Comments on: Jimmy Carter's Foolishness About Israel

NRO: Former President's New Book Rife With Simplistic, Naïve Ideas

[grumpas]

All I can say on the subject! What did Israel expect when they took someone else's country from them in 1948! But, years upon years of war being waged against them! They have exactly what they asked for as far as I am concerned! I don't feel remotely sorry for them! You need to start reading something other than the Israeli propaganda you have been reading STERNLIGHT! The Israeli's are just as guilty of war crimes as the Palestinian's are! Between demolishing homes of suspected PLO people, kidnapping them and other atrosities!

[drinuk]

Israel took the land in 1948, spurred on by their terrorist leaders Mayer and Begin they slaughtered British peace keepers. who else but those wishing to rule by the bullet carries out such acts, well! we all know what Bush and Blair calls them.....Terrorists. The Chosen Race, My ***.

[tamroi]

Israel is a terrorist state, now, as well as founded in terrorism. It is also a blatently racist state.

As Charen points out: the world is teeming with Israel haters and not just among the rabble. As the last commentor noted, international jihad, as well as Charen's intellectuals at embassy soirees, will never stop attacking the Jewish state. Like South Africa, sooner or later it will cease to exist as an apartheid state, as its defender continues losing its hegemony through evangelical stupidity.

Ultimately the only hope for Israel is for enough of its brilliant young people to emigrate, until the two wicked stupid governments face the fact that Israel must treat all its semitic brothers with fraternity, liberty, and equality. Canada alone would be enhanced immeasurably by welcoming all five million of Israel's Jews.

[daligiraffe]

Israel is not a terrorist state. Mona Charen%u2019s mention of "sixty years of withheld recognition by its neighbors" and "ceaseless terror against Israeli civilians" is absolutely correct. Israel is surrounded by vicious and well-armed Muslim extremist groups whose main goal is to wipe it off the map. In that situation, military might is an absolute necessity, and since the terrorists have made human shields a vital tool in their war, innocent people get hurt.

People seem to think that if Israel will simply hand over its occupied territories the terrorists will stop attacking, but that is not the case. It is the fact that Israel is Jewish, not occupiers, that drives the terrorists. Israel can never pull out until the Palestinian and other Middle Eastern governments recognize Israel and make a genuine attempt to disarm the terrorist groups. That does not look like it will happen any time soon.

Furthermore, although Charen writes with a bit of journalistic flair that may appear to some readers as condescending, her criticism of Mr. Carter%u2019s book is perfectly valid. She simply picks out a few passages and accurately refutes them.

[tamroi]

Please notice that Mona Charen's column contains nothing more than empty personal insults. In her only serious criticism of Carter's book, she says: you can pretty much close your eyes and point to any page to find something simplistic, naive, or tenditious. This may or may not be true but the message of the book, by a uniquely brave and humane patriot, is tragically true.

I beg you to read the books and web articles by the Israeli scholar, Tanya Reinhart - in particular the book: The Road Map to Nowhere (2006). The facts which she presents, mostly taken from recent Israeli newspapers, should convince you that Americans are now fallen into a collective evil as deep as any that educated mankind has known.

[tamroi]

Please notice that Mona Charen%u2019s column titled %u2018Jimmy Carter%u2019s Foolishness About Israel%u2019, which we are invited here to comment on, contains nothing more than ad homonym attacks, that is, empty personal insults. In her only serious criticism of the book %u2018Palestine: Peace or Apartheid%u2019, she says %u201Cyou can pretty much close your eyes and point to any page to find something simplistic, naove, or tendentious.%u201D This may or may not be true but the message of the book, by a uniquely brave and humane American patriot, is tragically true.


I beg you to read the books and web articles by the Israeli scholar, Tanya Reinhart, in particular the book %u2018The Road Map to Nowhere%u2019 (2006). The facts which she presents, mostly taken from recent Israeli newspapers, should convince you that Americans are now fallen into a collective evil as deep as any that educated mankind has known.

[styker1224]

As usual the pro-Israeli PROPAGANDISTS mainly US-born Jews brainwashed into their victimhood mentality and urged to support their state-terrorist state of Israel, are up in arms over this message board attacking not only American President Carter (one of the few brave politicians willing to speak out against Israeli brutality).

One poster actually posted verbatim a 7 part "cut and paste" talking points from powerful US-Jewish and right-wing evangelical Armaggedon-crazed websites like American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Zionist Organisation of America (ZOA) websites the talking points. How amusing and original...

The fact of the matter remains American foreign policy is so twisted, skewed, and influenced by those with emotional attachments to Israel over America interests that, that is why US was misled into a war with Iraq and now being brainwashed into conflict with Iran.

Just read Yehud Olmert's interview in TIME magazine saying after Iraq, Iran is a major threat to Israeli interests, not US... and now he's caught coaching Italian PM on what talking points he needs to say to the press.

