Posted by Phil Giraldi on 11/21/09 12:33 PM   [Newer: What does "Finish the Job" Mean?] [Older: The Death of Privacy]

Israel's decision reported earlier this week to build 900 more housing units on the West Bank is Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's thumb in President Obama's eye.  It comes a week after Obama, acting against his better judgment, met Netanyahu at the White house.  Netanyahu, confident that he has the congress and the US media in his back pocket, knows that Obama can do nothing to force Israel to moderate its drive to complete the colonization of much of the West Bank.  That the United States has willy nilly become an accomplice in the Israeli action is despicable and there is no conceivable American national interest that benefits from the relationship.

Obama must demonstrate leadership by beginning to shape a foreign policy that is good for the United States and its citizens.  That means ending the charade of trying to bring peace to the Middle East and disengaging completely from the "wars of choice" in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  The billions of dollars annually in bribes to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan in hopes of good behavior might better be spent here at home or returned to the taxpayer. 

Israel's many vocal and powerful friends in the United States should recognize once and for all that Israel is not, in fact, the fifty-first state.  The US should be a friend to all nations but to speak of special relationships is to diminish America's ability to do what is best for the its own people.  Doing what is best for our citizens does not include massive foreign aid programs and a series of wars based on dubious assumptions.  It is past time to realize that the age of American empire has been a disaster for both the US economy and for our country's standing in the world.  It is time to close close the book on democracy promotion and nation building.  Close the door on our overseas bases, throw away the key, and bring our soldiers home.

Posted 11/21/09 2:00 PM landlease Sandusky, OH

Dropping the "war on error" and support for Israel. A foreign policy we can only dream about.

Posted 11/21/09 2:12 PM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

Are we sure he has a "better judgment"? Checkbook diplomacy has never worked. It has only made us poorer. Looks like it is too late to lead by example.

Posted 11/21/09 2:22 PM Adam de Angeli Ann Arbor, MI

I've noticed a lot of candidates, especially Republicans, claiming to have an "America first" foreign policy. The question of support for the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza would be a good litmus test for a candidate survey.

Posted 11/21/09 2:48 PM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

Adam, from the Balfour Declaration, to the League of Nations, to the United Nations, and to our multi-billion dollar support of Israel; I have never understood what strategic value Israel is to us. It is either driven by the Israeli PAC or the popular false religious belief that Israel will rise again. I am pretty sure that GWB held the latter belief and that it is shared by Sarah Palin. Almost every time this subject is discussed someone is sure to say that Israel is our ally. I am still trying to figure out what we need with Israel for an ally?

Posted 11/21/09 6:20 PM Ike Hall Clarkston, GA

BillNM, I think that would be a good question for Giraldi. Evidently, creating and supporting the Israeli state was a priority for the British and many other nations of the West, and sustaining it was and is a priority for America. Why? What realpolitik does it serve the global elites to continually kowtow to the demands of Likud? The questions are easy to ask, but I have a feeling there is much more yet to be revealed about the history of the Israeli state and why it seems to have such an iron grip on America's foreign policy. I don't think the Israeli Lobby is a sufficient explanation.

Posted 11/21/09 7:45 PM billsebe Clearwater, FL

The United States definitely needs to untangle itself from foreign intervention. I don't agree with the United States backing either side in the Israeli conflict. That being said, Israel will ever get the arabs in palestine to come to the table and agree to a reasonable peace will be if Israel continues to allow the settlements to grow. BillNM, Israel shares a massive amount of military technology with the United States.

Posted 11/21/09 8:21 PM JohnF Lake Mary, FL

@Ike Hall America's policy toward Israel is a neo-crusade. The reasons and justifications for our continued involvement there are strikingly similar to those of the original crusades. It has to do with Israel's role in Biblical eschatology. Christian fundamentalists are complicit. This is not to mention the financial elite's never-dying interest in the oil reserves of the Middle East. Subsidizing Israel is a way for us to maintain a "base," there. The last thing the government wants is for the people of the Middle East to keep their own money and natural resources. After all, it was the West that developed the modern division of labor economy. It's really God's fault for misplacing our oil in some sandbox in the middle of nowhere. They see that oil as our birthright. This is a perfect example of how the purposes of the ruling elite do not serve the interests of the majority of Americans. Our current political regime favors oligarchical ideals over the natural rights of the taxpayers.

