Gates: Israel an ‘Ungrateful Ally’
Tensions Rise as Whistleblower Reveals Israeli Effort to Start a US War With Iran
Though tensions in the relationship between the US and Israeli governments rarely get aired in public, there is a general sense in media reporting that difficulties between the two are on the rise, with comments by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates underscoring the seriousness.
In comments at the National Security Council Principals Committee, former Secretary Gates termed the Israeli government an “ungrateful ally,” insisting they had offered “nothing in return” for massive amounts of US aid and high level intel sharing.
The context of the comments is equally telling, coming amid reports of an FBI whistleblower’s attempts to reveal the details of spying on the Israeli embassy. Though the attempted leak failed to go public, it is now revealed that it detailed “Israeli officials trying unlawfully to influence US policy and edging toward military action against Iran.”
Israel’s keenness to start a US war with Iran is hardly a secret, of course, but the fact that it has gone from unspoken truth to newspaper topic speaks volumes, and suggests the “nothing in return” is starting to wear a bit thin.
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skulz fontaine
September 6th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Uh-oh, the College for Israel First (you know, the US Congress) isn't gonna like what former SecDef Bobby has to say.
Upcoming headline news – Bob Gates declared "officially" by AIPAC and Abe Foxman, to be a "sucking antiSemite!"
curmudgeonvt
September 6th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
This is definitely a new twist in this soap opera. Could lead to some interesting denials and finger-pointing. Doesn't seem like this is something that is going to disappear in the next news cycle. Stay tuned!!!
rybo1
September 6th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
America should get the monkey off its back and become an independent nation once again.
John_Muhammad
September 6th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Gates will probably meet an untimely end in a freak gardening accident or die under mysterious but 'natural' causes if he keeps this up.
beeboltwu
September 7th, 2011 at 12:23 am
Or better. He will apologize to his masters with tears runing down on his cheeks. Exactly like Marlone Brando did in the past. NOBODY DARE TO CRY OUT LOUD.
Andron
September 7th, 2011 at 12:44 am
How come it has taken supposedly intelligent American Leaders to finally realize that Isreal only acts in its own interest?
Whilst soaking up TRILLIONS of American dollars all they want is to suck America into another war which Americans can ill afford.
Walter Cole
September 7th, 2011 at 2:15 am
What do those idiots in the White House expect? Netanyahu is just putting them in their place. Our Congressional leaders do the same; they humiliate themselves constantly when it comes to Israel. I can feel no pity for the feelings of our nation’s leaders – Netanyahu is just showing us where we stand as a nation in this world – we are the US of Israel. The American people too must get over any feelings of humiliation; you cannot go through life blindly following the dictates of another country and then cry because you feel humiliated. We got what we deserve, because we are what we are – the USI.
ghouri
September 7th, 2011 at 2:39 am
This is not enough as they will destory whole america. This is not new read the story from Moses how they tormented Moses.
They wiull destor the world for their own hegemony and we are target i.e. Muslims.
Die Wahrheit zählt
September 7th, 2011 at 4:03 am
Israel ungrateful? No surprise there!
Heathcliff_Maw
September 7th, 2011 at 4:34 am
Don't you wish the US Congress was as loyal to American citizens as the Turkish government is to its citizens?
richard vajs
September 7th, 2011 at 4:43 am
All I can say is —"no shit, Mr. Gates, when did you get your first clue?"
foodoo
September 7th, 2011 at 4:46 am
Gates comment is the typical too little too late.
The truth only comes out when the person is leaving his
official capacity and he can no longer affect the situation.
Damn cowards.
Alan MacDonald
September 7th, 2011 at 6:27 am
When Ditz says, "Israel’s keenness to start a US war with Iran is hardly a secret" this INCORRECTLY conflates the Imperial government of Israel with the vast majority of Israeli citizens.