Candid footage Shows Olmert Coaching Prodi:
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=204277570&p=zx4z78z76

[styker1224]

As usual the pro-Israeli PROPAGANDISTS mainly US-born Jews brainwashed into their victimhood mentality and urged to support their state-terrorist state of Israel, are up in arms over this message board attacking not only American President Carter (one of the few brave politicians willing to speak out against Israeli brutality).

One poster actually posted verbatim a 7 part "cut and paste" talking points from powerful US-Jewish and right-wing evangelical Armaggedon-crazed websites like American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Zionist Organisation of America (ZOA) websites the talking points. How amusing and original...

The fact of the matter remains American foreign policy is so twisted, skewed, and influenced by those with emotional attachments to Israel over America interests that, that is why US was misled into a war with Iraq and now being brainwashed into conflict with Iran.

Just read Yehud Olmert's interview in TIME magazine saying after Iraq, Iran is a major threat to Israeli interests, not US... and now he's caught coaching Italian PM on what talking points he needs to say to the press.

Candid footage Shows Olmert Coaching Prodi:
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=204277570&p=zx4z78z76

[Sternlight]

Part VII

There are many good examples of how "civilized" countries wage war, including the US use of nuclear weapons, the fire-bombing of Dresden, and the actions of the British, French, Germans, and italisns during World War II. Time for the Israelis to take off the gloves; who cares what anti-semites think--they'll never be "friends" of the israelis anyway.

When it comes to simple humanity, it is true that the present reality is that there are many impoverished Arabs (and lots of rich ones who have stolen foreign aid money), living in the "occupied territories" and in Gaza. Fine; the israelis, the most powerful economic engine in the region, have repeatedly tried to help them. In return they receive terror and murder of the women and children. The way to the "Palestinian" future is to abandon terrorism, start behaving like a civilized nation, and emulate the many Israeli Arabs who are prospering by becoming civil with their neighbors. Nobody expects a love-feast, but decent civil behavior (much of which is taught in the good parts of the Quran, although often for "believers only", will solve the Palestinians problems and raise a largely impoverished and ignorant people to a level comparable with that of israel, which has the highest standard of living for its Arab citizens as well as its Jewish citizens, in the region.

[Sternlight]

Part V
The Arabs have repeatedly sworn to destroy the Jews, and have murdered hundreds of Israeli women and children as part of a deliberate policy of terror. Arab governments and heads of state, most notably the Palestinians, Syrians, and Saddam Era Iraqis have supported, encouraged and funded this gross violation of all that is decent, including international law. In contrast, the Israelis have not targeted non-combatant Arabs, and the occasional collateral damage is minor. What is more, it has been proven that most clains of Israeli atrocities have actually been staged by Palestinian propagandists, such proof to the satisfaction even of Reuters, no friend of israel.

[Sternlight]

Part IV
Arab countries seized Jewish property all over the Middle East, and did not pay compensation. They want compensation for some Arab land abandoned by Arabs fleeing Palestine at the instigation of their leaders; very well then, let them pay compensation for Jewish property stolen by them. A (late) friend of mine owned the largest and most luxurous hotel in Cairo, the Mina Hotel. She was kicked out by Nasser because she was Jewish, and died in France. That story was repeated many thousands of times.

By the way, apologists trying to tar Israel for defending herself pre-emptively in one of these wars, claim the movement of masses of troops from Egypt to the border could not have defeated Israel. I suppose they were moved there for tourism of thn beautiful desert on the Egyptian side of Gaza, eh?

[Sternlight]

Part III
After World War II, the British turned sovereighnity over to the UN, which created a Jewish State and and Arab State in the area. The name of the Jewish state was Israel.; the name of the Arab state was Jordan (created from "Trans-Jordan", another British Mandate). Not content with this the Arabs swore to drive the Israelis into the sea. They continued their policy of murdering Jews that dated back at least to the 1920's when there were many Arqb pogroms of Jewish civilians even before anyone thought of the idea of a Jewish state. They made, and lost 4 wars. Meanwhile they kept the local Arabs as hostages against peace by putting them in camps under filthy conditions (I've visited those sites many years ago), rather than resettling them.

[Sternlight]

Part II:
Even the fabled Al Aksa mosque is a fake. The Quran says that the Prophet's night ride was to "the furthest mosque". This had to be somewhere in the Mahgreb, not Jerusalem. Nowhere in the Quran is Jerusalem mentioned by name; in contrast it is named hundreds of times in the Hebrew Torah. During the middle period the Umayyid Caliphate fell out with Mecca; they then attempted to elevate an orginally humble wooden Mosque in Jerusalem to high status as competition. No sooner than they had settled their dispute with Mecca then they abandoned Al Aqsa, the roof was allowed to fall in, and it remained useless for many years. Some "Second holiest spot in Islam". It was only when increasing numbers of Jews joined their co-religionists living in Palestine that the Arabs started their land-grab on Judaism's holiest spot--the temple mount. For details of the history of Al Aqsa, check Al Aqsa's own web site.

