Sunday May 24, 2009

Double Standard Watch: Obama's got it exactly backwards

Posted by Alan Dershowitz
Comments: 78
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Although President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu got along quite well at their White House meeting last week, each has made demands that the other seems unwilling or unable to meet. Peace seems no closer, even after the warm encounter.

The 800 pound gorilla at the Oval Office meeting was Iran's nuclear program. That became self-evidently clear when, within days of the meeting, Iran deliberately fired a solid fuel rocket and challenged the United States and Israel to do something about it. Ahmadinejad linked the rocket-launching to Iran's nuclear program, as if to allay any doubts that Iran intends to place nuclear payloads on these hard-to-detect rockets.

An Iran protected by a nuclear umbrella will be free to encourage its surrogates, Hamas and Hizbullah, to increase the frequency and range of their rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. Even if Iran never tries to drop a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv or smuggle nuclear material to terrorist groups, it can endanger Israel's existence by making large parts of the Jewish state uninhabitable because of conventional anti-personnel rocket attacks.

In order for Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank, Iran must be defanged. No Israeli prime minister can repeat the mistake that Ariel Sharon made when - in good faith - he unilaterally evacuated the Gaza Strip. Instead of land for peace, what the Israelis got was land for rocket launchings, which continue to this day. The same trade off occurred when Israel ended its military occupation of southern Lebanon. The difference is that an unoccupied West Bank would put Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ben Gurion airport well within range of rockets supplied by Iran to Hamas and other terrorist groups.

President Obama sees "a linkage" between Israel ending the settlements and the United States trying to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Following the Oval Office meeting, he insisted that peace between Israel and the Palestinians "strengthens our hand in the international community in dealing with a potential Iranian threat." With due respect to the man who I supported for President, he has it exactly backwards. If there is to be any linkage - and I do not believe there should be - it goes the other way: it will be much easier for Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank if Iran does not have a nuclear umbrella under which it can continue to encourage Hamas and Hizbullah to fire rockets at Israeli civilians.

That is why the Middle East peace process has become so intractable. President Obama seems unwilling to guarantee Israel that Iran will not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. Without such a guarantee, Netanyahu is unable to end the occupation, because Israel is a democracy and the people of Israel will not accept a repeat of Gaza and southern Lebanon, this time with nuclear threat hanging over them.

In the meantime, Israel is seeking to break the deadline by offering to open unconditional peace talks with Syria. This would send a powerful message to the Palestinians, namely that Israel can continue to make peace with its neighbors even if the Palestinians continue to reject reasonable peace offers, as they did in 2000 and 2001.

So the ball is very much in Barack Obama's court, unless he can provide Israel a guarantee that they will never face a nuclear Iran, all that Israel will be able to do is end some illegal settlements, avoid any expansion of existing settlements and generally take some cosmetic steps-steps that Israel should take even though they will never satisfy the Palestinians.

Israel of course is not the only Mideast country that needs a guarantee against a nuclear Iran. If Iran develops the capability to produce nuclear weapons, other Mideast countries will enter the nuclear arms race. With Pakistan's nuclear weapons already at risk of being controlled by suicidally radical elements, this will escalate the Middle East conflict dramatically.

Barack Obama is a man of peace and negotiations. The extreme left wing of his party demands peace at any price, including a nuclear Iran. President Obama must step up to the plate and make the difficult decision to do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from securing nuclear weapons, even if that means exercising the military option as a last resort. Sometimes it takes the use of military force to avoid even greater military dangers. Winston Churchill understood that in the 1930s. Neville Chamberlain did not.

I hope that Barack Obama will be remembered by history more in the image of Churchill than Chamberlain. Obama's predecessor waged the wrong war. Iraq posed no real threat to world peace. Iran does. I hope President Obama will not refrain from doing whatever it takes to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. If he does, he will go a long way toward finally resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and bringing peace to the Middle East.

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1  |   dino-ashkelon, Sunday May 24, 2009
"Obama predecesssor waged the wrong war.Iraq posed no real threat to world peace."What said A.D then:""...Iraq has emerged as a credible threat against the west. It has demonstrated its capacity to develop, and its willingness to use, chemical weapons against the Kurds and the Iranians. We know that it is desperately seeking to develop the capacity to manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons, both as an independent threat and as a deterrent against efforts to dismantle its chemical and biological arsenal. So now, for the first time in the nuclear age, the question has been raised about the justification for a preemptive strike by a superpower to prevent a smaller rogue state from developing and deploying weapons of mass destruction."