Most Israelis, like the vast majority of Americans, are peace-loving and "Against Empire" [Parenti] — but their supposed governments are both controlled by the very same global corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Liberty & democracy
over
violent
empire
New America Peoples' Party 2012
Roger Lafontaine
September 7th, 2011 at 6:28 am
Yes, Gate's anti-Semitism is finally out of the bag. I call for his trial and execution at once. It took less than a day to dump Helen Thomas, so this is curtains for Gates.
Bruce_from_SoCal
September 7th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Secretary Gates: By saying that Israel offers "nothing in return", you have correctly described Israel for what it is, a parasite. America needs to be wormed!
Drake
September 7th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Gates is going to pay for that anti-semetic remark. Doesn't he realize that US Congress is Israeli occupied territory (per Pat Buchanan)?
Jamie N
September 7th, 2011 at 6:58 am
Thats a great truthfull comment about Turkey being more loyal to its citizens.Would be great if someone not retired like the President would speek the truth about this country only careing about itself its war crimes trying to get America into another illegal war with Iran.But America has commited war crimes also.AIPAC should get the boot or at the very least never be allowed to give money in anyway to anyone seeking a government job.No Politician willing to take money from AIPAC should never be allowed to hole a job working for the people because they end up working for Israels interests.Well they are at it no coperation bribes eather.
NavyVietnamWarVet
September 7th, 2011 at 7:12 am
Seems that the Turkish Goverment is NOT filled with TRAITORS to its own people as our American Congress is filled with TRAITORS to Americans.
Teflon
September 7th, 2011 at 7:22 am
Yeah, you are right. I love the way these guys pose as ' proud Americans ', so proud in fact that he wouldn't open his mouth on the issue while in office, although I do appreciate his doing so now. Better late than never but no-one in mainstream media world cares what he has to say, unless he is speaking of a threat from Iran.
Teflon
September 7th, 2011 at 7:25 am
Everyone who gets in their way is a target.
andy
September 7th, 2011 at 8:31 am
He's saying the right thing for the wrong reason. Actually America doesn't HAVE AN ALLIANCE with Israel. Among other things this would require the country to have actual stated borders, which it doesn't want, at least until it finds a way to absorb all the conquered Arab inhabitated territory (without the Arabs of course). His other comment about Israel being a parasite goes without even saying.
Louis Farshee
September 7th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Israel an ally? There were no Israeli soldiers fighting with the Americans in Korea or Vietnam. The ally notion is a sham that had its origins in 1947 when the US pounded the resolution to partition Palestine through the UN General Assembly. Over the years this produced “blowback.”
When “blowback” occurred the Israelis sided with the Americans and in this way became an ally. Once the ally myth was pronounced it became Holy Writ…like being the only democracy in the Middle East, having the right to defend itself, etc.
Israel has neither the population size or territorial depth to be a “strategic” ally. It is founded on a zero-sum game…everything for Israel nothing for anyone else be they Palestinian or American.
Louis Farshee
joe
September 7th, 2011 at 8:51 am
ally?????
RickR30
September 7th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Gates is rehabilitating himself more and more every day. Too bad he didn't make those statements back when he was working for the USG and then resigned in protest. That would have been far more powerful.
Cave Man
September 7th, 2011 at 9:28 am
I can't speak for Israelis, but to claim the "vast majority of Americans are peace-loving and 'against empire,'" is patently absurd. Yeah, sure, Americans are tired of the wars in the ME. But, war-fatigue shouldn't be confused with loving peace and opposing empire. I think most Americans share Madeleine Albright's view that if you've got the world's most awesome military, you should use it. The only disagreements are over the when, the where, and the why.
bereshith
September 7th, 2011 at 10:30 am
It is not enough for Gates to apologize to Israel on bended knee, on all fours , groveling like a dog is acceptable though.
