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PrintNovember 15, 2010
The Wonders of ObamaLogic
As Americans are salivating in anticipation of the blessings of ObamaCare, the Israelis are about to experience the thrills of another wonderful emanation of the Great Mind -- the ObamaLogic.
As is well known in certain circles which for some reason call themselves "progressive," and of which our President is a great enthusiast and illustrious leader, the Arab-Israeli conflict is the root of all that is wrong with the Middle East. Establish a Palestinian state -- and Sunnis will embrace the Shias, Arabs will fall in love with the Iranians, Iranians will fall out of love with the atom bomb, Darfur will turn from the scene of butchery to that of brotherly love, Iraq will become a paragon of peaceful coexistence, the Taliban will permit the Afghan ladies to freely pursue their education and whatever else that may contribute to their happiness, and peace, freedom, equality and brotherhood will reign in the Middle East forever and ever, amen. And -- I forgot to mention -- the lion will lie with the lamb, and they will beat their swords into the plowshares.
It is precisely in the light of the latter consequence of the establishment of the Palestinian state that I find the key part of the deal that Obama administration is offering to Israel (and which is apparently embraced by Israel's Netanyahu) extremely puzzling. According to the New York Times, "Netanyahu Agrees to Push for Freeze in Settlements":
"in return [for the 90-day settlement freeze that will allow the Palestinians back into the talks on the establishment of the Palestinian state], the Obama administration has offered Israel a package of security incentives and fighter jets worth $3 billion that would be contingent on the signing of a peace agreement."
Here is why I am so puzzled. According to Obama's above-described position, once the Palestinian state is established and the root of Middle Eastern unhappiness thus removed, there will be eternal peace in the Middle East. What are then the security incentives, and the combat aircraft that are the key part of the deal for?
That offer would make logical sense if and only if the anticipated result of establishment of the Palestinian state is the worsening, rather than the improvement, of Israel's strategic position. But Obama's entire premise is that this will not happen. On the contrary, peace will reign forever and ever.
So why are these twenty planes offered?
Perhaps, in Obama's view, there is just not enough swords in the Middle East so he wants to add some more so there is enough high-tech steel to beat into plowshares.
Or, perhaps, he reasons a little differently -- and strictly along the "progressive," pro-Islamic lines. The Palestinian state will indeed be a mortal blow to Israel, and that blow needs to be offset with a tempting offer. Put into the form of the classical ad, "twenty combat aircraft -- three billion dollars. Destruction of Israel -- priceless."
That kind of reasoning on Obama's part would make his offer logical indeed.
As is well known in certain circles which for some reason call themselves "progressive," and of which our President is a great enthusiast and illustrious leader, the Arab-Israeli conflict is the root of all that is wrong with the Middle East. Establish a Palestinian state -- and Sunnis will embrace the Shias, Arabs will fall in love with the Iranians, Iranians will fall out of love with the atom bomb, Darfur will turn from the scene of butchery to that of brotherly love, Iraq will become a paragon of peaceful coexistence, the Taliban will permit the Afghan ladies to freely pursue their education and whatever else that may contribute to their happiness, and peace, freedom, equality and brotherhood will reign in the Middle East forever and ever, amen. And -- I forgot to mention -- the lion will lie with the lamb, and they will beat their swords into the plowshares.
It is precisely in the light of the latter consequence of the establishment of the Palestinian state that I find the key part of the deal that Obama administration is offering to Israel (and which is apparently embraced by Israel's Netanyahu) extremely puzzling. According to the New York Times, "Netanyahu Agrees to Push for Freeze in Settlements":
"in return [for the 90-day settlement freeze that will allow the Palestinians back into the talks on the establishment of the Palestinian state], the Obama administration has offered Israel a package of security incentives and fighter jets worth $3 billion that would be contingent on the signing of a peace agreement."
Here is why I am so puzzled. According to Obama's above-described position, once the Palestinian state is established and the root of Middle Eastern unhappiness thus removed, there will be eternal peace in the Middle East. What are then the security incentives, and the combat aircraft that are the key part of the deal for?
That offer would make logical sense if and only if the anticipated result of establishment of the Palestinian state is the worsening, rather than the improvement, of Israel's strategic position. But Obama's entire premise is that this will not happen. On the contrary, peace will reign forever and ever.
So why are these twenty planes offered?
Perhaps, in Obama's view, there is just not enough swords in the Middle East so he wants to add some more so there is enough high-tech steel to beat into plowshares.
Or, perhaps, he reasons a little differently -- and strictly along the "progressive," pro-Islamic lines. The Palestinian state will indeed be a mortal blow to Israel, and that blow needs to be offset with a tempting offer. Put into the form of the classical ad, "twenty combat aircraft -- three billion dollars. Destruction of Israel -- priceless."
That kind of reasoning on Obama's part would make his offer logical indeed.
