The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

Re: If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

GreenDreams — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:28:45 -0000

Both we and Israel need to rethink our strategy for dealing with strife and violence. We continue to act as if our military posturing and saber rattling, and ultimately our militarism will have better results in the future than it has in the past. Please, take a look at this picture, and try to understand that this type of disparity in opportunities and quality-of-life will always fuel envy, hatred, strife and war.

We need to remember and utilize all of our resources wisely. Currently, we consider only our military resources, and experience the frustration that no matter how much we are willing to trash our budget and sacrifice our ideals, we cannot stop the strife and violence by force. We simply can't. It's time for us to remember that we Americans are resourceful and we have resources far greater than our military. We have shown poor leadership under Bush, but we are capable of visionary leadership (recalcitrant hawks aside) and could lead Israel to rethink its strategies. Or maybe we could learn from them, as they DO negotiate with enemies such as Syria, rather than making a political football out of something that can yield real results.

Re: If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

runasim — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:52:35 -0000

What it means to be pro-Israel is a question debated in Israel much like the question is debated here regarding what it means to be patriotic. Even some of the arguments used are the same.
To the right wing, if you don't agree with certain policies, you are anti-Istael (unamerican), and support the enemy (terrorists). , It's a difficult argument to win, because every mortar attack on Israel or every terrorist plot in the West, riles
emotions, and reason is cowed.
Americans often ascerbate the problem because many don't even realize that there is an internal debate in Israel. The right wing's AIPAC, aided by people like sen. Lieberman, have been so succesful in raising funds and dominating the narrative, that US policies have also been skewed to reflect their side of the debate. As a result, the US is actually meddling in Israeli politics, and that's not good for anybody. We can't influence Israel's enemies if we are perceived to be Israel's surrogate, and, especially, the right wing's surrogate.

Neither Israel, nor the US initiated paranoia about Zionism, Neither has considered enough how best to combat it. Doing nothing to dowse the flames amounts, in a way, to encouraign the fire to continue.

Re: If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

Orion12 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:50:27 -0000

Surely the price of oil has sky-rocketed. This is not solely the fault of arabs or other oil producers. People all over and from all countries are manupulating the financial system; that is what is the main cause. On the other hand the arabs do have a commodity that everyone needs and they are selling it and enjoying the benefits. But they should not be solely held responsible. The consumers have been using oil products and continue to do so. Every factor contributes to the high oil prices.

The issue of how arabs perceive the US is another thing that we should have an open mind about. It is as if Israel can do no wrong. America backs it, whatever the case. Meanwhile some wrong things are taking place as a result of Israel's policies. Having said that, the attitudes against and attacks on the Israelis have created this reaction against arabs. It takes a bold american president to tell the Israelis to back off and cool off at times. But how can they cool off when they are being attacked. This whole thing is very complicated and cannot be easily solved. Each of the two groups have right to their existence.

I do not see how any american president cannot support Israel. The jewish lobby and power in the US is very strong. The political interests of the US also is embedded in the physical presence of Israel. What can however be done by any american president is to be upfront with the Israelis on matters, which are considered against human rights and contrary to civilized behavior. But again who defines rights or civility? Obama has a chance to change the way diplomacy is played. If he is president, he should change the impression that the US blindly supports Israel. There is a possibliity that may even reduce terrorism.

Re: If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

runasim — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:40:46 -0000

Blaming the author of op-ed for oil prices makesabout the same sense as his fears of Zionist control.

Re: If It Were I In Obama’s Place!

unclejoe40 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:20:25 -0000

with oil nearing 140 dollars a barrel, i am sick of these anti jewish arabs whining about zionist control of world politics

eff em