have not. … Mr. President, I think it is about time for the Palestinian people to recognize a state for the Jewish people. In the Middle East, the only peace that can endure is the peace we can defend. The people of Israel expect me to stay strong for the future of the only Jewish state.
Politico’s oversight is further evidence, the Israel lobby is embedded in the US press.
It’s not just political, it’s also personal.
If you’re a non-Jewish journalist – like the founders of Politico – or editor in the Beltway media, you have many friends who are Jewish. Potential business partners and bosses, too. And probably a past girlfriend or even current spouse, as well.
Given the complete Zionist concensus that exists among older, educated middle-aged Jews in the media and in business, you are well aware of this and conscious of it.
Speaking frankly about Israel would affect your business, your work relationships and even your intimate relationships in many instances.
What price is there to throw, say, the Vietnamese under the bus?
It’s as safe as a babywalk, which is why it is on the list.
Politico has poor judgement. Why invent a list when your too cowardly to put the most awkward ally at the top of the list? How do they make the Sauds no. 2 on the list but Israel gets no mention. Obama and Yahoo are completely awkward, everyone recognizes this.
“Politico’s oversight is further evidence, the Israel lobby is embedded in the US press.”
Once again, this is where you lose me. Israel has an approval rating around 65% in the US and it’s an “awkward ally”? California, the most populous state, just signed a trade deal and Bibi Netanyahu is giving a speech at AIPAC, which Kerry (and a huge portion of the federal government) attended.
There’s a big gap between Israel and Bibi Netanyahu, and it’s not evidence of some grand conspiracy for Politico (writing for an American audience) to say that a popular place isn’t among the 25 most awkward allies.
Weiss;
Your statement that “‘Politico’ leaves Israel off list of 25 ‘awkward allies’ of U.S.” is awkward. I glad most of the Americans don’t think like you, Maybe they see the reality fairly than you see it.
They also made a ‘list of awkard allies that are too awkward for the awkward allies list’ but it was empty so they didn’t publish it.