TPM Cafe's Rosenberg: Obama's speech to AIPAC "good, not full-court pander, no Palestinian bashing"

[flpoljunkie]

http://coffeehouse.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/mar/02/text_of_the_obama_speech_at_aipac_today

By M.J. Rosenberg

This is a good speech. Not perfect. But this is not the kind of full-court pander I (and certainly AIPAC) have come to expect. No Palestinian-bashing. And remember this is what he says to AIPAC, not the Council of Foreign Relations. A good start.


Click on link above to read entire speech. Excerpt:

That effort begins with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy. That will always be my starting point. And when we see all of the growing threats in the region: from Iran to Iraq to the resurgence of al-Qaeda to the reinvigoration of Hamas and Hezbollah, that loyalty and that friendship will guide me as we begin to lay the stones that will build the road that takes us from the current instability to lasting peace and security.

It won't be easy. Some of those stones will be heavy and tough for the United States to carry. Others with be heavy and tough for Israel to carry. And even more will be difficult for the world. But together, we will begin again.

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.

As many of you know, I opposed this war from the beginning – in part because I believed that giving this President the open-ended authority to invade Iraq would lead to the open-ended occupation we find ourselves in today.

Now our soldiers find themselves in the crossfire of someone else's civil war. More than 3,100 have given the last full measure of devotion to their country. This war has fueled terrorism and helped galvanize terrorist organizations. And it has made the world less safe.

That is why I advocate a phased redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq to begin no later than May first with the goal of removing all combat forces from Iraq by March 2008. In a civil war where no military solution exists, this redeployment remains our best leverage to pressure the Iraqi government to achieve the political settlement between its warring factions that can slow the bloodshed and promote stability.

<>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. The United States should leave no stone unturned in working to make that goal a reality.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Very interesting exchange between Rosenberg and a poster on Obama's AIPAC speech

On March 2, 2007 - 3:31pm DanielGree said:

I think it was a great speech. MJ, I know you will deny this, but you must really want to support Obama as his views are clearly at odds with yours.

I do like the way you try the old Marx Brothers' line "who are you going to believe me or your lying eyes." Thanks for the humor.

Daniel A. Greenbaum

On March 2, 2007 - 3:40pm mjrosenberg said:

Where is the Palestinian bashing AIPAC loves? The invoking of Arafat? The sugestion that Israel is always right? The threats to the Arabs and Muslims?

Daniel, I don't even know if you have ever visited Washington let alone written speeches for major politicians (as I have many times). Nor do I know if you have ever attended an AIPAC conference (as I have, many times).

If you did, you would see that this is a speech by a candidate who intends to follow in the Carter/Cinton tradition and bring Israelis and Palestinians to the table.

My position prohibits me from supporting anyone. But I do know how to read (and write) a speech.

You are entitled to your opinion but it is certainly not an informed one.

[bigluckyfeet]

2. For a Little More

Money,he may do some bashing.