Monday, February 9, 2015

Netanyahu's Visit - Right Or Wrong?

I've been asked for my thoughts on the upcoming Congressional visit and speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



Netanyahu was invited by Speaker of the House John Boehner - a fairly bold move by the Speaker, who rarely does things to irritate the President. The White House is furious that 1) Boehner invited Bibi to speak without asking Obama's permission and 2) that Bibi accepted without asking Obama's permission. There is no written protocol or hard, fast rule that says Boehner needs Obama's permission to invite foreign dignitaries to speak before the House - it's merely a courtesy. But it brought out the juvenile behavior in the President and many Democrats.

According to news sources the White House reacted with anger. “We thought we've seen everything,” one unnamed senior White House official was quoted as saying. “But Bibi managed to surprise even us. There are things you simply don’t do. He spat in our face publicly and that’s no way to behave. Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price,” he said.



In other words: "The President is having a tantrum and he'll get you back for this." It's the same childish reaction we've seen from Obama in the past. Do something that makes him mad and he'll find a way to get you back. Not terribly becoming of the leader of the free world.

Netanyahu is coming to brief Congress on the Israelis' interpretation of the current status of Iran's nuclear proliferation, a program that is essentially being helped along by the Obama administration. President Obama has told Congress he will veto any new sanctions they might create against Iran that "could interfere with the negotiations." He has already lifted some of the sanctions and plans to give them $11.9 billion during the course of the negotiations. Obama also is making plans to re-open the American Embassy in Iran. The Iranian government has got to be laughing at Obama all the way from the centrifuge to the bank and back.

For some reason I will never understand, President Obama believes that negotiating from a position of weakness and giving the other side everything while getting nothing in return is a good way to do business. He did the same thing with the Cuban negotiations and in the Bowe Bergdahl negotiations. "Make big concessions and take very little in return," seems to be his negotiating strategy.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) says Obama's negotiating strategies are worse than Jimmy Carter's. That's quite a statement.

As for Bibi's speech - I'm all for it. I think it's vital that our elected officials get the official Israeli view of Iran as opposed to only hearing what Obama wants us to hear. I pray they put it on C-SPAN so the American people will hear it as well.

Obama won't be there. Biden won't be there. John Kerry won't be there. And many Democrats have promised to have something else to do that day. That's simply juvenile. In the meantime both Vice President Biden and John Kerry have met with Bibi's opposition in the upcoming election, seemingly to show their support for the candidate. And, of course, one of Obama's field agents for his own campaign is currently in Israel working against Netanyahu's re-election. It is rumored they are getting federal funding from the Obama administration.



The Anti-Defamation league has voiced their concerns about Netanyahu's visit not because they're opposed to him speaking but because of the current firestorm over it they believe could be detrimental to his purpose for coming.

I say let Bibi speak. Obama and his minions will get over their childish anger. They can call him nasty names (as they have done before) and have their little temper tantrums. Perhaps Obama will hold his breath until his face turns blue... then life will go on. Our nation will learn something from the man who probably knows more about Iran and its nuclear program than any other leader on Earth. 

The wisdom of allowing Mr. Netanyahu address the United States Congress is lost on Obama. For him it's all about hurt feelings and a bruised ego. How sad that the President of the United States has to hold petty grudges and get even with a man who is one of the most brilliant leaders in the world. Obama could learn so much from Netanyahu. Instead he's doing his best to alienate one of our closest allies. 

He should be ashamed of himself. But that's impossible for a narcissist.


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