2  |   ran -israel, Sunday May 24, 2009
listen carefully to assad. dear allen. is this criminal bully want peace?
3  |   David , Jerusalem, Sunday May 24, 2009
This is so insane! These kind of criticisms (like the one from Smuley Boteah) are hollow because you endorsed Obama in the elections! Anyone with two brain cells to rub together knew that this would be the result if Obama got elected. i.e., that he'd be as hostile or more than Carter. This was obvious from his associations, from his pastor, from his world view. And yet Dershowitz endorsed him. What is being said here in this post is 100% correct, but it angers me to think that he couldn't see this coming. Look ahead next time you endorse someone! Any may we survive these 4 years!
4  |   Ed Smith, Sunday May 24, 2009
once Iran has a nuclear bomb, it will be able to dictate the world what to do, like the USA did in the last century. It is of utmost importance that there will be a solution , as soon as possible to prevent this achievement by the persian theocracy . these religiously motivated and brainwashed moongodworshippers are the biggest threat to worldpeace. They want war, and do everything to get it, as they expect their messiah to appear when that happens!
5  |   Harvey F Chicago, Sunday May 24, 2009
"Obama's got it exactly backwards" Don't blame me, Dershowitz. You advised me to vote for Obama but I ignored your advice and voted for a real friend of Israel, John McCain. Now that you're talking out of both sides of your mouth to cover your mistake, I'm going to ignore you again.
6  |   Dan J USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
Never in 4000 yrs of Jewish history is our very existance as a religion and a people been in doubt. Yes, even after the the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome, the Inqiusition, down to the Hitler Holocaust. Why so dire?..Nuclelar weapons! Yes, Israel has them and will have to use them someday. We in the USA gave Iran a huge present..we destroyed their worst enemy Iraq. My favorite war of all times..Iraq vs Iran. Muhammed must have loved that one. Two State solution without true peace is absolutely rediculous. Gaza proved that without a doubt.
7  |   Ger, Raanana, Israel, Sunday May 24, 2009
Chickens coming home to roost, Mr. Dershowitz. Do the names Brzezinski, Power, Rice, Malley, Kurtzer, Jones, Indyk, and Ross ring a bell? Did you expect Obama would not take their advice? But you ignored them, endorsed and voted for Obama, and urged American Jews to follow you in electing him. Now you're saying he's got it backwards? Thanks a lot.
8  |   Ed Katz New Haven, Sunday May 24, 2009
As #3 and #5 remind us, Dershowitz supported Obama in spite of the clear evidence BHO had all the wrong associations - and instincts. As it turns out, Obama and Dershowitz are not good for the Jews. But at least Obama is being consistent.
9  |   M.J. Eizen, Sunday May 24, 2009
It is truly remarkable that a person who endorsed Obama for president is now complaining about his views and policies towards Israel. Many of my friends also voted for Obama. I told all of them he would not be a good friend of Israel, and they should vote for McCain. I was scoffed at and dismissed by most of them. Now, the chickens have come home to roost, and Dershowitz is upset. You should have seen this coming as I did. It did not take a lot of thought or genius to see where Obama would be on Israel. Now, all of you that voted for him have only yourselves to blame.
10  |   Dave Radetsky, Pueblo, CO, USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
Mr. Dershowitz - For a man who is supposed to be so educated you show great naivete. Obama is not the friend of Israel. You may feel safe because you still live in the U.S., but many Jews have chosen to live in Israel and will suffer severe consequences from this administration. How a Jewish person can support the American left wing liberals makes no sense. They have proven time and again that they don't care about Israel. All they want is the American Jewish vote. And to think that Obama may change his ways would be funny if it weren't so serious.
11  |   Jonathan South Africa, Sunday May 24, 2009
Looks like Alan's presidential hero is starting to show his true colours, and it has got to be just a little uncomfortable for him, seeing how much he loves Barack. There may come a time when Alan will have to choose between backing Barack, or backing Israel...time will tell.
