Israel to dig up tree given by Obama..

[Paul E Ester]

Ynet is reporting that by order of the Agriculture Ministry, the magnolia tree brought from the US by the president and planted by Obama and Peres earlier this afternoon is being dug up. Really.

Plants cannot be brought in from abroad “without undergoing a check” by the ministry, the report quotes the bureaucrats as saying. If this were April 1, we’d assume this was a wind-up.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-set-to-meet-with-peres-in-jerusalem/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/20/obama-gift-israel-dug-up

Wishing President Obama continued luck on his trip.

[Kolesar]

1. I didn't think it was the money tree...eom

[Orrex]

2. Wouldn't want something to put down roots where it might cause trouble later

[Rider3]

3. Too late.

It's already in the country and has been exposed to other plants.

[Glassunion]

4. And we all know what happens then...

1. Foreign plant brought in

2. Plant takes root

3. ??????

[font size=5 color=red]4. Zombie Apocalypse!!!![/font]

[Rider3]

20. It will eat your eyes out

beware. i'm just waning you.

[Rider3]

21. uh, you know I'm just joking right?

I hope?

[Maine-ah]

106. careful...

next time s/he might be "waxing" you instead....

[Jamastiene]

48. I have Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Knotweed in my yard.

Some days, it feels like The Day Of The Triffids. You might not be very far off the mark in your summation.

[csziggy]

81. Hey, I'm in Florida - invasive plants abound!

Chinese tallow trees, nandina, ardisia, ligustrum, wisteria, English ivy, and the winner of them all -

KUDZU!

And those are the ones that survive here in North Florida - South Florida has even more invasive species.

[Poll_Blind]

5. Nasty. Like they couldn't just check it on site? They flew it over on Air Force One for...

...shit's sake.



PB

[Blue_Tires]

8. This petty stunt looks like something some podunk red state mayor would pull...

Why is Washington continually compelled to kiss this nation's ass while getting nothing but thinly veiled contempt in return??

[Poll_Blind]

12. "...like something some podunk red state mayor would pull." Agreed.

That's exactly what it smacked of when I read it, but I couldn't put my finger on it at the time. A kind of...perpetual contempt.

PB

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Have you ever heard of sanitary laws?

Actually state and agriculture should have known. We pull the same "stunts."

[leftynyc]

53. No and they don't care

Israel is mentioned and it's off to the races. Disgusting.

[oberliner]

26. The story is BS

What a great reaction though.

[Gravitycollapse]

47. Such agriculture laws are actually kind of important.

To protect the environment from potentially invasive species.

[Jamastiene]

49. That is true.

Down here in the south, kudzu is STILL going places. Native flora, on the other hand, are dying out and being replaced by the plant that ate the south.

[RoccoR5955]

6. It's probably not Kosher either, or something.

Why can't they just check it where it sits? They don't have magnolias in Israel?

[Bonobo]

31. Anti-semitic much? nt

[RoccoR5955]

33. No.

Why is mentioning that something is not Kosher in a Jewish State being anti-semitic?
Perhaps it has something to do with this.
You really don't know.

[Bonobo]

34. Explain.

Do you know what kosher means?

It has to do with prohibitions against ingesting certain foods.

I am sure you know this and your "not kosher or something" is nothing more than a vaguely veiled anti-Semitic snarky comment.

"Not kosher or something...". Puh-lease. Look up "kosher" in the dictionary and then look up "transparent".

[JoDog]

60. Actually, in my Jewish community

we often use the word "kosher" and phrases with it as a kind of slang or shorthand for saying if something was OK, all right, following the rules, etc. It does not always have a religious context. My understanding is that's pretty common among American Jews and even English-fluent Israeli Jews.

Example:
"Should we try to get a room at this motel or try to find another?"
"Let's keep driving. Something doesn't seem kosher about this place."

In my corner of the world, the up-thread comment would not be seen as offensive at all. Depending on the tone it is delivered in, it may even be taken as lighthearted.

[Bonobo]

61. Yeah, I'm Jewish too. I get that.

But that is NOT how it was used above.

[JoDog]

93. Actually,

that is how I read it.

[RoccoR5955]

65. I know what kosher means.

But you do not know the meaning of "kosher" here in the streets of my home town of Brooklyn, NY.
The strict dictionary meaning may be one thing, but here in Brooklyn, it may mean that if something is "kosher" it is legitimate by everyone. We all use the term, regardless of our religious beliefs. At least in my area of Brooklyn, Borough Park/Bensonhurst area. It's a very mixed area, and we use each other's cultural terms to mean a bit more than the dictionary meaning.

Actually, if you look up the word "kosher," and look into the entomology of the word, the root comes from the word "kasher" which means fit, pure or lawful.

So you see, your attack on me for being anti-semitic is quite unfounded. I was raised a Jew by osmosis. I lived in the areas of Brooklyn that were either Jewish/Italian, or otherwise more mixed. Often times, when they ask my race, I simply put down "Human," and for ethnicity, I put down, "Heinz 57 Varieties." That's because I believe that we are all only one race, and the cultures that I have lived in over my lifetime have been many. I take aspects of my life from each and every one of them. It would do us good to understand many different cultures, and live in them for even a short time.

[Marrah_G]

7. ~facepalm~

[HappyMe]

13. lol!

Your poor head must be sore. This is like the 4th or 5th thread I have seen you in.

[Marrah_G]

14. It's one of those days.........

[HappyMe]

15. Yes, it is.

I agree with every one of your

[geek tragedy]

9. Our friends the Israelis rarely miss an attempt to humiliate our President.

And he has no political choice but to sit there and act grateful.

Let them and Iran sort out their own business in a manner and scale they see fit.

[aquart]

38. Whoa. No anti-Semitism reeking here.

Probably just anti-Zionist, right?

[Warren DeMontague]

41. really? no "political choice"?

Can you elaborate on that statement?

[geek tragedy]

63. Our political class places Israel's well-being on a plane at the very least

as equally important to our own national interest.

The Chuck Hagel hearings weren't about our military, our servicepeople, weapons systems.

They were about whether Chuck Hagel was insufficiently devoted to Israel.

[Warren DeMontague]

69. And an agricultural inspection is a finely tuned international insult?

Why precisely do you suppose "our political class" gives Israel such, to your mind, outsized attention and importance?

[geek tragedy]

72. You would have to ask them.

Though it's never been claimed that advocating for the human rights of Palestinians will help draw votes or donations.

[Warren DeMontague]

73. Hmmm. Interesting theory. Where are these votes and this money coming from?

And you didn't answer my question about the "humiliation".

Last time I went to Hawaii, I had to throw out an orange I bought at LAX. Was that a deliberate humiliation, too?

[geek tragedy]

79. As I said, there's no political benefit to

advocating on behalf of the Palestinians. No such donations, no such votes.

The story was misreported. My bad for believing it. Given NuttyYahoo's history of trying to embarrass/undermine Obama, it fit a pattern.

[Warren DeMontague]

80. Seems to me there are an awful lot of people who support a 2 state solution and an independent

Palestine.

So the political benefit doesn't strike me as so cut and dried.

Unfortunately the region is suffering from a lot of bad decision-making, on all sides. IMHO.

[geek tragedy]

82. How many US political figures can you name who have

suffered politically for being perceived as insufficiently pro-Palestinian or excessively pro-Israel?

Being for a two-state solution doesn't mean very much. I'm all in favor of losing weight, but I'm also anti-going to the gym. What happens depends on which sentiment is stronger.

The general public wants the US government to support neither side and remain neutral. Our political class has different preferences.

[Warren DeMontague]

83. you need to define your terms. And I think the general public understands the history.

The general public realizes that the occupation, while a bad idea, didn't materialize one day in 1967 out of a vacuum.

That Israel spent a lot of years fighting for its very survival, and that has colored its behavior for many years hence.

Do you have statistics, demographics, polls, etc. to substantiate this claim you seem to be making of undue influence that doesn't reflect political will in this country?

[geek tragedy]

84. From February 2013

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Feb. 21-24, 2013. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.


"When it comes to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, do you think that the United States should support the Israelis more than the Palestinians, support the Palestinians more than the Israelis, or should the U.S. treat both the same and not support one more than the other?"


Support Israelis more 31%

Support Palestinians more 4%

Treat both the same 55%

Unsure: 10%

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/11/16/3112036/senate-resolution-backs-israel-actions-in-gaza

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Both houses of the U.S. Congress unanimously passed resolutions expressing support for Israel's "inherent right to act in self-defense."The identical non-binding resolutions passed Thursday in the Senate and Friday in the House of Representatives.

Initiated in the Senate by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and in the House by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.), each resolution "expresses unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes and strongly supports its inherent right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism."

By Thursday evening, the Senate resolution had garnered 64 cosponsors.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee in a statement praised "the leadership of Senators Gillibrand and Kirk, and the extraordinary show of support by the Senate for Israel’s struggle against terrorist attacks on its citizens."

The resolutions are the first such proposed legislation in the wake of Israeli airstrikes launched Wednesday in retaliation for rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip

Unlike statements of support for Israel's actions from the Obama administration, the resolutions do not call on both sides to exercise restraint or express regret at casualties on both sides.

