76 Senators to Obama, don't throw Israel under the bus

[Toler]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A vast majority of US senators on Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to mind the "risks" to Israel in any Middle East peace accord as he presses for a two-state solution to the six-decade conflict.


"As we work closely with our democratic ally, Israel, we must take into account the risks it will face in any peace agreement," 76 of the 100 senators wrote Obama in a letter released to reporters.

"Without a doubt, our two governments will agree on some issues and disagree on others, but the United States friendship with Israel requires that we work closely together as we recommit ourselves to our historic role of a trusted friend and active mediator," they wrote.

Democratic Senators Christopher Dodd and Arlen Specter as well as Republican Senators Johnny Isakson and John Thune were the lead authors of the letter, which came one day after Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We must also continue to insist on the absolute Palestinian commitment to ending terrorist violence and to building the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side-by-side, in peace with the Jewish state of Israel," they said.
At press time, seventy-six senators have signed the letter. The House version bears almost 195 signatures and is at 195, as of press time. The letter, crafted April 30 before the summit is designed to send a clear message to the White House about Israel’s security, its determination to control its own Palestinian negotiations as it confronts an Iranian nuclear threat.

The notion that Obama was linking Jerusalem's negotiations with Palestinians to its ability to thwart nuclear annihilation rankled many in the Jewish and non-Jewish Israel support community. In a word, Israel has gone over the president’s head and appealed directly to the Congress.

 
http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2009/05/awesome-76-of-100-us-senators-write-letter-to-obama-urging-him-not-to-throw-israel-under-the-jihad-b.html

[WhiskeyGirl]

It seems like nuclear weapons are everywhere, just like guns and recreational drugs.  I seem to recall that during the fall of the Soviet empire, many nuclear weapons disappeared, were lost, stolen, and possibly fell into the 'wrong' hands.  There is no nuclear genie to put back in the bottle, there are possibly millions of nuclear genies roaming free.

Only a fool would use nuclear weapons, and there is no shortage of fools.  I'm not sure what anyone can do other than hope for the best and stability.

Israel, is an oasis in the Middle East.  They have a good life there.  A life that that poor people in the region would love to participate in.  Israel is not perfect.

Lebanon was once a garden spot to.  What happened?  Why does it seem like some want to destroy what is good and prosperous?  Envy?  If you can't outright steal, you destroy?

Turkey is preparing to implement what officials termed a major weapons sale to Lebanon.
 
Israel has relayed concern over the agreement. Israeli military sources have told the Turkish General Staff that a Lebanese military trained and equipped by Ankara could threaten Israel.
Officials said Turkey has approved the export of U.S.-origin systems and weapons to the Lebanese military. They said Ankara acquired permission for the proposed defense export from the administration of President Barack Obama.

"We expect events to take place soon," an official said.

On April 23, Lebanon and Turkey signed a defense cooperation agreement in Ankara. Officials said the memorandum of understanding envisioned joint exercises, training and weapons sales.

"Turkey is asserting itself exclusively in the Muslim Middle East, while ignoring other areas of the Ottoman realm," Soner Cagaptay, a Turkish researcher for the Washington Institute, said. "What is more, under the [Turkish ruling party] AKP, Turkish foreign policy empathizes increasingly not with the West, but with Russia and Iran, and especially with Arab Islamist causes.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2009/ss_turkey0400_05_19.asp

I don't follow Middle East politics like others, but it seems like the Obama administration is no friend of the peace and prosperity process.

Why is the U.S. supplying weapons?   Is this creating a Mexican style gang war in the Middle East?  Terrorism for those that live there?  Obama administration caused destruction?

Hmmm...limit gun sales in the U.S. because of the gang violence coming north from Mexico, most guns supplied by drug dealers, not those in the U.S.

On the other hand, the U.S. is the gun dealer supplying arms and support to those living in a powder keg. 

Why not just strengthen the borders?  Let everyone live in their own country? 

War leads to wealth for some.  Is a major war in Middle East part of the Obama plan to lift American out of a depression?  It worked for the presidents of the Great Depression, will it work for Obama?  I wonder what terrorists will destroy in America next?

jmho