If Obama Is Serious

President Obama has to achieve one thing and one thing only in order to bring peace to the Middle East. He has to show both Israel and the Palestinians they probably don't know what they are wishing for. To Israel, a strong America as the only superpower and unquestioned loyalty to the Israeli cause have been view as vital to its national security. But guess what, since the other superpower, the Soviet Union, collapsed, and two of the most pro-Israel American presidents Bill Clinton and G W Bush, Israel has seen more attacks on its citizens than ever before. The problem seem to be that America appears to be too pro-Israel. To the Palestinians, and Hamas in particular, America's support for Israel has been viewed as the root of all evil. The suspicion on the US prevents them from accepting Israel and a settlement. They need to understand that if American stops supporting Israel, it also means that the Jewish state is free to unleash its awesome war machine on any parts of the Middle East, increasing the suffering of the Palestinians and other Arabs.

If Obama was brave enough to think of approaching Peace in the Middl east without a capital I for Israel's Interests, he would be a far better president than we have seen in eight long years. But is he brave enough? Is he wise enough? Does he see the difference between what is good for America and what is good for Israel? Nothing in the news has provoked a response yet.

The Jewish people are accountable to God All Mighty. You can't kill Muslims on the excuse of "suspected tunnels" or "suspected Hamas" or "suspected terrorists". When Israeli bombs drop on Gaza, do the bombs know that they are not supposed to hit women and children? The punishment that God will give for disobeying Him is so far in excess of what you can even imagine that I shudder to think of it. And yes, God will take revenge. That is His responsibility when people go astray. I pray that the Jews reform themselves because I don't want to see the Tribulation promised for murdering Muslims carte-blanche.

First the Jews imagined Iraq was their enemy, so America went after Iraq. Now Israel is afraid of Iran, so the New York Times, Washington Post run articles claiming that Iran is a danger to the US. If it weren't for the Jews, Iran couldn't be bothered with the United States of America.

When you choose what to do, it is ever so easy. Choose Absolute Justice. Then you have nothing to fear from anyone.
Allison Knight

This essay is exactly the reason Israel must do what it is doing. Where is the daily outrage regarding rockets fired into Israel on a daily basis. Where is the acknowledgment of the amazing restraint on the part of Israel in not attacking Hamas sooner? Imagine Cuba firing rockets into Guantanamo, then firing a few rockets daily into Key West, and a rocket now and then into Miami. Please Ms. Miller tell me about the restrain the U.S. would show in such a situation; would we wait years, months, weeks, days before we took whatever action necessary to stop such attacks? Israel has to be committed to peace in the long run there is not choice, Hamas as you say yourself is comitted to merely the destruction of Israel. Your patience on their behalf is farcical, but since it is the same patience exercised by the rest of the world, it is clear what they must act as they have.

Miller,

Your article defies reason on so many levels.

Until the end of time, there will be no peace between Israel and Palestinians. Not to sound hawkish, or pessimistic, but it is the truth. THe creedence of hamas is to wipe Israel off the face of the planet. As long as that creedence remains, then there will be no peace. It is that simple. Time after time we have seen Palestine fire rockets into Israel after Israel and them had agreed on a cease fire. Every time a battle ends, Palestine is the antagonist. Every time.

And that gives Israel the right to decide when enough is enough. They are not the antagonist; they are not at fault.

Israel reserves the right to declare all out war. And its about time they gave Palestine and Hamas what they deserve.

