Bush Warned: Don’t Push Israel

[DuctapeFatwa]

Leading Christian and Jewish conservatives warned the Bush administration this week not to use the dramatic capture of Saddam Hussein as the launch pad for new U.S. initiatives on the Israeli-Palestinian front.

Gary Bauer, a former GOP presidential contender who now heads the conservative group American Values, said he is “uncertain” about the Bush administration’s Mideast policy in the wake of the Hussein capture, but cautioned against using the president’s new political and diplomatic clout to pressure Israel.

“I expect to work enthusiastically for the president’s re-election,” he said in a veiled warning to the White House. “But even exceptional presidents make mistakes.”

A top Jewish analyst agreed with Bauer that the administration may be tempted to capitalize on its Hussein triumph with a big new Israeli-Palestinian initiative...He may be worried about losing some Jewish votes, but that’s not a big factor,” said a Jewish Democrat this week. “But if even some of the Evangelicals stay at home on Nov. 2 because he pressured Israel, that could be a big problem in a close election.

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8851

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Why not let teh WH talk to teh Tikkun folk

Oh I forgot they want PEACE... and SECURITY which canot be achieved
in a state of eternal war

Now if they carry through their threat that will be one less group
working for chimpy.

[LiberalVoice]

2. “But even exceptional presidents make mistakes.”?

"The president’s new political and diplomatic clout"?

What a shit bag.

[punpirate]

3. Quite humorous....

Israel would collapse without U.S. military and economic aid, and without U.S. support for its arms sales.

Gary Bauer is an Armageddonist. So much for his opinion. Hussein's capture has nothing to do with Israeli-U.S. relations--this is just a puff piece meant to remind Rove about his right-wing religious base.

Bush hasn't pressured Israel in the slightest, at least in the ways that truly matter.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Corect

he is part of the fanatical right wing, regardless of religion, that
are not very different from the Taliban.

Good grief

[Devils Advocate NZ]

5. If I didn't know any better...

I would think that Mahathir got it right!

But of course, the Israeli lobby threatening Bush to cooperate or else is nothing like ruling the world by proxy.

I must say I agree with them - how dare Bush even contemplate bringing PEACE to Israel/Palestine! After all, the segregation fence, sorry, prison wall, no wait I mean PEACE WALL, hasn't even been finished yet!

[MrPrax]

6. Amusing spin...

Basically the Likud-lobby is suggesting that Bush stay the course and many evanglicals support the ethnic-cleansing under the 'lie' of fighting terrorism...

Why would the 'Capture' be anymore valid for pushing a 'initiative' (like the Roadmap) than the spate of UN resolutions, the invasion of Iraq or even the 911 tragedy?

Why would he be 'uncertain'? There has been no deviation from total support in the last 20 years?

Hot air story

[SOS]

7. "veiled warning"

A possible translation of Mr. Bauers warning:

"If the pResident does anything to impede the Second Coming of Christ and Armageddon , some right-wingers may withhold their votes in November 2004."

:nopity:

[mbperrin]

8. Can't we just convince Bauer that

the Rapture occurred and he didn't get to go and that now we're in the Tribulation period?

[smartamerican]

9. This should be good ammo against Bush

I think that we can use Bush's stupid Israel policy against him. We should start supporting Israel fully and not threatening them when they try to protect theselves. Bush has been considered a friend of Israel b/c he supported Israel's right to protect himself while Democrats called for peace talks. Now that Bush is making Israel angry all we need to do is support Israel and we make Bush look like a moron.

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. That is exactly what Dean is doing! He will support sharon more than bush

and it seems to be working very well. He has raised a lot of money!


"...the former Vermont governor declared that, while the United States should become more engaged, he did not have any fundamental objections with President George W. Bush’s policies...

When asked by the Jewish newspaper Forward late last year as to whether he supported APN’s perspective, Governor Dean replied "No, my view is closer to AIPAC's view."..

He also rejects calls by APN and other liberal Zionist groups that Israel’s requested $12 billion loan guarantee be linked to an Israeli freeze on constructing additional illegal settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, arguing that such aid should instead be unconditional...

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0226-04.htm

[smartamerican]

11. I don't know about Dean

He has said that he thinks we shouldn't realy take sides. You may be right but from what I've seen of him Dean comes off as exactly the opposite of what I'm talking about. I would be shocked if he got the majority of the Jewish vote. I think Joe Lieberman might be a better choice b/c he would get the Jewish vote and the swing voters.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. I just posted what he said on the subject. I believe he is sincere

And pretty damn shrewd. Nobody was expecting a Democrat to blind-side the Repubs with the idea that bush doesn't support sharon ENOUGH.

It is true that early in the campaign he misspoke, but he quickly realized his mistake, repented, and went to Israel personally to assure sharon of his UNCONDITIONAL support.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi smartamerican!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Capn Sunshine]

13. Have you noticed the "close election" meme

is everywhere these days? Could they be setting us up for another voter theft?

I'm telling you, I just don't see the "support" the corporate media keeps broadcasting. When you lose the popular vote by 500,000 plus, and your previous tricks have been exposed, and you have the track record this president has, HOW does anyone think this will be "close"? Just the Dean campaign alone has brought over 50,000 new voters into the mix thus far, and I know that the Clark campaign is motivating new voters also. The math does not work for "Close".