12  |   JR Peacher USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
If the United States allows Iran to have nuclear weapons systems, then the Mexican Drug Cartel should be next on the list of proxies for Iran; if they are not already. How would the Border Patrol react knowing that enemies of the USA, alreaddy wrecking murder and mayhem on our borders and border communities have access to nuclear weapons? How can we demand that Israel do NOTHING regarding Iran? What foolishness!
13  |   Allyson Rowen Taylor Los Angeles, CA USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
While I agree with Dersh about the mistake, I do not think Obama is a man of peace, and I do not think his interest lies in protecting Jews. I think he does not care, and his concerns are kissing up to the Arabs. I am very concerned about this admin. taking the threat seriously, and I say end the occupation of Judea and Sameria, from Palestinians! Then we get rid of one of the main threats.
14  |   Steve U.S., Sunday May 24, 2009
David #3, Professor Dershowitz endorsed Obama because, as he wrote, "Barack Obama is a man of peace and negotiations." Obama is a man of peace and negotiations like Neville Chamberlain was a man of peace and negotiations. Furthermore, Mr. Dershowitz supports an end to Israel's "occupation" of the West Bank. Mr. Dershowitz supports the establishment of a Muslim state in Israel. In his book, "The Case For Peace," those who oppose this plan for Israel's dismemberment are "pro-Israel extremists" and "narrow-minded religious war-mongers" who "choose land over life," etc
15  |   raffy1956, Sunday May 24, 2009
how the post gives this so called defender of ISRAEL a blog is beyond me after defending o j simpson who killed a jew he endorsed obama as a true friend of ISRAEL when in fact he is blatantly anti ISRAEL next he will tell us that iran is misunderstood what a farce!
16  |   us, Sunday May 24, 2009
This is so sad. Alan was naive in his endorsement of Obama. Any reasonable person would have seen Obama as a threat to the long term survival of Israel. He does not care about Israel as pointed out by his friend Jesse Jackson during the campaign when Jackson said U.S was going to change its relationship with Israel and the Middle East and basically Israel would lose power. If you survive this problem you know Obama will not back you next time. Syria, Iran, Hamas and Russia know they have a weak naive person in the White House and the next 4 years will put Israel at risk. Israel must act.
17  |   JimO USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
One of the reasons I voted for McCain was that I knew Obama was Neville Chamberlain. If fact he may be worse. He always sides with the bad guy. He bows to the Muslim king and won't even look Netanyahu in the eye. Don't blame me I voted for McCain.
18  |   Morton Friedman Lanham USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
A-D 'hopes' that Obama will be Churchillian. I, and many others, fear that he may become even more like Chavez. We were not wearing those rose colored glasses that were the mark of his supporters. There was an old saying in the USA, As goes General Motors, so goes the nation. Take note that he is driving GM into bankruptcy. And I don't mean solely fiscal bankruptcy.
19  |   rick-houston, Sunday May 24, 2009
Obama:"Thank you Alan & all liberals for electing me to drive the bus that I'm now throwing you under. Even though all my friends are Anti-Semites, you fell for my smooth talking lies & are just now waking up that I had it backwards from the beginning"
20  |   Pearl Crouse, Newport, OR - USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
Many Christians believed that Obama was the wrong person to lead the US and her allies. We did not and still do not support him and his ideals. We pray for Israel that God will protect her. We pray that your leaders will stand strong. Jerusalem must remain your Capital City. This is God's land and you are God's people. God Bless!!
21  |   Yoel Nitzarim, Skokie, Sunday May 24, 2009
Mr. Dershowitz has made a fine argument regarding the exclusion of the Palestinians from the Iran dilemma, except for one massive blunder: the word occupation. The West Bank does not belong to any country, people, or nation. It is land that does not have any ownership. It is not occupied. I suggest that Mr. Dershowitz speak with Dr. Mordecai Kedar of Bar-Ilan University for verification of what I say. Since millions of people pay attention to what Mr. Dershowitz asserts online as well as in his books, his facts must be true and valid. Syria demands the Golan Heights. That's impossible.
