RSS Feed MenuMy friend Noah Pollak expresses relief in the Commentary blog that President Obama has
endorse[d] the idea that the Iranian program poses an existential threat to Israel ….
Not so fast. That’s not what the president said. He said:
I understand very clearly that Israel considers Iran an existential threat, and given some of the statements that have been made by President Ahmadinejad, you can understand why.
There is a big difference between saying: “I understand why you feel that way” and endorsing the correctness of those feelings. Obama went to some effort to avoid such an endorsement, and friends of Israel should take notice.
balconesfault // May 18, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I agree that President Obama has parsed his language very carefully on this issue to avoid explicit agreement with the position that Iran’s weapons programs are an existential threat to Israel. That is how it should be. There are times when a line in the sand paints your opponent into a corner .. there are times when it paints you into a corner.
midcon // May 18, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I am relieved that he did parse his words carefully. Endorsing that idea sounds like it would effectively cost U.S. money and U.S. lives. I am sure that Israel would do almost anything to get rid of the Iranian nuclear program because they believe it to be in their best interests. Our interests would be an Iran that is moderate, democratic, country that can take it’s place with other civilized countries. That may be stretch in the near term, but not as far a stretch as if we or the Israelis take the kind of action they want to take.We can guarantee only one thing – whatever Israel thinks,says, or does, is in their best interests, not necessarily in ours.
Bulldoglover100 // May 19, 2009 at 7:32 am
again pitching pennies David? Faster David Faster! Check out the newest Gallup Poll and weep, then keep walking into the desert…whining.Obama said what he meant and YOUR parsing cant change it.One wishes people such as your Mother were still here. She was strong and dealt with reality.