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Last update - 10:10 13/03/2007
Israel must stay the hell out of U.S. debate on Iraq
By Bradley Burston


Ehud Olmert suffers from a learning disability found at times among people who know themselves to be brilliant:

They fail to learn the first thing.

Take the debate within the United States over the war in Iraq.

The first thing for an Israeli prime minister to know about the debate is this: Stay the hell out of it.

The second thing might well be: If you're thinking about addressing the American Jewish community on an issue of intense sensitivity, take a long second look before you say the first thing that comes to mind.

But Olmert, being Olmert, couldn't resist. And as a chaser, he chose the worst possible venue, the closely scrutinized national convention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) pro-Israel lobby, to declare that an early U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq would destabilize the entire Middle East.

"Those who are concerned for Israel's security, for the security of the Gulf States and for the stability of the entire Middle east should recognize the need for American success in Iraq and responsible exit," Olmert announced, via video link.

"Any outcome that will not help America's strength and would, in the eyes of the people in the region, undercut America's ability to deal effectively with the threat posed by the Iranian regime will be very negative," he added.

Perhaps the first thing that Olmert should have considered was this: A recent Gallup poll showed that Jewish Americans are the most strongly opposed to the war of all U.S. religious groups.

In fact, opinion polls have shown that a majority of Jews has opposed the war since 2003. Even Jewish Republicans, who support Bush on other issues have shown themselves opposed to the Iraq campaign.

The second thing for Olmert to have considered is the extent to which Jewish neo-cons and Israel have been blamed for the decision to enter the war.

So, not one to quit when he's behind, Olmert trudged on. Only U.S. President George W. Bush and the United States can effectively confront Iran's attempt to boost its nuclear capacity, Olmert announced, his message served with a soupcon of understated Zionist-spiced emotional blackmail.

"All of you who are concerned about the security and the future of the state of Israel understand the importance of strong American leadership addressing the Iranian threat, and I'm sure that you will not hamper or restrain that strong leadership unnecessarily," he said.

When Ariel Sharon was in power, he once said that the prime minister of Israel had a responsibility to view his actions as if he were a prime minister for the Jewish people wherever they are.

Olmert would be well advised to heed his stricken mentor's words.

For once in his life, Olmert should consider thinking twice.

___________________


Recent blogs:

The Plot: Use the UN to rid the world of Israel
Far-right and wrong, or how to ruin Judaism
The BBC poll - Israel as Satan's bastard child
Why Israelis hate the left, or, How to Speak Leftist

