Thomas Friedman nails it!

It's no secret that I follow muddle eastern issues.

Just read a Thomas Friedman commentary that in my own opinion (not that he needs my endorsement) - nails it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/opini ... vegas.html

Haaretz (an Israeli paper) seems to agree:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-d ... y-1.455269

So?
I think supporting Israel over Palestine is a winning strategy with the voters. Very few voters, usually the far left support Palestine.

Diplomatically? It would be smarter to abandon Israel and work with other Arab nations to demand a Palestinian state. Islamic populations are expanding while most other population groups approach zero population growth.

Palestine? Does the rest of the Arab world really want to see a Palestine state?

FredHayek wrote: So?
I think supporting Israel over Palestine is a winning strategy with the voters. Very few voters, usually the far left support Palestine.

Unfortunately, votes do trump lives. Politicians will do anything to win a vote.

Diplomatically?

Again diplomacy is mostly showmanship --- it doesn't have much to do with human rights.

Palestine? Does the rest of the Arab world really want to see a Palestine state?

Most of Arabia does not particularly care about Palestine - it's generally used as a symbol of oppression in the region's rhetoric. (there'd be very little concern about Palestine except for the fact that that's where Muslims are dying - and by golly --- that's something people care about).

Again - I don't really see it as a religious issue as much as a human rights issue.

I have a hard time imagining that anyone could observe Palestine, and think that it's a good thing.......

Yet - organizations like John Hagee "Ministries" - often say exactly that......
Frankly, I think that's where faith is hijacked ---- and I think it's time to call TSA.

Thomas Friedman is a self-loathing Jew and a anti-Semite. Using him as a "go to" for information says a boatload about the person linking to his crap.

Thomas L. Friedman won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, his third Pulitzer for The New York Times. He became the paper’s foreign-affairs Op-Ed columnist in 1995. Previously, he served as chief economic correspondent in the Washington bureau and before that he was the chief White House correspondent. In 2005, Mr. Friedman was elected as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Mr. Friedman joined The Times in 1981 and was appointed Beirut bureau chief in 1982. In 1984 Mr. Friedman was transferred from Beirut to Jerusalem, where he served as Israel bureau chief until 1988. Mr. Friedman was awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Lebanon) and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Israel).

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/e ... index.html

Raees wrote: Thomas L. Friedman won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, his third Pulitzer for The New York Times. He became the paper’s foreign-affairs Op-Ed columnist in 1995. Previously, he served as chief economic correspondent in the Washington bureau and before that he was the chief White House correspondent. In 2005, Mr. Friedman was elected as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Mr. Friedman joined The Times in 1981 and was appointed Beirut bureau chief in 1982. In 1984 Mr. Friedman was transferred from Beirut to Jerusalem, where he served as Israel bureau chief until 1988. Mr. Friedman was awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Lebanon) and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Israel).

So? And that makes him NOT a self-loathing Jew and a anti-Semite HOW?

I could explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.

Raees wrote: I could explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.

No you can't... because if you could, you would. Checkmate.

Conversing with you is like trying to talk to an amoeba or some other protozoa.

I'll byte,

Oh wise one, what makes him a self loathing Jew and how is he an anti-semite?

Is it because he does not fall lock step with beliefs of Israelis? Or because he called out Romney on his pandering for jewish votes and $$$$

While Romney had time for a $50,000-a-plate breakfast with American Jewish donors in Jerusalem, with Adelson at his elbow, he did not have two hours to go to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, to meet with its president, Mahmoud Abbas, or to share publicly any ideas on how he would advance the peace process. He did have time, though, to point out to his Jewish hosts that Israelis are clearly more culturally entrepreneurial than Palestinians. Israel today is an amazing beehive of innovation — thanks, in part, to an influx of Russian brainpower, massive U.S. aid and smart policies. It’s something Jews should be proud of. But had Romney gone to Ramallah he would have seen a Palestinian beehive of entrepreneurship, too, albeit small, but not bad for a people living under occupation. Palestinian business talent also built the Persian Gulf states. In short, Romney didn’t know what he was talking about.

Right on Thomas :thumbsup: