[PhillipHer]

On Friday, Senator Barack Obama delivered a major policy address at AIPAC’s Chicago Policy Forum. Senator Obama declared “our job is to never forget the threat of violence is real,” and stated that the effort to “rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security” must begin “with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy.”


Obama also called for tough action against Iran, saying that “Iran nuclear weapons would destabilize the region and could set off a new arms race.”

KEY EXCERPTS:

§Back in January of 2006, I made my first trip to the Holy Land. It is a place unlike any other on this earth – a place filled with so much promise of what we truly can be as people; a place where we’ve learned how in a flash, violence and hatred and intolerance can turn that promise to rubble and send too many lives to their early graves.

§Just six months after I visited, Hezbollah launched four thousand rocket attacks just like the one that destroyed the home in Kiryat Shmona, and kidnapped Israeli service members. And we pray for all of the service members who have been kidnapped: Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser, and I met with his family this week. I offered to help in any way I can.

It is important to remember this history—that Israel had unilaterally withdrawn from Lebanon only to have Iran supply Hezbollah with thousands of rockets.

§Our job is to never forget that the threat of violence is real. Our job is to renew the United States’ efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision. Our job is to do more than lay out another road map; our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region.

§One of the heavy stones that currently rest at the United States’ feet is Iraq. Until we lift this burden from our foreign policy, we cannot rally the world to our values and vision.

§Iran’s President Ahmadinejad’s regime is a threat to all of us. His words contain a chilling echo of some of the world’s most tragic history.

§Unfortunately, history has a terrible way of repeating itself. President Ahmadinejad has denied the Holocaust. He held a conference in his country, claiming it was a myth. But we know the Holocaust was as real as the 6 million who died in mass graves at Buchenwald, or the cattle cars to Dachau or whose ashes clouded the sky at Auschwitz. We have seen the pictures. We have walked the halls of the Holocaust museum in Washington and Yad Vashem. We have touched the tattoos on loved-ones arms. After 60 years, it is time to deny the deniers.

§We can and we should help Israelis and Palestinians both fulfill their national goals: two states living side by side in peace and security. Both the Israeli and Palestinian people have suffered from the failure to achieve this goal. The United States should leave no stone unturned in working to make that goal a reality.

§But in the end, we also know that we should never seek to dictate what is best for the Israelis and their security interests. No Israeli Prime Minister should ever feel dragged to or blocked from the negotiating table by the United States.

§Peace with security. That is the Israeli people’s overriding wish.




Senator Obama has a longstanding commitment to Israel. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet talked about this commitment in a March 1st blog entry: "Let me share something. Last August, Obama was in Cape Town, South Africa, at a time when Israel was being criticized for overreacting for its military attacks in Lebanon in response to the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. Obama was speaking to a group at a cultural institution called The Center for the Book, which provided a friendly venue for the Illinois Democratic. The crowd, clearly hostile to Israel, expected Obama to bash Israel on Lebanon. He did not. They were surprised.

They just did not know Obama well enough to realize who they were dealing with."

[9mm_fan]

On Friday, Senator Barack Obama delivered a major policy address at AIPAC’s Chicago Policy Forum. Senator Obama declared “our job is to never forget the threat of violence is real,” and stated that the effort to “rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security” must begin “with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy.”


Obama also called for tough action against Iran, saying that “Iran nuclear weapons would destabilize the region and could set off a new arms race.”

KEY EXCERPTS:

§Back in January of 2006, I made my first trip to the Holy Land. It is a place unlike any other on this earth – a place filled with so much promise of what we truly can be as people; a place where we’ve learned how in a flash, violence and hatred and intolerance can turn that promise to rubble and send too many lives to their early graves.

§Just six months after I visited, Hezbollah launched four thousand rocket attacks just like the one that destroyed the home in Kiryat Shmona, and kidnapped Israeli service members. And we pray for all of the service members who have been kidnapped: Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser, and I met with his family this week. I offered to help in any way I can.

It is important to remember this history—that Israel had unilaterally withdrawn from Lebanon only to have Iran supply Hezbollah with thousands of rockets.

§Our job is to never forget that the threat of violence is real. Our job is to renew the United States’ efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision. Our job is to do more than lay out another road map; our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region.

§One of the heavy stones that currently rest at the United States’ feet is Iraq. Until we lift this burden from our foreign policy, we cannot rally the world to our values and vision.

§Iran’s President Ahmadinejad’s regime is a threat to all of us. His words contain a chilling echo of some of the world’s most tragic history.

§Unfortunately, history has a terrible way of repeating itself. President Ahmadinejad has denied the Holocaust. He held a conference in his country, claiming it was a myth. But we know the Holocaust was as real as the 6 million who died in mass graves at Buchenwald, or the cattle cars to Dachau or whose ashes clouded the sky at Auschwitz. We have seen the pictures. We have walked the halls of the Holocaust museum in Washington and Yad Vashem. We have touched the tattoos on loved-ones arms. After 60 years, it is time to deny the deniers.

§We can and we should help Israelis and Palestinians both fulfill their national goals: two states living side by side in peace and security. Both the Israeli and Palestinian people have suffered from the failure to achieve this goal. The United States should leave no stone unturned in working to make that goal a reality.