"We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians caused by the ensuing violence," Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, told reporters on Thursday. "There is no justification for the violence that Hamas and other terrorist organizations are employing against the people of Israel. We call on those responsible to stop these cowardly acts immediately in order to allow the situation to de-escalate."

http://www.king.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=341087

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of 75 other senators

, today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reaffirm his commitment to working closely with the new government of Israel and to oppose Palestinian efforts to either circumvent direct negotiations with Israel or delegitimize Israel.The Senators wrote:

“Palestinian efforts to bypass direct negotiations with Israel by taking unilateral steps for international recognition are, in our view, unacceptable. When you meet with Palestinian leaders, you should make clear that the pathway for peace is through unconditional direct negotiations between both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the United States vigorously opposes any Palestinian efforts to circumvent direct negotiations.”

The Senators also urge the President to identify and promote policy solutions, such as Iron Dome, that address the urgent and important security challenges facing both Israel and the United States. “We also hope that you will reiterate the United States’ support for Israel, her right to defend herself, and the Iron Dome project. In such a tumultuous region of the world, and during such challenging times, a strong relationship between our two countries has never been more important.”

In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Cardin, Menendez, Corker, Boxer, Rubio, Casey, Flake, Shaheen, Barrasso, Coons, McConnell, Murphy, Chambliss, Schumer, Cornyn, Stabenow, Vitter, Cantwell, Kirk, Mikulski, Coats, Klobuchar, Blunt, Whitehouse, Moran, Mark Udall, Boozman, Hagan, Grassley, Landrieu, Lee, Bennet, Cruz, Gillibrand, Fischer, Manchin, Cochran, Wyden, Isakson, Blumenthal, Johanns, Tester, Burr, Heinrich, Crapo, Schatz, Hatch, Hirono, Roberts, Franken, Murkowski, Baucus, Scott, McCaskill, Wicker, Merkley, Heller, Begich, Portman, Donnelly, Thune, Pryor, Tim Johnson, Lautenberg, Sherrod Brown, Warner, Ayotte, Graham, Hoeven, Toomey, Sessions, Ron Johnson, Reed, Alexander and Paul.The full text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Mr. President:

We applaud your decision to travel to Israel so early in your second term as president. Your upcoming trip will offer you the opportunity to meet with the leaders of Israel’s new government and to reaffirm the unshakeable bond between our two nations. In your meetings in Jerusalem and Ramallah later this month, we hope that you will reaffirm your commitment to working closely with the new government of Israel.As you may know, in May 2011, the Senate passed S.Res.185: a resolution reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by 90 Senators. Palestinian efforts to bypass direct negotiations with Israel by taking unilateral steps for international recognition are, in our view, unacceptable. When you meet with Palestinian leaders, you should make clear that the pathway for peace is through unconditional direct negotiations between both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the United States vigorously opposes any Palestinian efforts to circumvent direct negotiations.

It is important to re-emphasize that the United States will not tolerate efforts to isolate or delegitimize Israel. During your first term, you and your administration actively stood by Israel at the UN and other agencies to try to block such efforts. It is critical that you now make clear that our relationship with Palestinians will be jeopardized by seeking action against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

We encourage you to also stress the importance of the Palestinian Authority’s close security cooperation with Israel. If peace is to be possible, the Palestinian Authority also needs to confront the recent surge in violence on the West Bank, cease all anti-Israel incitement and renounce Hamas until it unequivocally meets the three Quartet requirements.

We believe that by espousing these principles during your historic trip, you will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to enhancing Israeli security, improving the prospect for peace with the Palestinians and furthering our own interests in this troubled region of the world.

We are strongly committed to the restart of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. However, we also recognize that the violence and chaos that have sprung up in Syria, North Africa, Egypt, including insecurity along the Sinai Peninsula, and Yemen are not related to the peace process.

As you pursue peace in the Middle East in the long-run, we hope that your agenda will identify policy solutions to address the urgent and important threats facing Israel and the United States today. We also hope that you will reiterate the United States’ support for Israel, her right to defend herself, and the Iron Dome project. In such a tumultuous region of the world, and during such challenging times, a strong relationship between our two countries has never been more important. Israel has challenging times ahead. Israel needs our unwavering commitment now more than ever.

The US Congress is more unquestioning in support of what the Israeli government does than the Knesset is.

[Warren DeMontague]

94. Your poll right there implies that the US general public is more sympathetic to Israel.

Which directly contradicts your assertion upthread.

Rather than being manipulated by shadowy moneyed forces (whatever they might be) perhaps the government is merely reflecting the will of the electorate in that regard.

[geek tragedy]

98. No, it does not contradict.

A simple majority want us to favor neither side.

People may simultaneously (a) feel more sympathetic towards Israel than the Palestinians but (b) not want us to take sides.

Our political class is virtually unanimous in its desire for the US to blatantly side with Israel against even NATO allies like Turkey.

You know that flotilla raid that Bibi apologized for today?