[Sternlight]

Pzrt I:

The mindless and crypto-anti-semitic responses of many here are appalling. Carter has been criticized on a factual basis. Instead of refuting the specific criticisms, name-calling, ad hominem attacks on the critic, and blatant anti-Israeli lies are posted.

The truth is that there never was a Palestinian people. For hundreds of years the Jews had a kingdom on that territory. later it was conquered by the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Turks and finally was run by the British under a League of Nations mandate. Until the creation of the State of israel, "Palestine" meant mostly the Jews living there, the "Palestine Post" was a newspaper of mainly Jewish affairs. In the nineteenth century the place was desert and swamps (read Mark Twain's visit notes). Then the Jews came, bought land fair and square, reclaimed the swamps, and created a modern country under British rule. Arabs from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, attracted by the economic prosperity, emigrated there. Arafat himself was an Egyptian. Now these people call themselves "Palestinians".

[zykracosmos]

Carter is the man who has been more involved with the Israeli/Arab peace initiative than any other human being on earth. He brought peace to the region through tough negotiations and sound reason. Now you have CBS giving this right-wing airhead space to slander just about everything he stands for. Did Dan Rather's 60 Minutes goof up rattle CBS so badly that you have to provide space for pure propaganda from a writer and publication dedicated to push a radical one-sided agenda? Hey world... the baby has grown up. As Mona said herself, it's been 60 years. Time to wean Israel off the American teat. Israel was carved out of a populated territory at the end of World War II under the efforts of the 4 main victors as the first act of the new United Nations. The land grant was not from the people living in the region, but from those living outside. By what authority? Today Israel is not going away just because of the strange way it was made into a state, but Carter is absolutely spot on with his balanced perspective of how to address this complex issue. As long as Israel remains financially dependent on the US for its survival, they cannot assume complete independence to act in such a way that the US is held responsible for financing their reckless actions. As for me, I plan to attend a Carter function and get his latest book signed.

[honestsam]

Let's put it this way, Jimmy Carter became the President under the pretext of being a conservative christian and his administration failed miserably. Regardless, I still respect of him for being a one time president of the United States. Personally, I find it hard to believe the way and manner he characterizes Israel as the main offender and perpetrator of crime against the Palestinians.Did he forget the peace that prevailed between the Israelis and the Palestinians after the signing of Oslo Acord? and how that atmosphere of tranqility was disrupted till today. I know that he is a strong proponent of the illusive 'New world order', and this book exposes his real motive against Israel. His book which is nothing short of anti-semitic will be more useful to the red skin heads, peolpe like Ahmadinajad of Iran.

[hawk-handsaw]

Charen claims that it's "OK" to criticize Israel but her personal attacks on Carter, her silly nitpicking of syntax, her allegations of "errors" and her intimations of anti-semitism are typical of the kinds of personal attacks you can expect if you do dare to question Israel's policies.

All of these have one real aim: to avoid at all cost any real substantive discussion of the real issues. Notice that Charen carefully avoids all mention of the central issues Carter discusses: the settlements, the Occupation and the colonization of the West Bank.

Shocking that such an evasion and personal attack would be republished at CBSNews.com.

How about if CBS were to sponsor a real and in-depth discussion of what Israel has really done to the Palestinian people? Yeah, I know.... it will never happen.

[realdemocrat]

You will note the defenders of Israel only attack and denigrate, never inform. The author offers up Israeli propaganda as if it were fact time and time again. The lie about who started the attack in '67 was just one example, the one about Israel granting the Palestinians autonomy was a real howler. The problem is they live in their own Joan Peters like fantasy world and bring those of us who must live in the real world only war and enemies.

Their time will come, and they know it. The desperation is showing. The light of day is upon them and they don't like it one bit.

[perception5]

Jimmy Carter.... by far the worse President in American history. Poor people suffered a lot under his failed econmic policies..... the worst through was his policy decisions that resulted in the Shah of Iran falling from power and the emergence of the radical govenment that exists today.............. thanks.....Jimmy...

[nynative1340]

Search 'Mona Charen' on Wikipedia and you'll find that, as I suspected, she is Jewish, and she hates the two-party system. The first is stated and the latter can be deduced from the books she has written:

"Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First," and

"Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help %u2014 and the Rest of Us"

...and I thought Jews were democrats. She's just another hate-spewing 'Ann Coulter.'

Funny...Reagan didn't exactly get it 'right' in the cold war; he had no clue the wall was coming down, which means he had no clue, period.

Charen also worked for Reagan and advocated his Central America policies, so, one could assume she also had a connection to the Iran-Contra affair.