___________________


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  1.   No Kidding? 09:25  |  RW 13/03/07
  2.   AIPAC`s plan is: 09:35  |  American living here 13/03/07
  3.   A NICE THING ABOUT STUPIDITY 09:39  |  indrajaya 13/03/07
  4.   Well Done Olmert 09:45  |  Stan 13/03/07
  5.   and please continue to blackmail the US... 09:49  |  samos 13/03/07
  6.   The title of the article is 100% correct 10:02  |  S 13/03/07
  7.   Well it was the stupid AIPAC toads that used the false informatio 10:26  |  Marilyn 13/03/07
  8.   Stating the obvious 10:28  |  RAB 13/03/07
  9.   Is Olmert really Arafat? 10:38  |  Chuck 13/03/07
  10.   American Jews might have not wanted... 10:39  |  An Arab Neighbor 13/03/07
  11.   Olmert unites 3 hugely damaging chains of thought at AIPAC 10:44  |  Clickfool 13/03/07
  12.   # 2 KHALID more Taqqiyya( lies).Read what your brothers write 10:52  |  PETER SM 13/03/07
  13.   Sorry, but what`s the problem here....?? 11:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/03/07
  14.   SAMOS.The USA only became allied to Israel in the 70`s 11:04  |  PETER SM 13/03/07
  15.   Peter...these people must have studied the Talmud very carefully 11:09  |  American living here 13/03/07
  16.   The big danger 11:32  |  sh 13/03/07
  17.   indrajaya "the top of israel incorporation" (sic) 12:03  |  tommy suharto 13/03/07
  18.   Question for RAB (Post No. 8) 12:22  |  Johnny Weintraub 13/03/07
  19.   bradley, just state facts not fancies 12:33  |  bill grissom 13/03/07
  20.   Marilyn`s Usual Ignorant and Inane Comments! 12:37  |  Tim R 13/03/07
  21.   thats not fair 12:40  |  Jon 13/03/07
  22.   Oh And Marilyn Dear... 12:49  |  Tim R 13/03/07
  23.   Israel,stay local 13:16  |  Ronnie Wolman 13/03/07
  24.   #13 Swiss Dino- Here is the problem 13:25  |  Najdt 13/03/07
  25.   No love from the Jews! 13:47  |  David R 13/03/07
  26.   # 24 Najdt 14:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/03/07
  27.   #11 Clickfool scores 66%. Nice try but no cigar. 14:16  |  Ravi 13/03/07
  28.   Where Olmert Stands 14:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/03/07
  29.   both sides of the mouth? 14:41  |  elixelx 13/03/07
  30.   Ravi # 26 Clickfool is a nutcase conspiracy blogger with too much 14:46  |  The Equalizer 13/03/07
  31.   Bradley Burston 14:48  |  Avi Yerushalmi 13/03/07
  32.   free speech 14:49  |  lee 13/03/07
  33.   Israel cannot survive without war 14:54  |  PS 13/03/07
  34.   Israel & Iraq 14:56  |  P. J. Casey 13/03/07
  35.   # 11 CF and Aipac 15:01  |  ChanahS 13/03/07
  36.   American Liberals, Including Jews 15:26  |  HonestAbe 13/03/07
  37.   American Liberals, Including Jews 15:27  |  HonestAbe 13/03/07
  38.   (Shrug) To Err is to be Human 15:38  |  Matthew A. Sawtell 13/03/07
  39.   P.J. Casey # 34 15:41  |  ChanahS 13/03/07
  40.   Contingency planning? 15:52  |  Marilyn 13/03/07
  41.   Jon - hearing aid not working during the leb war? 15:56  |  Skandar 13/03/07
  42.   Swiss Dino I cant help thinking What If 15:58  |  Najdt 13/03/07
  43.   why do american jews think so differently from israeli jews? 16:01  |  ravi 13/03/07
  44.   iraq war 16:09  |  jean la salle 13/03/07
  45.   Ronnie Wolman: What iraqi Democracy? 16:12  |  CHGODMK 13/03/07
  46.   ravi maybe the indian government should 16:14  |  dimple kapadia 13/03/07
  47.   Open Mouth, Insert Foot 16:16  |  Mark Lincoln 13/03/07
  48.   # 42 Najdt 16:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/03/07
  49.   RAVI NEEDS EDUCATING BUT STILL POSTS 16:56  |  paul harris 13/03/07
  50.   Olmert`s inability to see the future 17:26  |  Tosefta 13/03/07
  51.   Olmert`s Comments 17:41  |  Geoff 13/03/07
  52.   Be careful what you wish for 17:52  |  Robert Macala 13/03/07
  53.   Mathew, That`s it exactly... 17:56  |  Robert Macala 13/03/07
  54.   #36 Honest Abe; what were those good reasons? 17:59  |  ballistic 13/03/07
  55.   #45 CHODMK; well, you said a mouthful of truth 18:02  |  ballistic 13/03/07
  56.   #21 Hey Jon; many posters deny any involvement 18:11  |  ballistic 13/03/07
  57.   good points, ballistic, good points #56 18:19  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/03/07
  58.   Maybe Israel should take over from us in Iraq. 18:24  |  Colin Wright 13/03/07
  59.   #YAAKOV THINKS ITS TIME FOR THE SHORT SPEAR 18:26  |  paul harris 13/03/07
  60.   Left-handed Mark Lincoln 18:35  |  Proud Zionist 13/03/07
  61.   WAR WAR AND YES MORE WAR 18:36  |  Dave 13/03/07
  62.   #59 Hey Paul; Funny, I did not see ISRAEL 19:03  |  ballistic 13/03/07
  63.   Robert #53 - History has a funny way 19:48  |  Matthew A. Sawtell 13/03/07
  64.   Matthew A. Sawtell, here, here!! #63 20:16  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/03/07
  65.   Bradley from his special hustler place in hell 21:02  |  Joseph E . Post 1 13/03/07
  66.   AIPAC=Ziohad 21:11  |  Andreas 13/03/07
  67.   "mentor`s words" 21:55  |  Blogowitz 13/03/07
  68.   Yes we should lead the way in regards to Iran 21:58  |  Channing 13/03/07
  69.   response to 52 22:14  |  channing 13/03/07
  70.   Aipac`s Jews 22:28  |  edgar 13/03/07