Ending the neoconservative nightmare-By Daniel Levy (finally some answers)

[kpete]

Ending the neoconservative nightmare

By Daniel Levy

.................

So what should be done, on both sides of the ocean?

It is admittedly difficult for Israel to have a regional strategy that is out-of-step with the U.S. administration-of-the-day. However, the neocon approach is not unchallenged, and Israel should not be providing its ticket back to the ascendancy. A U.S. return to proactive diplomacy, realism and multilateralism, with sustained and hard engagement that delivers concrete progress, would best serve its own, Israeli and regional interests. Israel should encourage this. Israel may even have to lead, for instance, in rethinking policy on Hamas or Syria, and should certainly work intensely with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in encouraging his efforts to reach a Palestinian national understanding as a basis for stable governance, security quiet and future peace negotiations. A policy that comes with a Jerusalem kosher stamp of approval might be viewed as less of an abomination in Washington.

Beyond that, Israel and its friends in the United States should seriously reconsider their alliances not only with the neocons, but also with the Christian Right. The largest "pro-Israel" lobby day during this crisis was mobilized by Pastor John Hagee and his Christians United For Israel, a believer in Armageddon with all its implications for a rather particular end to the Jewish story. This is just asking to become the mother of all dumb, self-defeating and morally abhorrent alliances.

Internationalist Republicans, Democrats and mainstream Israelis must construct an alternative narrative to the neocon nightmare, identifying shared interests in a policy that reestablishes American leadership, respect and credibility in the region by facilitating security and stability, pursuing conflict resolution and promoting the conditions for more open societies (as opposed to narrow election-worship). The last two years of the Bush presidency can be an opportunity for progress or an exercise in desperate damage limitation. It sounds counter-intuitive, but Israel should reflect on and even help reorient American expectations.

more at:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746312.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. The last three weeks have proven beyond a shadow

of a doubt that the US Empire is a paper tiger at best on a good day, and completely naked on a bad day. Our influence has been greatly diminished and when all is said and done maybe Americans will wake up

[bryant69]

2. What is your definition of the term paper tiger?

It's possible I'm not understanding you.

But the article does look good; and yeah, we need to reengage and try somehow to become a fair broker (like Clinton was, more or less).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. We can puff, we can posture

but we have no influence, or very little influence... piece of trivia, Bush has YET to call Olmert on the phone? You think any other President would have done that? My feeling is Olmert also told Condy to go pack sand and bush did not want to be told that... but ANY other president would have been able to influence things on the ground. Bush has bungled this to the point that we really are on for the ride on this one

[bryant69]

5. I don't agree with that characterization

For one thing we are keeping a ceasefire from being implemented - the Bush Administration with their seat on the UN Security Council is preventing a ceasefire.

Secondly, I think the implication of your second comment is that we would like Israel to voluntarily back out and let us off the hook, but I'm not sure that's true. Rather I think the Bush Administration wants Israel to do what it's doing, and more of it - if Israel started a war with Syria and Iran, I have to think Bush would applaud - the NeoCons certainly would.

Bryant

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Thre is plenty of pressure OFF the UN

and not taking the US into account... the dance, in fact, is quickly leaving the UN and the US behind... at least that is the way I see it.

[RufusEarl]

8. Your assessment is spot on!

This admin with NeoCon backing would be very happy with a larger conflict in the ME, I'm afraid dialog is not what this admin wants.

[Dhalgren]

9. Carter's brokerage of the Egypt/Israel peace is an example of

what can be done if the effort is applied. Granted, there aren't many leaders of Sadat's caliber in the Middle East right now, but nothing can be gained without the attempt. The US, in its (apparent) complete lack of interest, at the very least appears to be an active supporter of the carnage (not to mention supplier of the tools of carnage). It isn't that we have no leadership in this, it's that we are being led where none of us, nor anyone with any sanity, want to go...

[Scurrilous]

10. Delete

[alfredo]

11. Osama wanted to destroy our influence and bush has done just

what Osama wanted. Osama also wanted to destroy our economy, and weaken our military. Bush has delivered for his Saudi friend.

[libodem]

4. Do you think the Israelis

will have a chance to convert before the Rapture? You know they will all be left behind. The right-wing, Christian conservatives are counting on those converts.

[chibi]

7. some in the media are just now waking up to this?

:eyes:

[kpete]

12. welcome chibi

I hope you join us in helping to wake them up...

[leveymg]

13. No change for the better until arrest of those responsible for war crimes

The people of the United States and Israel will come to recognize that the Iraq and Lebanon wars weren't merely the result of "mistakes", they were deliberately planned by officials of both countries. The commission of these wars resulted in grave crimes against humanity.

Those officials who have violated the law will be arrested. Every government, law enforcement and military officer in the U.S. has sworn to uphold the Constitution and protect it from "all enemies, domestic and foreign." Recently, the Supreme Court has held in the Hamden case that the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions have been violated by the Bush-Cheney Administration. U.S. officials have a sworn duty to enforce domestic laws against torture, abuse of prisoners, and other war crimes. Israeli officials take a similar oath of office, and must enforce similar laws.

The Constitution and laws demand that those in high office who have ordered or committed serious crimes be removed from office and prosecuted. Even though Congress will not carry out its duty to Impeach the President, all of his deputies may be indicted, arrested and prosecuted. Where the Justice Department fails to enforce clear breaches of the law, individual officers shall, singly or with others, carry out their duty under the Constitution to arrest and detain officials where there is probable cause that they have violated criminal laws.

Indeed, the neocons have committed felonious and treasonous offenses against both countries in a criminal scheme to carry out aggressive wars. That group of officials has carried out a mutually-planned course of military aggression in the Middle East. That is a criminal act under the laws of the United States and Israel, and a violation of international law. Where the national authorities fail to prevent or punish such offenses, it is the duty of all signatory states to collectively enforce them.

It is better for the U.S. and Israel that these nations, each of which prides itself as an exemplar of democracy and rule of law, enforce their own treaty obligations and domestic legislation against war crimes, torture and genocide.

Officers in both countries have a sworn duty to arrest those who have violated these laws.

[fordnut]

15. my brother actually watches John Hagee

my brother wouldn't even sign a petition to have Bush censored
because he was his own man and my hubby is brainwashing me and
I'm anti-american because I would like to see Bush impeached.
see what happens when you become a religous fanic my brother
is just that

[Misskittycat]

14. This is a great article. It expresses the feelings of many Jews

in America. Most are Democrats; most support Israel, but don't support the right wing in Israel and its strategy -- and certainly don't support the neocons and the right wing cabal here in the U.S. The combination of the two right wing governments coming into power after 2000 was a disaster for all concerned.