The US Congress thought it was a swell idea.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0610/Large_majorities_on_Hill_back_Israels_flotilla_raid.html

We fully support Israel’s right to self-defense. In response to thousands of rocket attacks on Israel from Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Israel took steps to prevent items which could be used to support these attacks from reaching Gaza. Israel’s naval blockade, which is legal under international law, allows Israel to keep dangerous goods from entering Gaza by sea. The intent of the measures is to protect Israel, while allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Late last month when Israel learned that groups operating in Turkey wanted to challenge its blockade of Gaza, Israel made every effort to ensure that all humanitarian aid reached Gaza without needlessly precipitating a confrontation. Israeli forces were able to safely divert five of the six ships challenging the blockade. However, video footage shows that the Israeli commandos who arrived on the sixth ship, which was owned by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (the IHH), were brutally attacked with iron rods, knives, and broken glass. They were forced to respond to that attack and we regret the loss of life that resulted.

[Warren DeMontague]

101. Which is why they should stop building settlements, and Hamas should recognize Israel

stop terror and rocket attacks, and sign final binding agreements with all players for a two-state solution along the lines of the deals hammered out in the 90s before Arafat torpedoed the entire process during the last days of Clinton's Presidency.

That IS not taking sides, and that's been the guiding principle of US policy.

[geek tragedy]

103. The idea that that US has not taken Israel's side in every

single dispute Israel has had with anyone over the past few decades is a fantasy.

Israel vs Lebanon: We've got Israel's back
Israel vs NATO-ally Turkey: We've got Israel's back
Israel vs Palestine: We've got Israel's back
Israel vs Head-Start funds: More important to fund Israel and let poor American kids suffer under the sequester

Etc etc etc.

[Warren DeMontague]

104. The Fantasy is on the part of the Palestinian Leaders who have promised their people that Israel

will just "go away". Who have blamed every single economic and regional problem on Israel.

On the part of the historical revisionists who try to somehow turn the '67 war into a totally unprovoked attack by Israel that just popped out of the blue one June morning.

And so on.

[geek tragedy]

105. I love it when Israel partisans drop the "of course the US is neutral"

and revert to "everything is the Palestinians' fault, so we need to take Israel's side"

[Warren DeMontague]

109. Did I say that?

No, I didn't. The occupation has been a grievous mistake. The settlements are an even worse one. I don't know what the answer is, other than- like I said- the rough parameters of the deal hammered out over the course of the 90s.

[geek tragedy]

112. Mistake?

They know exactly what they're doing.

They pay lip service to a "two state" solution, but rule out anything remotely resembling an actual sovereign Palestinian state.

The question is whether we can agree that they have sovereign authority, power that goes beyond self-rule, which every country has. This power would include:

the right to have full control over borders, through which they could import unlimited arms and solders. States control their own air space – a Palestinian state would have the right to shoot down any Israeli plane overflying it without permission. States have the right to make military alliances with other countries – a Palestinian state would have the right to make such alliances with Syria, Iraq, Libya, ets. States control the water sources underground – a Palestinian state would have the right to control the mountain aquifer which supplies about 30 percent of Israel’s water and most of our drinking water. Even those who support the establishment of a Palestinian state are unwilling under any circumstances to give this power to the Palestinians. But the moment we agree to give them a state, that is exactly what we would be giving them!

http://www.netanyahu.org/binnetspeeca.html

The concept involved keeping Israeli troops stationed along territory on the Palestinian side of the barrier Israel has built in the West Bank to protect what Israel calls its “narrow waistline.” That strip would be several kilometers wide at some points, says the Palestinian negotiator, and run along much of the seam line. Also, to protect itself against the possible rise of a hostile Islamic state in Jordan, say both sources, Netanyahu insisted Israeli troops would remain posted in the Jordan Valley for years. Though Netanyahu didn’t present maps, Abbas and his negotiators calculated that Palestinians would be left with just 60 percent of the West Bank. (The Israeli source describes 60 percent as a “subjective Palestinian view,” not necessarily an accurate summary of Netanyahu’s position. Israeli and U.S. government spokesmen declined to comment.)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/12/11/exclusive-details-on-mideast-peace-negotiations.html

[LanternWaste]

107. And of course, and invasive plant species being removed validates all this...

And of course, and invasive plant species being removed validates all this...

[geek tragedy]

108. It was faulty reporting. nt

[leftynyc]

74. STILL believing this ridiculous story

even after it's been found to be bullshit. Why am I not surprised?

[leftynyc]

51. Stop believing lies

Read post 43 before you further humiliate yourself.

[cali]

59. It's ridiculous to claim that this was an example of an attempt to

humiliate the President- whether or not your premise is accurate. First of all, the story that the Israelis are digging up the tree is bullshit as is documented further down in this thread. Secondly, many countries have strict ag regs that demand that imported flora be inspected- the U.S. does.

