TERRY MOSHER
Has there ever been as deep a rift between two allied heads of state as bad as the current one between Obama and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
We have supported Israel since its formal birth in 1948, which is really the only reason the country still exists. In my memory, I have not seen such friction between us and Israel. Netanyahu and Obama are not buddies and that was made clear early in Obama’s first presidential term. But it has really turned nasty in recent days.
The war seems to be on and Obama is not backing away at his displeasure of House Speaker John Boehner inviting Netanyahu to speak before a joint session of Congress on March 3 to talk about his opposition to talks with Iran over its nuclear ambition and the talks that the U.S. and others continue with the Middle East country in an attempt to curb its nuclear ambition.
Not surprising in the murky spy world, leaked documents printed by The Guardian and Al-Jazeera reveal a split between Israel’s super spy agency Mossad and Netanyahu on how far along Iran is in its ambition. Mossad says they are not near building a bomb while Netanyahu says it is and is determined to make his point before Congress.
The hand of Obama and the U.S. spy agencies have their fingerprints all over this. I don’t know where this spat is going, but if Netanyahu gets to speak March 3 I don’t know how this split can be resolved between him and Obama. Elections are coming up in Israel and maybe voters there will fix it by voting Netanyahu out of office. Otherwise, this could really get dirty.
There is no precedent for that Boehner has done by going around the president to invite a foreign head of government to speak to Congress. His actions show how little he thinks of Obama, which is in keeping with the majority of Republicans.
I still insist that there is a bit of racism involved in how Boehner and the Rs act and speak about Obama. It’s really a shame that they believe that way. Some day differences based on skin color will disappear in this country, but I won’t be around for it.
As for Iran achieving the ability to build a nuclear bomb with a deliverance system, it is not the most pressing issue right now in the Middle East. The whole region geography is being redrawn by the insidious wars being waged there and if it continues on it won’t be long before we won’t recognize it.
I believe the Saudi’s are playing two hands in this violent poker game going on over there. They backhandedly support the bad guys while protecting their own interests.
It’s revealing to know that many of the top U.S. leaders went with Obama to pay their respects to the deceased Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and yet it was days before we did the same to France after the terrible shootings there by terrorists, and then it was Secretary of State John Kerry flying solo.
That should tell us a lot about the importance of Saudi oil.
I don’t know, it’s a strange world we live in. Maybe most of us have it right: just go work, keep your eyes and mouth shut and pretend everything is ok.
It isn’t, though.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.