Comments on: Best Analysis of Israel Elections and Implications for Obama

By: Dimitrijevic

Dimitrijevic — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:30:21 +0000

Dear Mr Lobe, In your 19 Feb piece US-ISRAEL: Storm Clouds Ahead? you wrote: Already last year, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked President George W. Bush last year for bunker-busting bombs, refueling capacity and permission to fly over Iraq for an attack on Iran, according to a new book by New York Times correspondent David Sanger, entitled Inheritance." Please be aware that fact was actually first reported six months ago by Ã¼ber right-wing website worldtribune.com. Sanger and the NYT continue to take credit for that "scoop" of course. Best Regards, and I enjoy your work. Dimitrijevic P.S. See below and note publication dates: - - - - - - - - U.S. nixed Israel's request for bunker-busters 14 August 2008 TEL AVIV -- The United States rejected a recent Israeli request for advanced detection systems as well as bunker-busters capable of locating and destroying Iranian nuclear weapons sites. Israeli officials said the administration was persuaded by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that such systems could be used to facilitate an Israeli air strike on Iran's nuclear weapons facilities. Full piece here: http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/ss_israel0429_08_14.asp - - - - - - U.S. denies Israel's request for tanker aircraft 21 August 2008 JERUSALEM -- The United States has rejected an Israeli request for advanced refueling aircraft that could be used for any mission to strike Iran nuclear sites. Israeli officials said the Bush administration refused a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to purchase the KC-767 tanker transport aircraft. They said the administration did not want to be seen as helping Israel attack Iran's nuclear facilities. ....This marked the second U.S. refusal of an Israeli request for military systems in about a month. In July, the administration rejected an Israeli request for advanced bunker-busters and underground detection systems. The White House was also said to have denied Israel permission to use Iraq's air space for an attack on Iran. http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/ss_israel0453_08_21.asp

By: Fil Munas

Fil Munas — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:01:03 +0000

Daniel Levy’s analysis of the recent Israeli election, and its implications for the U.S. administration, has little new substance or meaning to the sorrowful plight of the Palestinian people.

Nary a word acknowleging Hamas, the party which was the clear electoral choice of the Palestinians in their last legislative election – Mr. Levy would rather throw in his (and our!) lot with the quisling Abbas. On the other hand he goes on and on, ad nauseam, about the split party choices the Israeli’s made in their recent legislative election.

His gratuitous advice to the U.S. and his gracious offer to kindly allow us to talk to Iran as a “trade-off” is something else again. If the Obama administration is listening to this advice, heaven help them!

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:57:53 +0000

It is interesting how an Israeli policy advisor can, after giving an analysis of the Israeli elections, so comfortably switch gears and proceed to advise the administration of the USA. No pretense of a balanced US policy either, viz : “A trade-off is imaginable in which the US is given space to pursue the engagement option with Iran while the US gives Israel cover”.

The utterly disgusting Jewish racist, Lieberman, is at least given short shrift, but the puppet, Abbas, receives serious consideration while the elected Hamas might as well be led by ghosts for the non-mention they receive.

Yet, after this blinkered assessment we finish on the happy reassuring note that Mr Netanyahu (or any other Israeli leader) is likely to make good choices. Sure.