White House: Netanyahu offers no alternative but military action-Warren won’t say if she’s attending

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

Truncated title.

http://mondoweiss.net/2015/02/speech-fallout-warren

Update: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering no alternative but the “military option” against Iran, the White House press secretary said this afternoon. Josh Earnest said that Netanyahu has “not presented an alternative” to the negotiations that the U.S. is undertaking, and that military action won’t work. It will only “steel” Iran’s resolve to develop nuclear weapons and end an inspections regime that the Iranians have accepted as well as break up the international coalition that the U.S. has put together to talk to Iran.
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As the excitement mounts towards the Netanyahu speech to Congress in four days, more dissident Congresspeople are announcing that they won’t be going. Marcia Fudge of Cleveland, Ohio, just said she’s not going, citing the foreign interference issue: “Inviting a foreign head of state to address the Congress is a clear breach of protocol and practice, and undermines the U.S. Presidency.”

Betty McCollum of Minnesota also refuses to advance a “clear effort to undermine the president.” Jan Schakowsky of Illinois doesn’t want a war with Iran. Reps. Jim McGovern and Katherine Clark of Massachusetts announced they’re skipping yesterday. This Florida political blog lists 30 Democrats who won’t show.

There’s pressure on Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin to skip. But Senator Elizabeth Warren is said to be on the fence:

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. I have been watching this issue.

Be interesting to see if Warren goes. She has been pro-Israel in her votes.

[Scootaloo]

2. And if she abstains from this fiasco, her record will continue as such

'Cause Netanyahu is doing Israel zero favors here.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. I absolutely agree that Netanyahu is not good for Israel.

I hope that Likud Yisrael Beiteinu does badly in the election.

[Fumesucker]

3. Bibi is certainly making himself popular in Foggy Bottom

May his popularity at home soar equally high.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Warren did not speak much during the 'mowing of the grass' in Gaza and voted for more IDF weaponry.

If Warren attends to listen with implied respect to an election speech of an uninvited and divisive foreign leader near the end of a tight domestic campaign, in front of a widely televised audience in front of the Israeli..err..American Congress, how will populist progressives interpret that?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. "how will populist progressives interpret that?"

That's tough to say. I hope all Democrats of good conscience stay away.

This is a Likrud - Republican affair. It should be viewed that way.