22  |   LGuapo USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
Whether intentional or not, this piece amounts to a ragbag of essentially anti-Israeli untruths gussied-up as a pro_Israel appeal. Sharon didn't ethnically cleanse Gaza of its Jews to trade land for peace -- he did it to ingratiate himself with Israel's left-wing nomenklatura and thereby keep his son out of jail. There is no Israeli 'occupation' of the West Bank, any more than the US is 'occupying' Colorado. The so-called peace process is intractable because it's tribal, not political. And the callow narcissist Obama is as much like Churchill as a bicycle is like an airplane. Disgraceful!
23  |   Rick USA, Sunday May 24, 2009
A pity! you should have seen this coming Mr Dershowitz, all that Obama does will be accounted to you because you approved him.
24  |   Tod Zuckerman, San Francisco, Sunday May 24, 2009
As Dershowitz is Israel's bravest U.S. defender, I do not intend this to be condemnatory , but Dershowitz knew this was going to happen. Everybody did . Jeez, Obama stayed with Wright for 20 years and did not say one word in protest ; he hired and rehired Samantha Powers ( the one who advocated a U.S. invasion of Israel to protect the "Palestinians from genocide" ; he appealed to Haaretz for support against those Jews who had him correctly pegged ( the Haaretzshugganas supported him - they called the rest of us religious bigots for questioning his ties). Unfortunately, Dershowitz sold out.
25  |   eric usa, Sunday May 24, 2009
Nice, the world class America hater (and one of those most responsible for her rot) giving advice on a prime example of the infection he helped culture in the US. Dershowitz has no business giving anyone advice on world matters when he flunks the character test over & over again.
26  |   Jo Ellen Davey Cohen, Chicago, IL, Sunday May 24, 2009
Actually, the 800 pound gorilla in the Oval Office 'meeting' re. Iranian terrorism, was President Barack H. Obama. Although he exhibited crafty rhetorical positions and numerous hidden snares, Netanyahu was on guard in his carefully defined responses... he did not cede anything that could possibly be detrimental to the survival of the State of Israel. Mr. Obama, as well as Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton, are the 'devil's handmaidens' in that their attachment to the American far left Democrats takes precedence over prudence, and dictates their lopsided diplomatic positions re. Israel.
27  |   Leon Florida, Sunday May 24, 2009
Americans voting for Obama had infinitely more complex reasons for their votes than solely his stand re: Israel. He may be now swayed by the ultra-left wing of the Democratic Party just as Bush 43 was swayed by the neo-cons of his party. It is not too late for the powers of reason to be used to persuade him to take a different attitude toward Iran. I do recall that he has stated that the use of military force remains an optioon vis-a-vis Iran and its final acquisition of nuclear weapons. However, in Egypt it must be with the option of American military might firmly in in view of all.
28  |   Sean UAE, Monday May 25, 2009
Shalom I have said it before, and I will say it again. The Islamic Republic Of Iran, at the moment does not have NW. Yet they call for the destruction of Israel. In the event The Islamic Republic Of Iran does get NW, you could do the math.
29  |   Claudia LeFevre-Lowry, Monday May 25, 2009
Not only Derschowitz sold out Israel, so did 78% of voting American Jews. Amazing they did not even want to listen to Israeli's about what Obama would be doing once in office. Or American Christians that tried our damnedest to persuade them not to vote for Obama. All they can scream about was OUR Christian agenda, not about Obama in an anti-Semetic church for 20 years listening to rot! & Clinton, what the hell did Bill spend his time doing but mollifying his pet Arafat while pressuring Israel to give away land. Liberals are the cancer in this world, appeasers NEVER get it right.
30  |   daat y, Monday May 25, 2009
Alan it is courageous of you to see the folly of your support for Obama and to admit it openly.I hope you continue to see reality and act forcefully for the 'emes.'
31  |   Nechama, USA, Monday May 25, 2009
As a life-long Democrat, I still tried to convince everyone I knew not to vote obama. All evidence was that all his advisors & friends were virulently anti-Israel. Mow my wirst fears have come to fruition. His animosity towards Israel is frightening. His delays towards Iran is allowing them the time to produce bombs to be used against Israel. This week, a majority of senate & congress wrote obama pleading that he support Israel - I fear their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. So Mr. Dershowitz - what do we do now? Maybe its time you strongly condemned him - before it's too late.