[Walk away]

114. It is a constant attack on the President from a country that receives billions of $$$

in our tax money and all we get in return is the threat of another endless war to protect their expansion. I am sure someone in the new DU religious police will accuse you and I of being anti-semitic for stating a fact about their country. They seem to believe it's about their religion or ethnicity and they always play that card. It isn't.

[MrBig]

115. Where is the attack on the President?

Where in this case is there ANY attack on the President? The tree wasn't uprooted! The story was shown to be false!

Was the country attacking President Obama when it showered him with praise and cheering after his speech? Was he attacked when he became the first sitting US President to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/02/18/obama-award-israel-shimon-peres-benjamin-netanyahu/1927927/

So where is the "facts" that you claim to be stating? And I think it's perfectly legitimate for people to question the motives of those who attack a country based on lies and falsehoods as you have done.

[Walk away]

116. Oh please. Netanyahu 2012, pre-election, anti Obama, "telling America....

why it must start a war with Iran" tour never happened? He all but called the President anti-Israeli. I must have been imagining that UN speech explaining how and when America needed to act against Iran. I guess all those meetings with Sheldon Adleson and Mitt Romney were really because they were just golf buddies and there is no such thing as Neo-Cons.
Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the President helped make Israel finally apologize publicly to Turkey. And they should treat Obama as the leader of the free world instead of telling him when and where to send our armies to defend their country. Maybe they will control themselves enough to actually attempt to find a peaceful solution to their problems for a change.

[BlueToTheBone]

10. Tell me again why our countries are such great friends? n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

42. ah, because it's a fucking tree.

I'm sure Obama, having lived in Hawaii, is fairly sympathetic to the idea that some places are real careful around invasive, non-native plant species.

[cali]

76. lol. gotta love absurdly inane

[leftyohiolib]

11. US has to dig up and remove financial aid to isreal- it's regrettable but currency has to be checked

Last edited Wed Mar 20, 2013, 06:10 PM - Edit history (1)

b esides we need it here

[bike man]

19. Now, there's an idea whose time has come! Reevaluate ALL foreign aid, ALL military installations of

every size worldwide - surely some reductions in physical plant size of many of them could be made, thus reducing the cost of the installation itself, the salary expense for the local workers, the quantity of military personnel to staff those installations, and ultimately the overall size of the military.

[aquart]

39. Aw, can't even spell the name of the postage stamp you hate.

[leftyohiolib]

134. huh?

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. You try to bring a tree into the US

Go for it sparky.

Best case, taken from you...worst...the wonderful fines.

The ignorance, willful, is all but progressive.

[nyquil_man]

16. So the President just whipped out a tree, planted it, and nobody said a word?

Come on. Surely the tree planting was prearranged. Does the President of Israel not know the laws of his own country?

I think somebody's acting out over at the Ministry of Agriculture.

[nadinbrzezinski]

71. First bad story from press

Tree has not been dug up.

Second sanitary laws are well bellow the pay grade of most heads of state...

Third, this attitude is not progressive.

[nyquil_man]

135. That was exactly my point. The story makes no sense.

You waste your time with the second and third points.

[Ikonoklast]

17. How many more one-way 'friends' do we really need?

Gets tiresome.

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. Try bringing a tree through US Customs

I dare you.

[Rex]

18. Sounds like a GOP move.

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. Sounds like a sanitary law

Go ahead try...bringing a plant into the US through any border checkpoint. The fines for sausage and plants are heavy. This is for very god reason. Of course there was some bad reporting as well. But serious, quite standard.

For that matter...try the same shit regarding plants going into Hawaii.

the ignorance, willful it seems, burns.

[Rex]

85. Please that is just stupid.

This was PLANNED...you think the POTUS just shows up with a tree and plants it? You are correct, the stupid it burns.

[nadinbrzezinski]

86. Since the US has never evah done that either

By the way, later stories, tree is still planted...but the Agriculture minister still has jurisdiction.

Oh and sanitary laws are well bellow the pay grade of heads of state.

Oh best known example of the US doing that involved some Cherry trees.

Yup, the stupid and faux outrage over everything just burns.

[Rex]

87. Yes someone just walked off AF1 without the script.

The FACT that it is still there proves it was a political stunt by Israel that makes them look really petty. I don't care if you think it is faux outrage or not. It was stupid and you know it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

88. Again, try that BS faux outrage with somebody that cares.

Serious.

You, outraged over tree, while the rest of what happened in the trip has geopolitical implications.

FYI, the way the roots were wrapped, that was our agriculture dept talking to theirs.

[Rex]

89. No not outraged over a tree, you miss the point entirely on purpose I guess.

Whatever, I see this was a waste of time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. What was the point? They dug it out insult to the US,

Tree is STILL THERE, IN THE GROUND, you are right waste of time.

