Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in the United States today, just days ahead of his planned speech to the US Congress aimed at convincing them to end nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Netanyahu’s visit, over the objection of the Obama Administration, has fueled political tensions in both the US and Israel, with bilateral relations a key political issue in a way not seen in decades.
Dozens of Congressional Democrats are planning to boycott the speech, and administration officials have said they won’t meet Netanyahu this close to the Israeli election, scheduled for March 17.
In Israel, the opposition is also blasting Netanyahu for risking US ties over Iran diplomacy, and the Israeli election commission is only allowing the speech to be broadcast in Israel on a tape delay, to allow TV stations to filter out any political content the premier may make.
In the past, Israeli leaders going to DC were trying to hype their tremendous level of influence and the strong ties they enjoy with all top officials. Netanyahu, by contrast, will be underscoring the level of influence he’s already lost, while hawkish Republicans embrace him primarily as a way to thumb their nose at the administration.
This is an utterly egotistical act! Or, can we see anything darker behind it? Does this man expect that, if he convinces a pack of cravens, the whole country will be docile and plunge the US into a no-win war?. Are we to imagine the population or the armed forces-who would bear the brunt once more-will sacrifice itself for the sake of this man´s monumental ego, a true Moloch? This is what this visiting dignitary expects to accomplish by the mere power of his voice. Or is he resting upon the deep pockets of wealthy donors to convince the cravens who attend this insulting presentation? Woe to the US that its political people have descended to the level of Latin American 1930´s political hacks.
"… the whole country will be docile and plunge the US into a no-win war?"
Wouldn't be the first time…
"…the armed forces-who would bear the brunt once more-will sacrifice itself…"
It's important to keep in mind that the military goes where the CIC sends them so it's more that they would be sacrificed on the orders of those who have never worn the uniform and their children never will either…but it's OK to send the schlubs who think they're protecting our "freedoms and liberty" – all those "heroes."
Unfortunately the rift is widening enough.
But not enough bub too little too late they own you.
That's what I meant to write "isn't"
I suppose someone should introduce an "Israel-critical" resolution at the UN Security .Council.
Obama could direct his ambassador there to simply ABSTAIN without a VETO… Bibi's (re)election would be SHATTERED, and the US would have someone new, and a bit more respectful, to deal with in the future.
Or the President could finally call AIPAC what it really is and declare it to be a Foreign Power Lobbying organization, and hence not be allowed to donate to ANY Political candidate!
AIPAC doesn't donate to political candidates.
God bless the warring zionists
NuttyYahoo is finished, he just doesn't seem to know it yet. Nobody gets to dis the Empire and walk away unscathed. Even Senator Feinstein is criticizing him.
Of course, his replacement will pursue the same policies.
"Meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss" – The Who
16 US Intelligence Agencies still say that Iran IS NOT working on nuclear weapons. And if they ever did, that work stopped completely in 2003. But facts don't matter, do they ?
Of course facts don't matter, especially if you've got a really nifty piece of poster paper with a bomb drawn on it. Everyone knows that bomb drawings- moreover, bomb pictures with a sparking fuze- are much more reliable than any intelligence agency's painstakingly compiled investigation.
qPaid actor theatrics, for when the corporate rich supply over 90% of political donations, in both Empire USA and Israel, we should be so gullible as to think that paid actor politicians are hired to make decisions for the rich.
As a US citizen and Korean War veteran, I find it outrageous that Congress would convene a joint session to give a foreign head of government an official platform for the purpose of opposing a foreign policy decision of the President of the United States. And make no mistake, the Democrats share the blame for this outrage because they — along with the Republicans — overwhelmingly refuse to act and vote primarily for the interest of our own nation, rather than for that of another nation (in this case Israel). And the White House is really no better; it just sent Susan Rice to speak at the AIPAC convention today, asking for the support of an organization which openly places a higher priority on the interests of a foreign power (Israel) which are plainly in conflict with the interests of our nation. Ms. Rice should have told AIPAC that President Obama was elected by the people of the US to represent US interests, not to represent conflicting interests of Israel or any other foreign power. Instead, Ms. Rice reiterated our Chief Executive's "unwavering support" of Israel and tried to satisfy the attempts of AIPAC and Israel to dictate US foreign policy. President Obama should have forbidden Prime Minister Netanyahu to enter our nation's borders for the express purpose of opposing our President's foreign policy decision to negotiate with Iran and attempting politically to influence members of Congress to interfere with our President's foreign policy decisions. Instead, President Obama sent Ms. Rice to placate AIPAC and Israel. What we have is a national Government which is effectively controlled by AIPAC and Israel on whatever matters AIPAC and Israel choose to interest themselves in. This is an absurd disgrace to our national history and our supposed representative form of government.