An unbelievable exchange and demonstration of how the Obama policy towards Israel and towards Iran differs from Hillary’s as a Presidential candidate. The shift is definitely not in Israel’s favor and shows that the “bonds with the US” are shakeable and have been shaken, stirred and spit out.
This interview was given on June 12th and was part of the ongoing US Administration’s push after Obama’s Cairo speech. Of course, since then many things have happened to point out that Obama’s approach with Iran is entirely off the mark, but I don’t think Hillary’s hedging about US support for Israel as the new policy is going to change.
By the way, Dennis Ross has been removed from his position as envoy to Iran. Some say that it was his own request, some say it’s because the Iranians refused to engage a Jewish envoy, but I wonder whether the following exchange is related.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Your own envoy, Dennis Ross, has said one way to strengthen the position of the United States going into these negotiations is to make it very clear that, if Iran used nuclear weapons against Israel or any U.S. ally, that would be met as an attack on the United States, full response. Now, that was your position during the campaign, as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I would make it clear to the Iranians that an attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation from the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANOPOULOS: Is it U.S. policy now?
CLINTON: I think it is U.S. policy to the extent that we have alliances and understandings with a number of nations. They may not be formal, as it is with NATO, but I don’t think there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that, were Israel to suffer a nuclear attack by Iran, there would be retaliation.
STEPHANOPOULOS: By the United States?
CLINTON: Well, I think there would be retaliation. And I think part of what is clear is, we want to avoid a — a Middle East arms race which leads to nuclear weapons being in the possession of other countries in the Middle East, and we want to make clear that there are consequences and costs.
The video of this exchange is available here and is worth watching.
(Hat tip: Jewish Newswire)
I wouldn’t know since I don’t listen to him or any other blowhard. Most of my heroes are dead, not healing the earth nor robbing from the rich to give to the poor. So I assume you’d know.
What? Did someone say something about what Rush Limbaugh’s ass tastes like?
Why didn’t you abstain? I did.
Simple, choose the lesser of two evils like you do anytime you vote. Apparently, your definition of evil needs retooling. Besides, isn’t this article admitting that you were wrong?
It’s simple: how can anybody vote Republican after the past 8 years?
I don’t understand how any Jew [who cares about Israel] can defend their vote for Obama.
And there for a second I thought themiddle had learned his lesson, and then just like that, right back into Daily Kos talking points about republican extremists. Folks, a glimpse into American Jewish paranoia and brain damage. I know, I don’t get it either. But hey, Jews cried when Stalin died. Of course they didn’t find out the truth until after he was dead. Obama flaunted his anti-Semitic associations and American Jews are obviously still lapping it up. Now I wish MUL would drop by and tell us how Barry’s ass tastes.
“She’s a skillful attorney who chooses her words very carefully. ”
You’ve got to be kidding! She hasn’t been an attorney for a few decades now, and, frankly, her speech patterns are rather bumbling.
I’m a Democrat, and I have a pulse, and I did not vote for him. It was obvious long before the election that he was going to sell Israel out, and I wasn’t going to be a part of it.
Why do you think personal insults will have any effect on him, Middle? You saw the way he licked Abdullah’s boots, didn’t you? He doesn’t need to be insulted by Imanutjob to lose his dignity. He’s already thrown it away of his own volition.
Uh guys, the Republicans are a failed party of extremists that have failed the country desperately on many levels. One didn’t need to be intoxicated with Obama to vote Democratic in the 2008 election, any democrat with a pulse would have done.
themiddle, You say, ‘I’m surprised that US policy has taken such a radical shift and so quickly.’ You shouldn’t be surprised. This has been telegraphed since at least six months before the election. Obama has said and done so much to reveal his true intentions, that you must have been intoxicated with the ‘great one’ to miss so many obvious signs. What did you think the significance is of Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayres, Samantha Powers, Susan Rice, and Rashid Khalidi. If Obama didn’t like and respect these people’s views, why was he spending so much time withn them?
Themiddle, either way, you voted for Obama right? Glad that worked out for you and 80% of American Jews. The damage has been done. So what’s the point of all these articles criticle of Obama? To show regret or remorse when exactly what those of us detractors predicted would happen does or has? Well, at the least I hope you all have learned your lessons and realize that Christian Conservatives aren’t actually your biggest threat anymore.
I can’t imagine that he’s going to stick to his former approach. The political cost is too high already. Besides, he’s been personally insulted and he IS the President of the United States. I can’t imagine he will take the attack lying down.
Hillary’s doing her boss’s bidding. She’s a skillful attorney who chooses her words very carefully.
As for Iran– the real issue is, now that the charm offensive has failed so spectacularly, will Obama shift course? I’m not betting on it.
Um, I’m not surprised by her. I’m surprised that US policy has taken such a radical shift and so quickly.
Are you surprised?
Hillary is a shameless opportunist who doesn’t have a principled bone in her body and never did.
G-d forbid that such a thing should happen, but seriously: you don’t really think the US is going to risk nuclear retaliation just because a few million Jews get nuked, do you?
Obama is intent on selling Israel down the river, and Hillary is all up in his ass on this because he’s the boss and she’ll do whatever he tells her. Fortunately, the obvious nature of the Iranian regime may prevent Obama from doing what he wants on this score.
You need to grow up and stop being surprised at stuff like this, Middle. Anyone who has paid any attention to how Hillary operates should have known years ago that she’s nothing but a power whore.