Evil Israel, greedy Jews...where have I read that before?

[Rex]

91. Wow you are so off, but keep it up.

The stupid political ploys are just that stupid. I don't really care if you are wrong and it was a stab for political points. Go take your wrongness to someone that cares. And as usual, you cannot handle it so make up some stupid crap.

[nadinbrzezinski]

95. Antisemitism, even when veiled

Or unconscious is not stupid crap.

Oh and just lovely personal attack, not that juries care.


Here, faux outrage

To comply with the Israeli ministry of agriculture rules, the roots of the magnolia tree brought by Obama's entourage on Air Force One were covered in plastic before it was planted on Wednesday.

If the tree passes its inspection, the plastic will be removed and the tree will be replanted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/20/obama-gift-israel-dug-up

[Rex]

96. Yes your personal attack against me was crap.

Thanks for showing me your true colors.

Political stunt = must hate all Jews.

Wow your critical thinking skills must have left you for good Nadin.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. Read the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/20/obama-gift-israel-dug-up

One again...fracking tree is still in the ground...STILL IN THE FRACKING GROUND...Critical thinkinf skills indeed.

Keep pushing, and you will go to where I really do not want to put you.

The OP is faux outraged, posted to create faux outrage...

True colors...I guess I am a conservadem, chuckle, nay, a tea party member...

[Rex]

99. Wrong, you just assume that is what I meant because you lost an arguement.

Stop wasting my time, you lost get over it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

100. Welcome to my ignore list

You revealed your true colors indeed. Go play with the gun nuts and bigots.

Even when shown that you are wrong, you tell me I am. Have an excellent life.

[Rex]

110. That is what I mean.

You lack the ability to admit you are wrong. No wonder most people here are on your ignore list. Thanks for adding me, one more person I can count on not having to roll my eyes at now.

[zappaman]

117. See you at our Iggy potluck dinner this weekend?

We have to welcome our new Iggy members.
I think at least 20 were added this week alone!
I'm making pulled pork.

[Rex]

132. LOL!

Thanks I will bring the 'liquid refreshments'.

[bigtree]

23. so what? *Taft BURNED a gift of dozens of cherry trees by *Japan because of disease and infestation

Last edited Fri Mar 22, 2013, 09:11 AM - Edit history (2)

. . . ordered them put in a pile and burned. And, the order did go all the way up to the President at the time.

*correction

[ProSense]

27. But did TR have

to deal with bullshit knee-jerk media reports? From the second link in the OP:

6pm ET update: A tree, presented as a gift by Barack Obama and planted in the garden of the Israeli president's official residence on Wednesday, has not – contrary to earlier reports – been dug up. But it may yet be.

Tests will be carried out on the tree by the ministry of agriculture, required of all plants brought into the country, in the next two to three weeks. According to the Israeli president's office, it is possible that the tree will need to be removed for those tests to take place.

To comply with the Israeli ministry of agriculture rules, the roots of the magnolia tree brought by Obama's entourage on Air Force One were covered in plastic before it was planted on Wednesday.

If the tree passes its inspection, the plastic will be removed and the tree will be replanted.

Stupid crap.

[edgineered]

32. Great - more friggin birthers wanting to check its roots!

[Art_from_Ark]

35. I think those trees were actually from Japan,

The first batch of cherry trees sent from Japan was officially destroyed in 1910, when William Taft was President, but the second batch, sent later in 1910 and planted in 1911, was successful.

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAT78696066/PDF

[bigtree]

62. right, Japan and Taft . . . going from memory here . . . never a good idea

____ At the time, Japan was a rising power. Less than 10 years earlier, it had routed Russia. President Theodore Roosevelt won a Nobel Prize for mediating an end to that conflict, and the Japanese were eager to establish positive relations with the United States.

Like any relationship, there have been ups and downs. For example, the first trees the Japanese government delivered (in 1910) never made it into the ground.

“To everyone’s dismay, an inspection team from the Department of Agriculture discovered that the trees were infested with insects and nematodes, and were diseased,” the National Park Service explains in its history of the cherry trees. “To protect American growers, the department concluded that the trees must be destroyed.”

So it was the second batch of cherry trees, delivered in 1912, that were successfully planted. First lady Helen Taft was joined on March 27 by the wife of the Japanese ambassador, and they planted the first two cherry trees alongside the Tidal Basin.


http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2012/03/a-century-of-cherry-blossoms

[Paul E Ester]

113. During WWII

Interesting post about taft, thanks. Reading further I found

1941: December 11, four cherry trees were cut down in suspected retaliation for the Japanese attack against the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The exact reason for the vandalism never was substantiated. In hopes of preventing future damage during the Second World War, the trees were referred to as the "Oriental" flowering cherry trees.

http://www.nps.gov/cherry/cherry-blossom-history.htm

The freedom fries of their era.

[Art_from_Ark]

130. Fifteen years after the war, the Japanese cherry appeared on a US stamp

that commemorated, indirectly, the first US-Japan treaty that was signed in 1860, and the mutual-defense treaty ("Ampo Jouyaku", still in effect) that was signed in 1960.



On a side note, the cherry blossoms are now in full bloom in Tokyo, a week or two ahead of schedule.

[Paul E Ester]

131. nice factoid, pretty stamp...thanks!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Facepalm

This is sanitary laws in effect. We have similar laws. Somebody at both agriculture and state deserve a talk down for not clearing this.

Yes, it is well bellow either of the two President's pay grade.

at the reactions.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Shhhh...don't harsh the high!

Sure, the US laws are the same. Sure both countries knew the restrictions, which is why the tree's roots were bagged and planted that way. Sure, it was done for ceremonial purposes. But, it's Israel! Got's to get the hate on for some reason, any reason.

[aquart]

40. Yep.

But we really can't ever make fun of Freeper spelling, not after what I've seen here today.

[Bonobo]

58. And all the talk of "They are taking our money..." Blech.

It really takes me back to the cries of the nastiest anti-semites.

"Greedy jews, taking money... Don't they have enough?"

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[baldguy]

25. "OBAMA MURDERS TREES IN THE HOLY LAND!!"

"Suspected Terrorist Link In Killer Konifer"

[yortsed snacilbuper]

28. They'll probably give back our money too,

that will show us!

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. LOL!!!

[immoderate]

29. I smell the blood of a bureaucrat!

Some junior Napoleon flexing his shlang.

--imm

[defacto7]

30. Yes, I also wish the best to President Obama on his thrip.

I mean TRIP!

[Warren DeMontague]

43. "They’re digging up Obama’s tree? No, but it’s roots are in plastic netting, ahead of inspection"

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-set-to-meet-with-peres-in-jerusalem/#at_19:54

Rather, it’s roots are in a plastic netting, not touching the ground, prior to inspection next week by the Agriculture Ministry. Plants cannot be brought in from abroad “without undergoing a check” by the ministry, the Ynet report quoted the bureaucrats as saying. Frisch says the president’s people were kept informed of all this in advance.

ZOMG! PLASTIC NETTING! AN OUTRAGE! SUSPEND ALL FOREIGN AID! THE INDIGNITY OF PUTTING IT IN PLASTIC NETTING, LIKE IT'S A FRY COOK AT BURGER KING!

PLASTIC NETTING!!!! AEEEEEE!!!

Anyway, sorry to interrupt the 15 minutes hate. But like I said, Obama lived in Hawaii, I'm sure he knows the drill on ag inspections and non-native plants. Those awful totalitarian Hawaiians can get sort of anal around that kind of shit, too.

[Bonobo]

45. Thank you. But then again, why waste an opportunity to vent

anti-semitic rage? It is so difficult, on Democratic websites, to work out one's frustration at the vague suspicion that Jews are behind all the evil in the world...

[Warren DeMontague]

46. they're certainly taking it out on this tree, on purpose.

I mean, obviously, no one had ever heard of agricultural customs inspections until this deliberate international incident rife with symbolic insult.

[leftynyc]

52. Sure doesn't take much around here

And because they believe lies, they sound like freeper morons. You'd think they'd be embarrassed by their ignorance but that doesn't appear to be the case.

[Bonobo]

54. It reminds me of the movie, Borat...

"In my country, there is problem. And the problem is the Jews...
Throw the Jew down the well!!"

[leftynyc]

56. I didn't see that movie

but it sure does sound familiar. Nothing like lies about Israel to bring out the frothing at the mouth masses.

[cali]

55. I honestly don't think it's anti-semitic rage

It's reflexively anti-Israel and that's pretty stupid, but hey there's a lot of deeply stupid shit here. I remember a few years ago when there really was a disturbing amount of real antisemitism on DU and Skinner was constantly putting out fires and tombstoning the creeps.

[Bonobo]

57. Cali, anti-semitism is a deep, deep thing...

And among many people, it is always floating there just beneath the surface waiting for the slightest stir to bring it bubbling up to the top.

No, I do not think that EVERY person that is anti-Israel is anti-semitic. Not at all.

But it certainly provides easy cover for those that are (whether they realize it or not).

[geek tragedy]

102. Ah yes, the old "criticism of Israel is bigotry against Jews"

canard.

That train is always on time.

[Bonobo]

129. Yeah, but the thing is sometimes it is.

It's good cover for them, but they can be sniffed out when they slip up

[backwoodsbob]

44. could that same tree

be brought to California without quarantine?

