Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Would You Entrust America's Defence To This Man? (video)

Well might all who seek Israel's welfare express dismay at the prospect of Senator Chuck Hagel as US Secretary for Defense: Isi Leibler's recent piece is one of a number of articles by various pundits articulating deeply held and highly justified misgivings.

Asks Noah Pollak, executive director of the Emergency Committee for Israel (ECI):
"Is it too much to ask that the nominee for Secretary of Defense understands the policy of the Obama administration on the single most important national security challenge facing the United States?"
Indeed.

Here's a video released today by the ECI.  It highlights Hagel's confused response, at his confirmation hearing last Thursday, to questions about the Obama administration's policy towards Iran.  Having viewed it on YouTube, one well-known blogger, the irrepressible Yisrael Medad, commented "Dumb and Dumbest"; an unkind assessment of the nominee for the Defense Secretaryship's performance, perhaps, but not inappropriate.

For Hagel initially asserted he supported Obama's policy of "containment," meaning containing Iran after it acquires nuclear weapons.  Then he made a bumbling attempt to correct himself, saying the administration "takes no position" on containment.  Finally, he had to be told by Senator Carl Levin that "we do not favour containment."  Oy!


4 comments:

  1. Douglas Murray brilliant as always
    Take Iran at Its Word
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324445904578283680795993450.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ian. Will look asap. He's a very prescient and courageous young man.

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  2. Bret Stephens op-ed about the confirmation hearings in yesterday's Wall Street Journal is right on target: http://online.wsj.com/article/global_view.html

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