The prophet
September 7th, 2011 at 10:31 am
I always knew that Gates had it in him to take America's side eventually. Now we need a few generals, but I'm sure Obama won't have the guts. And to think i believed the coward, he was bought from the start. And I thought I was a good judge of people. He sure suckered me.
liveload
September 7th, 2011 at 10:45 am
He should have started in 1980, but career was always more important to Bobby Gates than anything else. Well now that that's over with, he's maniacally scrubbing his hands muttering, "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!". Fuck him.
Curious
September 7th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
As Ray McGovern has pointed out time and time again, for one to be an ally there must be a defense treaty, and for that to happen they must have definite borders.
What has Israel given in return for American support? I've never seen anybody mention that on a positive note. Gates should know why Bibi treats Obama the way he does. He wants the other wing of the war party in control of the dictatorship. What I want to know is why is Israel more afraid of Iran than they are of the Sunnis? Would they really be more secure with the destruction of the Shia Crescent?
ThatOneDude
September 7th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Kabuki Theater, Israel stage left. If anyone thinks Gates is doing anything other than playing the controlled opposition, well, I have some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale.
ThatOneDude
September 7th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Well said. I love the ratings though… is this really antiwar.com?
John_Muhammad
September 7th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
I thought Biden said there was no daylight between the US and Israel- it sure looked to me like he was joined at the hip with his buddies in Tel Aviv when he was saying all that. And now Gates is trying to ruin Uncle Joe's Knesset Love Fest? Ohhhhhh this will just not do!
John_Muhammad
September 7th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Come to think of it, though, we've actually gotten an awful lot in return for our 'special relationship' with Israel – just remember if it hadn't have been for Israel we'd have never had the Lavon Affair, we'd have never had to deal with the USS Liberty, we'd wouldn't have had to strip our military stocks and emergency airlift weapons and vehicles to Haifa in 67 and 73, we wouldn't have learned how to deal with nuclear blackmail, we wouldn't have been tipped off to lax security by Jonathan Pollard, and of course we can't forget the generous campaign donations and election influence given to our politicians by AIPAC.
Oh, we've gotten a lot from Israel, make no mistake about that.
John_Muhammad
September 7th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
I am still amazed by the hubris of Israel calling itself a 'Jewish State' and denouncing any criticism of the state as being equivalent to anti-Semitism…. yet when an Israeli soldier or pilot kills innocent civilians it's not to be taken as representative of Judaism? When the Israel government passes laws against non-Jews that are clearly inspired by the anti-Jewish laws of Germany in the 30's… and we are not to take this a representative of Judaism?
I know Judaism is a great an venerable faith, and for those who follow it faithfully I extend my hand in friendship and brotherhood. HOWEVER, when a State- ANY State- appropriates a religion for its own agenda and then cloaks it's illegal and morally indefensible acts in that religion it leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth for that set of beliefs.
You can't have it both ways, Israel- either you do acts that are consistent with Jewish Law or you don't. You're a Jewish State or you're not.
goedelite
September 7th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Writing of ungrateful allies, we should not omit Saudi Arabia. You'll recall that the largest number of 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia and that members of the ruling Saudi family assisted them in their mission, on good authority. I cannot give you the source of that information, because it is blacked out in the redacted form of the 9/11 Commission's report – a decade later. Persons high in the White House do not want us to know how much aid came from these Saudi brothers, uncles and cousins of bin Ladin and the Saudi royal family. I would judge that persons close to our President do not want us to know how ungrateful the Saudi royal family is for decades of US protection from their own people.
JDonald
September 7th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Please explain to me why my contribution to the dialogue about this article was not published. It seems to be okay if you rant and rave against Israeli policies, but when you put your finger on the Zionist influence over our American government, that is not acceptable. Please be somewhat fair in your acceptance of inputs.
Moderator’s note: Was not published, or was not published immediately. If you want your own personal comment moderators to work in three shifts and ensure no waiting, shall we start the bidding on a weekly basis (minimum wage x 24 hours x 7 days)? – TLK
Peaceful_Idiot
September 7th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Thin indeed.