The Region: Better unpopular than dead

[shira]

The Region: Better unpopular than dead
By BARRY RUBIN
06/14/2010 09:01

Delegitimization is a real problem, but the threat of destruction – mass loss of life in terrorist and rocket attacks, or an Iranian nuclear attack – is the real danger.




Golda Meir once memorably said, “Better a bad press than a good epitaph.” In the Western world, where a cushioned elite increasingly mistakes headlines or academic studies for the real world, the difference between the material world and words is often lost. Instead, we are getting something along these lines: “Joe (Israel) is a stupid, lazy, dishonest, lying, no-good criminal who deserves to be punished. And you know what his main problem is? People saying stuff like that about him.”

Here’s the reliably buffoonish Roger Cohen: “I took a short break for my daughter’s bat mitzva, Israel killed nine activists on a Gaza-bound ship in international waters, and its bungled raid prompted international uproar and Jewish soul-searching.”

First, he lets us know that he’s a Jew (bat mitzva) and then he goes forth with no less than five anti-Israel points in 21 words: Killed nine (no mention of the attack on the soldiers), activists (no mention of evidence that they were radical Islamist jihadists seeking martyrdom), international waters (implication this is some kind of piratical aggressive act and no mention that this is how blockades are conducted, international law experts point out it was legal, see Cuban Missile Crisis, British operation in the Falklands, etc.), bungled raid (it is Israel’s fault that it went in without lethal force and faced greater violence than expected), Jewish soul-searching (Oy! Where have we gone wrong! We used to let people beat us up and murder us and now Israel – gasp! – defends itself).

And so after purveying anti-Israel propaganda that delegitimizes Israel, Cohen then goes on to say that the main threat to Israel is being delegitimized. Why? Because of the “occupation.” But it was the end of the “occupation” of the Gaza Strip that created the current mess. You just haven’t been paying attention. Cohen’s conclusion is this: “What Israel in turn must realize – before it is too late – is that the real threat it faces today is not one of destruction but of delegitimization.” This sentence deserves the greatest attention.

more...
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=178353

[regnaD kciN]

1. From the JPost...

Little more needs to be said.

[Tripmann]

2. Yep.

As if anybody on a liberal board is going to buy this BS narrative that somehow the ME regions superpower with 100s of nukes and state of the art military is under any real threat.

No better than the RW scum that claimed the iraq invasion was necessary for defensive reasons.

[shira]

3. When bigger and better rockets can strike anywhere within Israel...

....that's a real threat to all Israeli civilians, nukes or no nukes.

Why don't you check out a map to see how small Israel really is? Not that the security concerns of most Israelis means much to you.

As to Iraq, the US and UK invaded Iraq thousands of miles away despite the fact that their citizens were under no threat whatsoever from Iraqi weaponry. Over 100,000 deaths. Completely different situation from Israel. Thus, "liberals" like yourself (actually Stalinist rightwing Left WRT Israel) can balk all you'd like, defame, dehumanize, and deligitimize Israel all you wish. Most Israelis don't give a shit and would rather not slash their own throats. Tell you what, why don't YOU live in Sderot for a few years and then come back with your 'expert' opinion on all that is I/P?

[Tripmann]

4. Can you give an example of where I have

'defamed', 'dehumanized', or 'deligitimized' Israel please?

Ta

[here_is_to_hope]

5. Fish, meet bait....

Don't.
Bite.


:crazy:

[Tripmann]

6. This user has a history of hiding behind internet anonymity to make baseless accuastions against me

which she has not been able to back up on a SINGLE occasion.

Ironically, by knowingly falsely accusing me of defaming Israel, she is in fact the one committing the defamation.

[here_is_to_hope]

7. I know, projection is everything when you are in the wrong...

Just ask the GOP!
Fair is fair and some just don't play fair.
Or give serious thought to the issue without being blinded by Race/Religion/Hate...pick one.
Have a good day my friend!

[Tripmann]

8. Couldn't agree more

Especially seeing as though I don't have a horse in the race in relation to the I/P question.

[whosinpower]

9. An iranian nuclear attack is not a real danger, but it catches eyeballs

Right wing projecting fear to quell the masses into believing that being "unpopular" is better than being peaceful.

snip from article - Yet the idea has taken hold in most Western governments that what is most important is image. If we are nice to our enemies, we will win them over. If we are popular, we will avoid trouble. If we apologize, we will be forgiven.

In short, what we are seeing is the abandonment of realpolitik and in a real sense of the real world itself.

Even in 2010, power still matters. Violence settles quarrels.



That is the heart of right wing thinking. That has been the heart of Israeli leadership for at least a decade. And IF you dare criticise that leadership, you are delegitimizing Israel. Oh - the supreme court in Israel does a good job at criticising the leadership - but much of what it says is not honoured, or it is worked around...laws are written to specifically nullify the courts intent.

The palistinians have either basically Hamas or Fatah to choose from. The Israeli's have many parties to choose - the ones who are most popular are right wing, and some are rabidly nationalistic ulta conservative right wing. Niether side - NEITHER side have any leadership that can navigate their people towards peace. And that is how the right wing wants it. In his own words - that is the real world.

Olmert offered the palistinians the best offer yet - and Netanyahu was quick to condemn the offer and publically stated he would not honour any settlement regardless if the palistinians and the current Israeli government came to a full acceptance. Abbas rejected the offer - knowing that Olmert was in political trouble. Was Abbas wrong? WEll - the Israeli's have helped him in his battle against Hamas - and suddenly, Fatah has become legitimate. Strange days indeed.