§But in the end, we also know that we should never seek to dictate what is best for the Israelis and their security interests. No Israeli Prime Minister should ever feel dragged to or blocked from the negotiating table by the United States.

§Peace with security. That is the Israeli people’s overriding wish.




Senator Obama has a longstanding commitment to Israel. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet talked about this commitment in a March 1st blog entry: "Let me share something. Last August, Obama was in Cape Town, South Africa, at a time when Israel was being criticized for overreacting for its military attacks in Lebanon in response to the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. Obama was speaking to a group at a cultural institution called The Center for the Book, which provided a friendly venue for the Illinois Democratic. The crowd, clearly hostile to Israel, expected Obama to bash Israel on Lebanon. He did not. They were surprised.

They just did not know Obama well enough to realize who they were dealing with."

I wonder why you chose to highlight some "key" points and not print the whole text, leaving out all the money quotes that all the progressive anti-Semites are gloating about:

"But as I said at the outset, Israel will have some heavy stones to carry as well. Its history has been full of tough choices in search of peace and security.

Yitzhak Rabin had the vision to reach out to longtime enemies. Ariel Sharon had the determination to lead Israel out of Gaza. These were difficult, painful decisions that went to the heart of Israel's identity as a nation.

Many Israelis I talked to during my visit last year told me that they were prepared to make sacrifices to give their children a chance to know peace. These were people of courage who wanted a better life. And I know these are difficult times and it can be easy to lose hope. But we owe it to our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, and to all those who have fallen, to keep searching for peace and security -- even though it can seem distant. This search is in the best interests of Israel. It is in the best interests of the United States. It is in the best interests of all of us.

We can and we should help Israelis and Palestinians both fulfill their national goals: two states living side by side in peace and security. Both the Israeli and Palestinian people have suffered from the failure to achieve this goal. (MORE MORAL EQUIVALENCY GARBAGE-YALA)The United States should leave no stone unturned in working to make that goal a reality." The progressive anti-Semites actually liked Obama's speech and mentioned how it was a much less pro-Israel speech than Hillary or Bill Clinton have given. Looks like Obama is paying lip service to some Jews who are in the dark about the Democratic party's intentions involving Israel. When Obama talks about "heavy stones" and "sacrifices" we know it will be Israel doing the heavy lifting and making all the sacrifices. I am not fooled by this Jimmy Carter part Deux. Remember Dhimmi also supported Israel when he was running for office. There is no comparison between McCain's, Giuliani's or Gingrich's support for Israel and this dude. Sorry, not buying it.

[doctorzlo]

I'm guessing that more or less everyone will pay lip service. The statements you included are what the current administration is saying anyway, so no new news there.

[doctorzlo]

I'm guessing that more or less everyone will pay lip service.

Giuliani does not pay lip service, he has been pro-Israel all throughout his career, wayyyy before he decided to run. What has Obama done or said about Israel before he decided he was running? Don't be ridiculous, you cannot compare their records on Israel and the Jews.
The statements you included are what the current administration is saying anyway, so no new news there. The Bush administration, on Colin Powell's advice, was pressuring Israel a lot after 9/11 to deal with the Palestinians (although he did not roll out the red carpet treatment for Arafat as Clinton did). However, he realized they were a bunch of thugs and terrorists on the other side and there was no reason to pressure Israel to deal with them, especially after their behavior post-disengagement. They still say they stand behind the "2 state solution" but they in recent years they have not asked Israel to lift those heavy stones or make more suicidal sacrifices...

[radikal]

Do you think Hizzoner, Rudy has a chance to win, I don't.

[TorryJens]

Do you think Hizzoner, Rudy has a chance to win, I don't.

Yes, I do and furthermore he has a much better chance than Obama.

[MannoFr]

I don't know why he even bothers. He's already been branded a Wahhabbi by the Right wing and nothing will undo that. The fact that it isn't true is as unimportant as the fact that John Kerry earned his medals. The big lie sticks.

He is compelled and has to "bother". Sen. Barack Obama's position on Israel/Palestine is no different from the Democratic mainstream, that in fact he abandoned a once held more "progressive view"—which you might expect given his multicultural/international backstory—to get there.

A very disapointed Ali Abunimah, the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada writes:From news article:
If disappointing, given his historically close relations to Palestinian-Americans, Obama's about-face is not surprising.

He is merely doing what he thinks is necessary to get elected and he will continue doing it as long as it keeps him in power.

Palestinian-Americans are in the same position as civil libertarians who watched with dismay as Obama voted to reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, or immigrant rights advocates who were horrified as he voted in favor of a Republican bill to authorize the construction of a 700-mile fence on the border with Mexico.

[LottiFurmann]

"It's an insult to everyone who did serve to question those who were there "

That's a myth eagerly propagated by those who dislike being questioned! I'm for questioning everyone and looking closely at everything they do when they offer themselves in the political arena.

I'm a vet, and as a vet understand that any war, or any branch of service, has a WIDE spectrum of people participating. Thos people are capable of the whole range of human conduct, and someone may be a hero one day and a dirtbag the next, or the opposite, or be like most folks who fall somewhere in-between.

On another note, watch out for fake heros and fake war records. It happens with every war, so if a news story or resume crosses your desk, get the truth.
REAL veterans will be glad you cared to check!
http://www.lib.msu.edu/unsworth/amer...tary/phvet.htm