Aaron Miller has written a fine article, but I am afraid it only touches the outlines. The only thing "special" about the US relationship with Israel has been the totally one sided, absolute support politically, economically and militarily that Israel has received from us. The worst thing is that this topic is not even allowed to be discussed properly without name calling and vicious slander heaped on anyone trying to even suggest that there is something wrong with this relationship. The United States I submit has suffered enormously because of this policy. It has lost the moral high ground around the world by keeping this hypocritical policy. It has lost friends and the ability to influence others in following its example. Nobody in his right mind can claim that this relationship has enhanced US strategic interests. Rather, it has harmed them and continues to harm them. The US does not need Israel for any strategic reasons, Israel needed us so very much. I believe their time of their need is also past. Israel has more nuclear bombs than The United Kingdom. Israel is a World power and will soon be telling America to drop dead if and when it pushes it to do something that it does not agree with. Showing sympathy to the Jewish people for the enormous cruelty of the holocaust is one thing, but allowing Israel to create ghettos for millions of people, denying them their basic needs and killing 150 people for every Jew killed is quite another.Most respecfully, I submit that those of my friends in the US advocating blind and total support for all Israeli actions are doing moral wrong and history will judge them to have hurt even the Jewish cause much more than they can realise in the intoxication of their complete control over the US Policy apparatus and media that they enjoy right now.
May God Almighty allow us to correct ourselves before He does.
Ghayyur Khan
aghayyurkhan@netzero.com

To City Troll - If you have something constructive to add to the discussion forum do so. Otherwise refrain from abuse. Thank you.

I don't care if Israelis are purple with pink spots and Palestinians are orange with green triangles.

The pox on both houses is earned. And the United States needs a new foreign policy that is slave to neither.

Dave Takaki Honolulu

xx

Ultra nationalism on both sides keeps the problem alive. Mr. Miller is right that Obama must act as a tough and fair mediator as there is a lot at risk. Not only is a nuclear Iran a danger but so too is a committed individual in today's technological society. How far are we from a suicide bomber that carries something more than just explosives? We need a peace process because the consequences for Israel are greater than the current rocket problem. Let's hope that Obama is up to the task and the Middle East participants start to listen.

Mr. Miller is either claiming and/or insinuating that US support of Israel has been contrary to US interests for many years now. However, Mr. Miller has failed to share with his readers specifically US interests are and how they have been specifically compromised by US support for Israel. Mr. Miller's failure to be specific makes his article just one more lie in his acts of intentional deception.

When the planes flew into the twin towers, interspersed with the horrific scenes of human suffering and dispair, the Palestinians were dancing in the streets in celebrations that went on for days if not weeks. They chant "Death to America" and will do so until they draw their last breath. This is not what God had in mind. Hama's jab and run tactics of lobbing rockets into Israel to incite them into defending their people will have to stop before any peace can be had. There will also come a time when neither side can look to big brother and plead "help us, look at the mess we've made". That time may be here today. God help all of you and your suffering children. Put your history books down right now and forget about the past mistakes of "All" of you. You will write history from this day forward with your actions. Put the gun down, go home and hug your children. Tell them killing is wrong. Your idealogy and faith is known by God, you don't have to prove it in blood. He will remember those who set the first example of love, and reward you beyond your wildest dreams here, now, today. Anyone can pick up a gun, real courage is putting it down. No matter how bad it gets, the one thing that can never be taken from any of us is dignity and respect for human life. If that's the predictible answer, so be it. It's all we have as humans.

I forgot to answer your one question. If rockets were lobbing where I live I would have Obama talk to the Iran guy that says he wants to wipe Isreal off the map. Obama said he would talk to him no matter what. They say that the rockets that the smart Hamas people put next to the innocent arab people that the isrealis are mean to just because a few rockets are lobbed come from Iran. That is the place that wants to make nukes to make electricity because oil is cheap in thier country and it is better to make elctricity with nukes.

So I would have Obama talk to him and then there would be peace if the jews don't wreck it by being mean to the arab people who are next to the war stuff that the smart Hamas people put by them.

What a breath of fresh air. I greatly appreciate this column by Mr. Miller. As to Mr. Sharp's comments: uh, Jews aren't "white people", (unless an ancestor intermarried) they're Semites just like their Palestinian cousins, you know, as in the term, "anti-Semitism". As to Omar's comments: much anger but some truth in his observations.