32  |   Shalom, Monday May 25, 2009
Dear Mr. Dershowitz, We appreciate your cointribution to the defense of Israel, your voice is very important! On the other hand your support of hims is unforgiveable! Everybody with an average IQ knew that this man would the most hostile american president, including Jimmy Carter. Should we believe that you didn't foresee this? His associations with an antiamerican pastor, a church that selected Farakhan as man of the year were unknown to you? Obviously you were aware of everything that the average man on the street knew, but it didn't stop you supporting him and voting for him! Should we tru
33  |   Piera Prister, Monday May 25, 2009
I totally disagree with Alan Dershowitz because he supported and voted for Barack Obama who is neither a friend of Israel nor a Zionist like Martin Luther King. Saddam was a genocidal and was a great enemy of Israel and a threat to the entire world. George Bush did the right thing invading Iraq and signing the Patriot Act, thanks to which FBI could thwart the vicious attacks Islamist were preparing against the two sinagogues in New York. Obama now should destroy the nuclear sites in Iran.
34  |   Republican Jewish Coalition, Chicago, Monday May 25, 2009
Harvey F, Yoel and Jo Ellen, are you familiar with the Republican Jewish Coalition? There is a chapter in Chicago. The web site is www.rjchq.org if you are interested.
35  |   Ruth Broch, Monday May 25, 2009
You/ve got it almost right. Where you are wrong is thiking that we will ever give up any more of our land. Judea and Samaria are Jewish, always have been and always will be. You need to exercise your mind in a more creative direction: Jordan IS Palestine. We will not accept another Palestinian state on our sovereign land, ever.
36  |   Jerry, USA, Monday May 25, 2009
#24. You are being unfair. AD did NOT sell out. His core allegiance to the Democratic Party and its agendas is as firm and unshakable as that of Rashi to the Torah. He and his soul-mates could no more promote McCain-Palin than the Lubavitcher Rebbe could mandate three daily Hail Marys. Deep allegiances are at stake. His advocacy for Israel was a later accretion. But people evolve. If AD's concern for Israel is now deeper than his Obamophilia, he may one day have the stature to admit clearly that he urged American Jews to vote for the wrong slate. Honesty can infect even Democrats.
37  |   Tom Hough Natchitoches, LA, Monday May 25, 2009
Barack Obama did not win by an incredibly large margin. Although he thinks he can do anything he wishes because he won the election he will soon learn the consequences of winning by deception. The majority of Americans support Israel and see Obama's sell out of Israel as a high crime. I'm sure your nation will do what is right regardless of Obama's threat but should you fail to I'll be glad to come there and live under the nuclear threat with you.
38  |   Natalie Long Island, NY, Monday May 25, 2009
Right On Alan. You are the best. Obama MUST step up to the plate! Do the right thing. I guess now we will see if he is Anti-Semitic or not...
39  |   Robert, Boston, MA, Monday May 25, 2009
Alan D the Genious. Alan, as a lawyer you are great as you got Klaus von Bulow off the hook. But in this forum there is no amount of reasoning or 20 x20 hindsight will get you off the hook on Obama. Rather than being honest with your readers you are trying to put a good spin on Obama. It was entirely foreseeable before the elections what we are going to get. But you and your friends on the left put on rosed your colored glasses. You are being disingenious when you state that the meeting between Netanyhu and Obama was positive. Just be honest and don't try to sugar coat the bitter truth.
40  |   burt, Monday May 25, 2009
if obama was to side with israel the american people would revolt, he has no choice but to do the right thing, so stop blaming obama for what american people demand of him
41  |   John Williams, Monday May 25, 2009
Why is Dershowitz writing another article urging the US to start a War. He said all the same things about Iraq, read the 1st comment. If Israel wants to start a war, then go ahead. Leave America out of it and tell Dershowitz to stop writing partisan articles for Israel.
42  |   George Medovoy, USA, Monday May 25, 2009
Dershowitz, for all his rhetorical skills, comes across like a fool. He voted for Obama and should have known that he would be an enemy of Israel. Now he wants Obama to reverse course? Does he think readers are fools, too?
43  |   Sruly, Monday May 25, 2009
It is very sad that a person with your capacity and experience would have fallen for the Obama line. The real problem here lies with the Jewish Left Lobby in the USA. You here the words but you don't listen, you see the history but you don't believe. You need to step out of your delusion, Stop seeing it as you would like, see things for what they are. The worlds Jewish future is on the line but you insist that being progressive is more important then reality. When one person points a gun at the other person the police will not hesitate to take action. Millions of lives are at stake.