Posted 11/22/09 12:38 AM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

Billsebe, I have first hand knowledge in dealing with Israel. As past President of a company engaged in dealing with domestic and foreign military I have proposed projects to the Israeli government only to find that they stole my design and gave it to Magnus. Foreign aid dollars that they were supposed to spend with U.S. companies. They routinely get our technology before our own guys do. JohnF, oil is in plentiful supply throughout the world. We wouldn't have gotten very far if God had not stored it up for us. Further, modern day Israel has no place in Biblical Eschatology. But, that is another subject.

Posted 11/22/09 07:00 AM galtgulch9 Southborough, MA

BillNM, I am prompted to respond to your comment that: "oil is in plentiful supply throughout the world." I suggest that anyone reading this take the time to watch the 20 short videos on www.chrismartenson.com which CM calls his crash course. I challenge anyone to find a flaw in his argument. That is one reason why I wish our pro freedom movement will succeed faster than it is happening. 223,179 growing at about 100 new members a day is not exponential growth. Each of us should be able to find a new recruit every day if not every week or even every month. We only need to double less than ten times to have enough in the tens of millions to take back this country! But we must double faster than we are! In any case it is a race against time!

Posted 11/22/09 08:10 AM galtgulch9 Southborough, MA

BillNM, I am prompted to respond to your comment that: "oil is in plentiful supply throughout the world." I suggest that anyone reading this take the time to watch the 20 short videos on www.chrismartenson.com which CM calls his crash course. I challenge anyone to find a flaw in his argument. That is one reason why I wish our pro freedom movement will succeed faster than it is happening. 223,179 growing at about 100 new members a day is not exponential growth. Each of us should be able to find a new recruit every day if not every week or even every month. We only need to double less than ten times to have enough in the tens of millions to take back this country! But we must double faster than we are! In any case it is a race against time!

Posted 11/22/09 10:38 AM DA521 Fair Lawn, NJ

"It is time to close close the book on democracy promotion and nation building." It's time to close the book on Democracy period!! It is Democracy that is shaping foreign policy, as well as domestic policy. I think it is in the spirit of the neo-conservatives to advocate against this or that or whatever. Selective freedom isn't freedom. The problem is not Israel or anything. It is the political system which abrogates individual rights.

Posted 11/22/09 2:05 PM JohnF Lake Mary, FL

BillNM, JohnF, oil is in plentiful supply throughout the world. We wouldn't have gotten very far if God had not stored it up for us. Further, modern day Israel has no place in Biblical Eschatology. But, that is another subject. Perhaps, but the Arab nations are a huge supplier of crude and refined oil. I am stating the implicit justifications for American foreign policy choices such as the war in Afghanistan (oil pipeline) and the CIA's involvement in Iran in the 50s. Also, I have been around evangelicals my whole life and I know what they believe and preach about Israel. Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains... -Matt 24:15-16 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. -Daniel 11:31 Many commentators (who believe these describe future events) interpret these verses as referring to the temple in Jerusalem. Currently, there isn't one, and the temple site is under Muslim control. If these do refer to the temple, then the Jews would have to retake the site in order to rebuild their temple. This would require a modern Jewish state because Muslims are not going to allow it. In fact, Muslims also believe in this interpretation of these verses. So much so that they have put a graveyard on the temple site. They believe this will prevent the Messiah from entering the temple because Jewish law forbids such a thing. This has been confirmed by two pastor friends of mine who visited Israel.

Posted 11/22/09 6:02 PM Glenn Cumming, GA

Thanks for the article, Phil Giraldi. Powerful words. Scott Horton over Antiwar Radio just conducted an interview with Ray McGovern and I found out that Israel is not a legal ally of the U.S. It seems that for the Israeli government to be an ally of the U.S. Government, there would be a treaty providing for the mutual defense and that the parties have to be recognized internationally. Apparently, Israel is not an internationally recognized state or doesn't seek international recognition. Since we all agree that the relationship with Israel does not benefit the U.S., who does benefit? The bankers. I believe one of the stockholders in the Federal Reserve System is a large private Israeli bank. I really think its that simple.

