Donald Trump disappointed John Bolton las tyear by refusing to strike Iranian bases in response to Iran destroying an American drone, because the strike would likely kill 150. “Disproportionate… Too many body bags,” Trump said. Bolton writes, “This was the most irrational thing I ever witnessed any president do,” and says he nearly resigned. The author doesn’t understand how frightening this story is, about Bolton himself.
Bolton’s index cites “Iran” 240 times, and his tone throughout this long book will remind classics scholars of Cato the Elder’s famous calls for Rome to exterminate its rival across the Mediterranean, Carthage, in 151 B.C. “Carthago delenda est — Carthage must be destroyed.”
The New York Times covers annexation as if it chiefly affects Israeli Jews. “The fear most unnerving Israelis is that their sons and daughters could be sent into combat,” it reports but all but ignores Palestinian concerns about the illegal move Israel is contemplating.
Israel is “the only differentiator” in issues between challenger Jamaal Bowman and Dem. Party boss Eliot Engel in congressional race in New York. That’s why Israel advocates have rallied behind Engel’s troubled campaign. But amazingly NYT can’t mention the issue in covering hot race.
Dedicated Zionists from Robert Satloff to Martin Indyk to Dennis Ross say annexation threatens the future of the Jewish state because it will alienate Europe and the Democratic Party; but AIPAC, the leading Israel lobby org, says not a word, foretelling a chaotic scramble for power inside the Israel lobby, with J Street and youth groups gaining ascendancy.
Why is Trump lying down for Israeli annexation of West Bank even as global chorus condemns it? He needs what could be $200 million from Sheldon and Miriam Adelson for election. He has delivered for the largest Republican donors again and again, from moving embassy, to tearing up Iran deal, to attacking the ICC.
A desperate Donald Trump might attack Iran to restore his popularity. Would the mainstream U.S. media let him get away with it?
Two years before Tom Cotton piece, the “NYT” abetted militant response to demonstrators in Gaza, by Shmuel Rosner: “Israel had a clear objective when it was shooting, sometimes to kill, well-organized ‘demonstrators’ near the border. Israel was determined to prevent these people… from crossing the fence.”
Having just played the New York Times, Sen. Tom Cotton is dangerous, intelligent — and a favorite of the pro-Israel, pro-war-with-Iran lobby. His political rise has been fueled by that rightwing interest group.
NYT regrets running Sen. Cotton’s call for military crackdown on protest. It should do the same for 4 op-eds justifying Israel killing nonviolent demonstrators. But Bari Weiss’s role at newspaper reflects long attachment to Zionism at NYT.