44  |   Judith Nusbaum, Israel, Monday May 25, 2009
There is nothing illegal about the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, the Golan, and Jerusalem, and anywhere else in Israel. No informed person can possibly equate Jewish homes with terrorisam and the treat from Iran. Only the naive dreamers who don't have a clue about the realities of Israel could possibly make such an equation.
45  |   Henry Tobias, Maale Adumim, Monday May 25, 2009
At best Obama is naive, at worst he is anti-Israel. This was obvious from the moment he started talking during his election campaign. How any Jew who cares about Israel could have voted for Obama is a mystery to me. How Dershowitz, a savvy trial lawyer, voted for Obama is beyond belief.
46  |   Ronald USA, Monday May 25, 2009
I know that Dershowitz is a true, reliable, supporter of Israel, but his backing of Obama was a true screw up. For someone who is very smart, he makes a lot of mistakes. 1) Iraq was, in fact, a grave danger to Israel and everyone else. Remember Saddam Hussein, Allen? 2) The US has already tipped their hand, in every way possible, that they WILL NOT do anything militarily to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. So stop talking like they might, hoping they will, or mentioning Churchill in the same sentence with Obama. Israel is on her own.
47  |   Cindy USA, Monday May 25, 2009
You, Mr. Dershowitz, wanted and supported Obama so how's it working out for you? I did not so this burden is yours and those of you who gave him the power. Apparently, your own history was not enough for you to have made an educated decision in Nov. 2008. Many of Americans did listen and read and we understood who and what he was. Now....accept that you were wrong and look for answers not excuses.
48  |   MattB, Monday May 25, 2009
I am surprised that you mentioned Iraq as the wrong war. Does anyone think that the Arab League would be tinkering with a peace deal if Saddam was still in power. Come on. No way. Prof Dersh's otherwise superb analysis of the ME situation I think is lacking here. Saddam had to go first. The US only failed by not having their exit planning done properly.
49  |   Nechama, USA, Monday May 25, 2009
It's too late to go back and redo the election. We now have to think ahead. What can we do? There must be a major effort by all Jewish Dems who so foolishly voted obama. It's now time for them to reach out to obama and say unequivocably that if he pushes Israel to commit suicide, no Jew will ever again vote democrat. He will be a one term failed president (as he shoud be). The democrats didn't support obama so he could destroy the party. Dershowitz needs to talk to Obama in the US press - not to Jews in an Israeli newsblog.
50  |   er Israel, Monday May 25, 2009
Dear professor, Even YOU can be wrong. like most leftist Jews you supported Obama. Even WORSE you use the most inaccurate, antisemitic mythic phrase of the 21st century - "occupation of the West Bank" Alan you are TOO smart to be so foolish. There IS no "west bank". this is a PR term developed by the Jordanians with a British PR firm in the 50's to replace the TRU NAMES - Judea and Samaria. Of course telling Jews that Judea must be "Jew free" sounds too aweful (and it IS!) so this lie is perpertrated - even unwittingly at times by men of logic like yourself. NAMES ARE important.
51  |   dante uk, Monday May 25, 2009
Israel aside, how could the USA protect American interests with a nuclear iran? they will control all the oil producing countries of the gulf, some of which they claim as part of their ancient patrimony. should they annex any of these countries, there is not a thing that the USA would do. the EU is, of course, an impotent, cowering, sanctimonious joke. and the russians and the chinese, though they will have ample time to regret it, have aided and abetted the iranians. if any fool, say 40 "burt" or "41" williams, thinks that American life will be the same with a nuclear iran, think again.
52  |   Zev Mo Green, Teaneck, NJ, Monday May 25, 2009
I think you have to chill out a little. It is quite clear that Iran launched the missile to get a reaction from the west, prior to a contentious election. It would be the exactly WRONG move for Obama to unify the Iranian youth against the US. But perhaps that is what you want? Look, I respect you, and I agree with many things you say in your books. But seriously, compromise is the only thing that will get us out of this quagmire that has lasted decade after decade. When I hear people talk against Obama on Israel, I often ask, what is YOUR solution, and usually it is, bomb them. Idiots.