Posted 11/22/09 7:56 PM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

JohnF, as one who has studied New Testament prophecy and certain history for going on 60 years I will give you my opinion. Any attempt to apply New Testament Prophecy to other than first century events is decidedly anachronistic. Multiple scriptures point to the near term fulfillment of New Testament prophecy. The best evidence is for the early date for the writing of Revelation that puts it prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and all of the Jewish fortifications by the Roman army under the leadership of Titus in AD70. A scholarly work in this regard is "Before Jerusalem Fell" by Gentry. Revelation was written for first century Christians to encourage them and to warn them concerning near term events. The battle of Armageddon was between Church and State and was won by the Church with the blood of the saints. Nero was the beast of Revelation who ruled from AD66 to AD68 when he committed suicide rather than face the prospect of a public execution. During his term he persecuted the Church relentlessly, even burning Christians on poles to light his gardens at night. The prophecy of the Olivet Discourse of Matt 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 all pointed to the coming judgment of Christ on the Jewish nation that occurred in AD70 (and Rome). See particularly Matt 23:29-36, Matt 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27 and many others. Christ has already come according to His promise in judgment, just as with many other Divine judgments recorded in the Old Testament, and using the same prophetic language. And He did that nearly two thousand years ago. Ever since the events of the first century man has been amenable to a new covenant. Jer 31:31. His work of atonement for all who will obey the gospel was fully completed. Why would He come back here again? So, in my view modern day Israel is not mentioned in prophecy at all and is of no value to the U.S. But, in spite of what they did to the USS Liberty, they have great influence among those in our government. Too bad.

Posted 11/23/09 12:17 AM CTLovesNathanHale Atlanta, GA

OUR country has way more important problems to deal with than whether or not a tiny country builds some houses. Taking sides in foreign affairs was frowned on by George Washington, and rightfully so. The Israel soap opera purveyed by the controlled main stream media is intended to be a distraction to take our eyes off the criminal banking elite driving for total global tyranny, and, thanks to the small-mindedness of a vocal minority, that distraction is obviously working...

Posted 11/23/09 06:52 AM openvictoriopeak castries, Saint Lucia

No doubt Mr. Obama is capable of understanding everything Phil Giraldi says. Unfortunately, Obama's office is surrounded on one side by the ballerina Rahm Israel Emmanuel, and David Axelrod on the other side. No doubt Obama is often reminded of what happened to JFK shortly after he sent Golda Meir a letter expressing his concern about Israel's nuclear program, and how he wanted their program to be monitored by the US.

Posted 11/23/09 1:49 PM Katrakis718 Barrington, IL

I'm glad to see that galtgulch posted a link to chrismartenson.com!! Any responsible citizen out to view the 20 part video series "Crash Course" he has put together, synthesizing the Economy, Energy, and the Environment. Soon you will learn that oil, and energy in general, is NOT in such abundant supply as many would think; the dwindling number of finds, and increasingly high amount of resources required to exploit such finds, makes it even more certain that special interests groups will pursue an even more interventionist foreign policy. Again, I would encourage you all to visit chrismartenson.com , view the crash course, and read his blog's Daily Digest of news stories and headlines. There is a wealth of information for any concerned citizen, and much to be found in support of the liberty movement.

Posted 11/23/09 10:19 PM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

Per the recommendation, I took the Crash Course. Very impressive. He confused porosity and permeability but laid out the facts cogently. So, even allowing for new resource discoveries it is inevitable that there is a limit. That leaves rationing, the sun, and the moon. Choose your poison. As far as the national debt is concerned it is a result of non-productive spending by the leaches in our society. If China could not go to the auction and buy the bonds then they would have to use those fiat dollars in reciprocal trade. If things can get messed up, government will do it. And, with Israel they did. For the Christian, God is in charge; but he expects us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves - i.e. read the signs and be prepared to help our neighbor.