This is manufactured anti Israel outrage

[Jamastiene]

50. For the sake of their native species,

they are actually doing the right thing. Kudzu is STILL eating the south in the US. So is Japanese knotweed and Chinese wisteria. I don't blame them, even though I am pretty sure a magnolia tree will not do the type of damage knotweed and wisteria and kudzu have done. Still, their precautions are actually the best thing they can do for their native species.

[Aerows]

67. Driving down a Northern Mississippi highway at night

It looks like there are giant ghosts on each side of the road, because the trees, the power lines, EVERYTHING is covered in kudzu. If you burn, it just seems to come back with an even greater vengeance LOL.

[bluedigger]

64. Mission accomplished!

Well played!

[MineralMan]

66. Uh-huh...OK. Try bringing a tree into

the US from another country. You can't even bring dirt into the US from outside the country. Every time I'd get a shipment of mineral specimens from another country, it had to be closely inspected to make sure no dirt was attached to the specimens. It got to be such a hassle that I stopped buying specimens, except from wholesale sources within the US.

This story smacks of Israel bashing or Obama bashing. I'm not sure which it is, but every civilized country protects itself from invasive plant species.

Non-issue.

[HipChick]

92. Agree...I was harassed flying back and forth from the UK

at the height of the Mad Cow Disease epidemic..

This is SOP for countries

[MrBig]

78. I don't know whether to laugh or cry

Some of the stupidity posted in this thread is just beyond words.

I feel embarrassed just reading some of the junk that people said before knowing the true story. And then come to find out just how much power the President can wield over Bibi and the right-wingers in Israel - getting them to apologize to Turkey - its such a shame so many people seem to have given up on Israel and the Israeli people.

You would think after eight years of W, many of us should know not to give up on an entire country so quickly. President Obama really is a force for change.

[nadinbrzezinski]

111. To the OP

The Guardian has corrected the story.

Congrats on linking to a far right Israeli source who have no agenda whatsoever.

[LittleBlue]

118. Are people really not understading the symbolic importance of this?

This is diplomacy, not scientific logic. Attention to detail is everything because of the symbolism it conveys. Flags are checked meticulously to ensure they're at the right levels, even the height of the chairs and their positions are checked. Even the order at which one country sends its foreign minister to another is of symbolic importance, which is why China's new leaders met Jack Lew first.


Digging up a tree that was presented by Obama, in the spirit of peace, is a symbolic insult. There is absolutely no confusion over what it means. It's not the first time Israel's done it to an ally. They purposefully put the Turkish ambassador's chair lower than the Israeli ambassador's chair in a juvenile insult, which cost them diplomatic relations.

[nadinbrzezinski]

120. Please read this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022552480

The OP should do well to update and remove link to far right Israeli press

[LittleBlue]

122. Let's hope they don't remove the tree

It would be another juvenile, blatant insult in the realm of diplomacy from Israel. For no genuine purpose whatsoever.

[nadinbrzezinski]

123. Let's hope sanitary laws are followed

Our AG department does this shit as well. This is the literal shit storm in a glass of water.

[LittleBlue]

125. Yes, but they're waived when it sends a disastrous diplomatic message

They have been caught in so much blatantly insulting diplomacy, I half expect them to dig it up.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/when-israelis-degrade-israel-by-humiliating-joe-biden-1.264406

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ayalon-to-turkey-i-never-intended-to-humiliate-your-ambassador-1.369484

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-hits-israel-hard-settlement-plans

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/brinkley/article/Netanyahu-burns-bridges-with-Obama-4045204.php


It's happened too many times to believe otherwise. Even basic principles like not openly supporting Obama's opponent is beyond their ability to resist. I'm not holding my breath that the tree won't have some public digging up while right wingers snicker.

They know it, too. Even a child could understand the symbolic nature of uprooting a friendship tree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

126. Well, you can chose to make this a Supreme Court case

Some of us will refuse to byte. Yup, that simple.

This is a class one non issue.

Oh and thanks, will kick the post with actually what is going on.

[LittleBlue]

127. I suspect someone had a word with Bibi

Go apologize to Turkey, and oh yeah, cut out the juvenile tree bullshit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

128. Thanks for the other kick

[Rex]

133. Ya try explaining that to someone that can only shout and stick their

fingers in their ears. That some pretend political ploys are not carried out all the time between nations is either very insincere or just doesn't pay any real attention.

It was meant as a slight, that was fixed when CYA rolled in to help and now the tree still stands.

Easy for some, hard for others and impossible for the special few to comprehend.

[Cleita]

119. Probably wouldn't have survived anyway.

I haven't been able to get a Magnolia tree to survive yet. I think my dirt is too dry and clayey. I think Israel might have a similar problem.

[nadinbrzezinski]

121. The OP is wrong

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022552480

[Cleita]

124. Thanks for the correction.