53  |   Matt Israelson, Tuesday May 26, 2009
Finally, a quasi-criticism of Mr. Obama re: his position on Israel. While I respect Mr. Dershowitz as a passionate supporter of Israel, he - like most American Jews - minimized valid concerns about Obama based on his dubious associations with anti-Zionists, antisemites and left-wing zealots for whom Walt and Mearsheim are latter day prophets. Nobody who has followed Mr. Obama's shameful linkage of the Arab-Israeli conflict with Iran, his embrace of the Saudi initiative, or his swooning over the U.N. Human Rights Council, which set the antisemitic agenda for Durban II, should be surprised.
54  |   Matt Israelson, Tuesday May 26, 2009
Moreover, ObamaÂ’s stance on Iran does not constitute a double standard worthy of inclusion in Double-Standard Watch. It is merely the practical, consistent expression of what Mr. Obama promised during the election. Really, any candidate who cited Jimmy Carter, Robert Malley, Zbigniew Brzezinski, among others, as foreign policy resources could not be expected to have any rational perspective regarding Israel and the Arab/Muslim world.
55  |   Bill USA, Tuesday May 26, 2009
The JPost needs a new blog to cover Dershowitz's "Double Standard Watch." Double Talk Watch.
56  |   Bob, Phoenix, AZ, Tuesday May 26, 2009
It looks like Chavez is sending uranium to Iran. Also appears that Obama will do nothing about Iran's nuclear program. Remember, if you are Jewish, and voted for Obama, you are about to get what you voted for... no respect for Israel.
57  |   Isa Ten, California, USA, Tuesday May 26, 2009
"Obama's predecessor waged the wrong war. Iraq posed no real threat to world peace." In 2002 pres. Bush identified three countries: Iraq, Iran and North Korea, as grave threat to the civilization. Today North Korea conducted a nuclear test. Iran is doing everything to be next. The only country of those three that does not pose today a threat to the civilization is Iraq. It is also the only one that was (so far) miltarily defeated. "The wrong war"? Hmmm.
58  |   Ed, Tuesday May 26, 2009
wait, didn't Dershowitz endorse Obama?
59  |   Banjo, Tuesday May 26, 2009
Backwards is right. Dersh has it backwards. When (not if) Obama allows Iran to get the bomb, it will not be Israel that is in danger but America. God's eyes are always watching Israel, America only has Obama's and in his eyes America is the problem anyway. When the Iranians shout "Death to America" at their rallies, they mean it. The revolution that started in 1979 will be exported to the world. When (not if) Iran gives the bomb to a terrorist cell to unleash in America, it will be Americans who will lose sleep and maybe then they will understand Israel's plight.
60  |   Raymond in DC, Washington USA, Tuesday May 26, 2009
Obama as Churchill? I think not. He's spent months berating his own country's history as Apologist in Chief. That he has been sucking up to his country's enemies and spurning its allies is also sinking in. What's not been recognized, though, are his actions that show a non-confrontational US that always steps back, rather than standing firm. The US Navy, for example, was denied the use of an X-band radar ship to monitor last month's North Korean rocket launch. And, according to Debka, the US has quietly reduced its naval presence, and withdrawn all its carriers from the Persian Gulf area.
61  |   Jackie K. C., Florida, Wednesday May 27, 2009
Lots of Jews were mistken in voting for Obama (My own father would probably have done so). However, that he was a shallow individual whose sense of history and world events was sadly lacking was very apparent. As was his inexperience in government. A good speaker , especially when aided by a teleprompter, is not necessarily a good chief executive of a major world power.
62  |   s, Friday May 29, 2009
i don't understand that a man who is willing to smear even concentration camp survivors in order to score a point is taken serious by anybody. It makes me doubt the legitimacy of the jeruzalem post itself. Dershowitz will say anything and do anything as long as it serves his agenda.
63  |   DarrellLosAngeles, Saturday May 30, 2009
Alan Dershowitz is another liberal that cares more about Liberalism, then his fellow Jews. Any Jewish person that voted for Obama has a promblem with being Jewish. Why would you vote for someone that went to a church that preached Jew Hatred? Obama told everyone what he was going to do with Israel. Now you hear about all the complaining and whinning about Obama's policies. What all Holocaust survivors tell people is," when somone says they are going to kill all Jewish people, believe them." Nobody believed the Germans would do this because they were such a cultured society.
