Submitted Comments RSS Feed Comments by Peter Wedlund
Posted in: On Obama, rabbi doesn't speak for American Jews
Mr. Cohen, it is not peace that comes at the end of a rifle barrel, but merely the end of a battle or war. Peace and the end of a war are not equivalent. Just look at Israel and its continued conflicts with Hezbollah, Hamas and other radical groups. Did Israel not have an end to war in the 1950's? Did Israel not win a war in 6 days in 1967 and the Yom Kippur war in 1973? Has Israel ever lost a major war with its neighbors? So, where is your peace? WWI did not solve any problems or bring real peace, it facilitated in many ways WWII. The Allies realized true peace would not be achieved unless the defeated were treated humanely, provided with help to rebuild their industries, agriculture, infrastructure and strong economic ties were formed with them. The peace was not achieved because of the defeat of the Axis powers; it was brought about by investment, rebuilding, a genuine desire to help and a willingness to forge new economic ties with Germany, Italy and Japan rather than simply punish them. It is ever so easy to encourage hate and fear when there is little tolerance, justice, equality or peace. Is that not the lesson learned from Hitler's rise to power as well as that of other tyrants since his time? By encouraging continued conflict Israel keeps generating the open wounds that others merely pour the salt in to prevent their healing. You play into the hands of those who do not want peace by encouraging and justifying the continued conditions that facilitate war. Among those displaced and disaffected people you are likely to find your next adversary, the next terrorist leader and terrorist group. Feed their ranks and you merely feed their anger and hate. If Israel is concerned about its survival, it should be far more worried about the consequences of its actions and their ramifications. As one of only a handful of nuclear powers in the world, with one of the most sophisticated and best equipped armed forces in the world Israel risks destruction not from without, but from a continual wearing down from within. The longer conflict persists, the greater the risk Israel faces from criticism by others of how it deals with its conflicts, facilitates them and prolongs them. Israel with its far stronger army and far more sophisticated weaponry cannot claim to be the victim indefinitely, fighting for its survival. Even its own citizens and Jewish people around the world will grow tired of the threats, hate, fear and anger that support of that position produces toward them. It is long past time for a change in direction and a change in focus. You cannot be ready for peace unless you are ready to change the way you deal with your neighbors, interact and treat them. That has been the message from the Obama administration. Thus far the signal from Israel has not been a concerted effort toward seeking real peace. Rather, it has blamed others for the failure of the peace efforts and lamented and opposed US pressure that it changes its approach. These actions do not bode well for these peace efforts or the longer term survival of Israel. This is a message from a friend.
Posted in: On Obama, rabbi doesn't speak for American Jews
Peace doesn't come at the end of a rifle barrel. Those who believe they can impose their will on others will only learn bad feelings die hard and are not soon forgotten. Palestinians in refugee camps in Southern Lebanon have given rise to Hezbollah. Hamas is emboldened not by the success of Peace, but its absence and failure. Obama has been more of a friend of Israel than many realize. A friend will tell you when he thinks you are wrong, an enemy or someone who isn't your friend doesn't care. A friend will encourage Peace which facilitates greater prosperity and growth for you. Someone who doesn't care will say, "it's your problem, do whatever you want". Some may object to the tough talk and efforts to bring change, but the alternative is what, more of the same? Who is the friend, the one who doesn't care or the one who does? Peace is a tough and difficult road from that of conflict, where distrust, hate and anger are the drivers of war. Shifting to the equality, tolerance and justice that drives peace requires great effort and determination that is not always possible without the encouragement of a friend. It is easy to do nothing. It is harder to stand up and try and change the status quo. It is harder still when the very people you are trying to help complain about any and all criticism and question your motives. Success is measured by outcomes and not desires or intentions. Look at the progress made thus far to ease tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. What is the advantage to Israel in fighting Obama instead of working with his Administration to try and bring Peace to the region?
Posted in: Obama on peace talks: Stop talking about talking, and start talking
Jonathan Pollard is a US traitor and Jewish spy and he will rot and die in a US prison. These peace talks are between Israel and Palestinians and the Israeli's would make a grave mistake indeed if they ever tried to tie their peace to the release of a US traitor as a precondition or even a condition for peace with the Palestinians. The two situations are totally unrelated and unconnected issues. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get exactly what you want only to end up with far less to show for it in the end. Israeli's would be wise to remember they have no real political power in the world and the vast majority of UN members have no great love for Israel. Israel has been but one vote away from serious retribution by the world community and its support even by that last country is rapidly deteriorating in light of past and recent actions it has taken. There will be consequences for Israel if it does not make serious in-roads towards peace. The US is not going to protect or support a country that interferes with its significant efforts to bring peace and a negotiated settlement to the region. Israel can choose to do as it wishes, but actions have consequences with this US administration. Netanyahu's trip to Russia and his obstinacy toward the peace efforts will not spare him from the consequences of failing to cooperate. Israel has moved very close to losing far more than it could ever hope to gain by its failure to fully embrace this peace initiative. Do what ever you like and experience first hand the consequences.
Posted in: Livni faces criticism at Beverly Hills gathering
Livni is a day late and dollar short. Obama for all his good intentions has also come to the party too late to change the inevitable outcome. Looking at the most recent maps of the occupied territories (http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2009/09/14/freezing-israeli-settlements-is-only-lea) the two state solution is already dead. There is no longer enough contiguous space left on the West Bank owned and controlled by Palestinians to produce a viable second state one could call an autonomous region. I'm sure the continued "natural growth" in the occupied territories will soon make even the little remaining Palestinian owned land incapable of supporting any serious 2 state solution in the very near future. Congratulations you now have your answer to the Palestinian issue. I have no doubt the one state solution will result in a failure of the present and last peace initiative for the region. That will leave those displaced by your deeds and actions only one recourse. I sure hope those territorial gains will prove worth the cost Israeli's will end up paying for the next century.
Posted in: Mitchell, Netanyahu can't reach compromise on construction
If Jews wish to live among Arabs then why build the walls around the occupied territories? Why have the roads connecting Jewish settlements that Jews are allowed to use but Palestinians are restricted from using? If Jews wish to live among Arabs, why would Israel take millions of acres of land in the occupied territory for "public use" and give it to Israeli citizens or encouraged its development by Israeli citizens and freeze Palestinians from that land? If Israeli’s wish to live among Arabs, why have they continually ignored US and international requests to stop settlements in occupied territories in which Jewish settlers are given rights not afforded to Palestinians? Is living among Arabs best achieved by affording them the same rights as Israeli’s or by denying them the same rights in the territory where they live with Israeli’s? Myopic views are great if all you want to see is your own point of view and all you want to embrace is your own solution. I refuse to support that behavior, financially or politically. Obama has been interested in cooperation between the parties. The comments by Netanyahu are not cooperative. If Israeli's truly want peace, they would be embracing the Obama administration and its efforts to encourage the peace effort and a 2 state solution. All Netanyahu has done up to now is make it easier for Obama and others to stop listening to him altogether.
Posted in: Top Israeli, Palestinian officials meet
Good news finally. Economic and business transactions have always been a great stabilizer of relations between people. If Israeli and Palestinian people interacted on a routine basis, exchanged goods and worked together in various joint business arrangements on EQUAL footing, there would be no or little conflict. The fear arises that feeds the conflict when people are encouraged to embrace a sense of separateness that suggests those people over there are different from those of us over here. When the barriers fall, the interactions grow the peace will follow. I wish them all the best in moving these intereactions and cooperation along.
Posted in: Just 12 percent of Israelis see Obama as more supportive
You can please ALL of the people SOME of the time. You can please SOME of the people ALL of the time. But, you can never please ALL of the people ALL of the time. Those who are truly interested in peace will be pleased by Obama. Those who merely believe everything is about what they want, won't. It doesn't matter on which side of the fence they are located.
Posted in: Fatah parley raises questions about Palestinian intentions, Obama's strategy
I would agree with the Jewish leaders, fair is fair and that requires Palestinian’s to be told their actions and statements are not conducive to the peace effort. The Fatah statements raise the level of anger and hate and generate more distrust and animosity that make peace negotiations that much more difficult. I agree the condemnation should have been immediate and equal to the condemnation of Israel and its settlements. The US must be an honest and fair broker or it cannot play the intermediary in this process effectively. I am sure this must have been discussed by the White House and I have no idea what the reason was for the tepid statements that were issued. It may be the White House feels it has a greater credibility problem with the Arabs and Palestinians than Israel and has thus downplayed its criticism of Fatah. Yes, I too would rather see them make a strong statement to both sides thus signaling to everyone a balanced attitude toward the peace process. I am particularly discouraged by the level of anger on both sides and it shows just how difficult it will be to bring peace to the region if at all. No one can make people trust one another. No one can make independent people agree to peace. They must see it is in their best interest to do that and it seems so many people in the Middle East have so much hate and anger today they just don't care about its costs to them or anyone else. These are going to be tough, difficult times and the outcome and the future are anything but certain. Those who really want peace are going to have to get involved and really work to make it happen because it already appears so many in the region on both sides don't really care if it doesn't.