64  |   joe green brooklyn ny, Sunday May 31, 2009
David #3 is right!!!
65  |   Ellen Shafner, Sunday May 31, 2009
Dear Mr. Dershowitz, While I have much respect for you, I need to point out that Israel is not "ocuppying" the West Bank. Judea and Samaria are part and parcel of the Land of Israel. I admit that we Israeli's have brought this negative perspectivve upon ourselves. We should have annexed all of the land that was taken back after the Six Day War, but we didn't and that has led to the world-wide mistaken perception that we are illegaly "occupying" it. When you look at the "Big Picture" and the size of our very small Country - why are we even discussing this?
66  |   Bob from Virginia, Sunday May 31, 2009
Is it more amazing to see how many recognized Obama's shortcomings before the election or how many did not? O's vote to withdraw US forces from Iraq indicated a lack of judgment, his vote not to support those forces indicated lack of character, the fact he ran for President after 6 months in a national office indicated delusions of grandeur, the fact he was voted into office against the most qualified candidate since Washington indicates that the American voter is... well let's just hope this will be an educating process for those who for some reason choose not to see the obvious.
67  |   Tony, Monday Jun 01, 2009
"The extreme left wing of his party demands peace at any price." Obama IS the extreme left of his party, indeed, of the entire US.
68  |   Harry Abram Las Vegas, NV, Monday Jun 01, 2009
I am very pleased to see that Mr. Dershowitz has issues with the president he endorsed. At least Mr. Dershowitz recognizes the threat against Israel from both Iran and the way the current president is handling Iran.
69  |   Stephen, New Jersey, Friday Jun 05, 2009
As a Christian, I am amazed how the Jewish community is mesmerized by Obama. One would assume that the jewish community is obviously very political and intelligent. Did they not understand Obama's agenda? Iran views Obama and the Democrats as weak on defense. They now know they can move with impunity towards their goal in destroying Israel and the US. I believe the UWS and Hollywood Jews are more concerned about abortion rights than defending Israel. For those Jews, including Dershowitz, that supported Obama, the blood of your own will be on your hands. You r reaping what u sow.
70  |   USA, Friday Jun 05, 2009
Dershowitz and all you other Obama voters - You didn't wake up in time. Dershowitz, you keep coming around but too late every time. You take your followers with you down the wrong path, only to realize you made a mistake. Liberalism of the past that U.S. Jews so devotedly believed in, is not the same today. Wake up. It's not about community, social values. It's about survival of Israel, Holocaust survivors going to bomb shelters, Jewish blood of children shed. Can't you see his path from the very start? Open your eyes.What did you expect from a man that was clear about what he would do.
71  |   USA, Friday Jun 05, 2009
#69 As a Jew, I am also amazed at the stupidity of the U.S.Jewish community being mesmerized by Obama.(Some of my family included) Please know there are those of us that feel just like you. Maybe some Jews in the US will wake up now. But a day too late. The thing is, we will all reap the same, because the world must stand up to Iran, not Israel. Why should Israel do the dirty work for a world problem? It's not just Israel that will be the beneficiary of Iran's wrath. Obama may take us all into world Sharia Law.
72  |   helen, USA, Friday Jun 12, 2009
I always considered Dershowitz a friend of Israel. But for a brilliant man he made a very unwise dangerous decision when he backed Obama. Its amazing during the election we were not allowed to mention his middle name Hussein or his muslim background, Reverend Wright etc. Now that has all changed. He has embraced who he is at the expense of Israel.. We must stand strong and not allow him to defeat us. I hope Netanyahu has the strength to keep Israel strong. As an American jew, I and the people I know stand strong with Israel and always support our brethen there.
73  |   Jonah in Jamaica, Sunday Jun 14, 2009
Lets get the terminology right. The West Bank is disputed land and not occupied territory. The Jewish Quarter and Western Wall of the Old City are not occupied, and should not even be open to dispute.Lets get the rest of it right: The lunatics running Iran have no purpose in having nukes unless it is to use on Israel. Unless Obama has the guts to stop Iran no one else will ( unless Israel has the capacity to do it ) and this can only lead to disaster. Anyone betting the farm on Obama? What- no takers?.