Posted in: The conservative take on Arab development
Well, let's get history right. A group of influential people in the Bush administration "claimed" they wanted to bring freedom to the Arab world and they believed you set that in motion by setting up a Democracy in Iraq. There are many who believe Iraqi oil was the main motivation of the Bush administration to invade a weakened Iraq and that is bolstered by administrative efforts to secure oil contracts for US and British oil companies and the planning and building of large, long term military bases in Iraq. It is possible both views are correct and the oil men like Cheney and Bush used people like Wolfowitz and Rice to help justify the need for the invasion for their own purposes. Regarding the Obama foreign policy versus the Bush foreign policy, the difference is extreme. Bush practiced a policy initially of cowboy diplomacy which involves shooting first and asking questions later. It was based primarily on telling others what they needed to do if they wanted to be on "OUR SIDE". Only toward the end did Bush realize that policy doesn't work and then started to change it. The Obama foreign policy is based on "mutual cooperation" and the first step in that policy is reaching out and offering to be cooperative. What many people seem unable to realize is cooperation is a two way street. If people do not reciprocate you don't keep offering more. The US must show a willingness to be the first to reach out to others because of our status in the world and past actions. However, anyone who thinks the Obama policy is a "one sided" affair aimed solely to appease Arab nations has absolutely no clue what "mutual cooperation" implies. Try to remember, Obama was a community organizer who had to resolve conflicts between groups with different interests. He clearly understands the solution to conflict is not achieved by having one side give away the store. It resides in getting all sides to recognize why cooperation is to everyone's benefit and why conflict is not. Pressure is applied by various means to encourage all sides to recognize the downside of not cooperating. Israel may feel some pressure now, but believe me, so will the Arabs and Palestinians if they are foolish enough to think "mutual cooperation" means you get something for nothing. Obama has already put an upper limit of 1 year on the clock for reciprocal behavior.
RSS Feed Breaking News
Updated 02/09/12 @ 05:54PM EST
- A poll showed that nearly half of likely voters believed the United States should use military force to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
- Rabbi Gunther Plaut, a major figure in Reform Judaism, died in Toronto.
- The application for a proposed Hebrew-language charter school was accepted by the District of Columbia Public Charter School board.
- A truck driving calves from Eilat to the Golan Heights was hijacked into the West Bank.
- U.S. Rep. Howard Berman introduced legislation that would allow eligible Israeli nationals to receive non-immigrant investor visas in the United States.
- Poll: Half of U.S. voters back strike on nuclear Iran
- Reform leader Rabbi Gunther Plaut dies
- D.C. Hebrew-language charter school accepted for review
- Op-Ed: Kick the reaction addiction on campus
- Berman moves to grant investor visas to Israelis
- Holy cow! Calves hijacked into Palestinian territory
- Report: Israeli journalist also works for prime minister
- Larry Greenfield tapped to lead JINSA
Posted in: Multiplying Rand Paul
02/05/11 01:54 PM
The problem isn't US support to Israel or any other country. The problem is providing political cover for a country to do whatever it likes and thereby facilitate more irresponsible behavior. Do the names Furkan Dugan or Rachel Cory mean anything to Americans? They were both US citizens, killed by Israelis. The first was on the Turkish flotilla, his autopsy results can be found by googling his name. His crime was to be holding a camera when the IDF boarded the ship he was on. Rachel Cory was a peace activist. Her crime was to refuse to move when the Israeli's decided it was time to bulldoze a Palestinian home. Rand Paul means well, but his time would be better spent making sure Congress did not continue to rubber stamp whatever AIPAC wants. The US Congress has never once condemned Israel for any of its action and has criticized nearly every friend we have in the World for any and all things they say or do that are unflattering or negative of Israel. Most of the time I can't decide if the US Congress is just a proxy for Israel or its stooge. Either way, they continue to make the whole US look stupid in the eyes of the world.