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Finally, harsh realism from Israel
Boston Globe ^ | 4/5/09 | Jeff Jacoby

Posted on 04/05/2009 3:40:32 AM PDT by MartinaMisc

IF AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN'S first speech as Israel's new foreign minister did nothing else, it certainly vexed the media.

The Associated Press called it a "scathing critique of Mideast peace efforts" that had diplomats "cringing," while other reports said Lieberman had "dropped a political bombshell," "sparked an uproar," "repudiated a key accord," and "reinforced fears." The New York Times pronounced Lieberman's remarks "blunt and belligerent," describing the foreign minister as a "hawkish nationalist" who is "not known for diplomacy" and heads an "ultranationalist" party that is "seen by many as racist." Headlines summed up Lieberman's debut as an attack on peacemaking: "Lieberman dashes peace hopes," "Israeli official hits peace efforts," "Lieberman dumps peace deal."

But the headlines were wrong, as anyone can ascertain by reading Lieberman's short address. Far from disparaging peace, Israel's new foreign minister called for pursuing it with the respect and realism it deserves. And far from "dumping" agreements entered into by his predecessors, he explicitly committed himself to upholding the Roadmap - a step-by-step blueprint to a "two-state solution" adopted by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the international Quartet in 2003.

"I voted against the Roadmap," Lieberman acknowledged, but it was "approved by the Cabinet and by the Security Council" and is therefore "a binding resolution." However, he insisted, it must be implemented "in full." The Roadmap imposes specific obligations that the Palestinians must meet prior to achieving statehood - above all, an unequivocal end to violence, terrorism, and incitement against the Jewish state - and Israel will not agree to waive them in order to negotiate a final settlement.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: avigdorlieberman; everheardoftopics; islam; israel; radicalmuslims
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1 posted on 04/05/2009 3:40:32 AM PDT by MartinaMisc
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To: MartinaMisc

Can we have him? Please?

Realism in the face of existential threats. You wouldn’t think it would be a story.


2 posted on 04/05/2009 3:54:50 AM PDT by StatenIsland
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To: MartinaMisc
"If you want peace, prepare for war," Lieberman declared.
That basic statement has become an important IQ test for people who live in free societies.

If you understand it, you have at least a bare minimum IQ necessary for survival in the modern age.

If you don't understand it, you're basically dumber than a bag of hammers.

3 posted on 04/05/2009 3:55:12 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman

You are insulting hammers.

The thinking of the majority of folks seems to have been turned upside down. Israel has given all it should be expected to give and more in the face of murderous terrorists.

It is time to stop the small talk. If the ‘palestinians’ want peace, then it is up to them to secure it. How is that so difficult for anyone to understand?

The Arabs DO NOT want peace. They want Israel removed and the ‘palestinians’ are simply their pawns.


4 posted on 04/05/2009 4:05:22 AM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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To: MartinaMisc

describing the foreign minister as a “hawkish nationalist”

In plain common sense language a man that desires to see that his country and people are not destroyed by the islamofacists...
“Silly” jounarlists,can’t even speak properly without allowing their agenda to enter the picture.....


5 posted on 04/05/2009 4:14:19 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: MartinaMisc

Its a shame Lieberman speaks like he does, after all the peacemaking process has been so successful.(sarcasm)


6 posted on 04/05/2009 4:15:58 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: MartinaMisc
The fact that we say the word 'peace' 20 times a day will not bring peace any closer," he noted. It only makes Israel seem weak and irresolute, encouraging its enemies not to halt their murderous jihad, but to redouble it. Sixteen years of appeasement have left Israel more demonized and isolated than ever, the foreign minister observed. And when was Israel most admired in the world? "After the victory of the Six Day War," when no one doubted the Jewish state's audacity or resolve. "If you want peace, prepare for war," Lieberman declared.

In recent weeks, the Palestinian Authority has warned Arabs that it is "high treason" punishable by death to sell homes or property to Jews in Jerusalem; shut down a Palestinian youth orchestra and arrested its founder because the ensemble played for a group of elderly Holocaust survivors; and celebrated the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel's history with a TV special extolling the massacre. On Thursday, after a Palestinian terrorist used an axe to murder a 13-year-old Jewish boy...

7 posted on 04/05/2009 4:21:34 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Islander7
You're right in everything you are saying about "peace" and "Palestinians", but I was also referring to the more general situation of the West under attack by the muzzies on a global scale and instead of fighting back, laying down, taking it in the butt, and grunting the word "peace" with each thrust.

Dumber than a bag of hammers.

8 posted on 04/05/2009 4:24:05 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman

And what newspaper that wrote this article is on the verge of going out of business?

Talk about mindless dribble......


9 posted on 04/05/2009 4:30:12 AM PDT by Michigan Bowhunter (Democrat socialist liberal scumbags.....how did we let this happen!)
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To: MartinaMisc

The usual ultra-rich and ultra-poor “non confrontational peace” type suspect gather again together to avoid consequences of fornicating with each other knowingly in unhealthy ways, in order to attack those with real wealth or wherewithal.


10 posted on 04/05/2009 4:30:55 AM PDT by JudgemAll (control freaks, their world & their problem with my gun and my protecting my private party)
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To: samtheman

Please lay off the hammers! They are useful tools....um, come to think of, so are the ‘peace’ activists. You may be on to something.

I could never be a politician or ‘diplomat’. I don’t lie and call a spade a spade. You are correct. The PC talk is irksome. The hot spots in the world have one of two things in common; large populations of muslims and/or socialists.


11 posted on 04/05/2009 4:32:56 AM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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Israel may end up being the only sane place in the world to live.


12 posted on 04/05/2009 4:37:53 AM PDT by alreadythere
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To: StatenIsland

Mr. Leiberman is just stating the obvious.


13 posted on 04/05/2009 4:44:29 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Islander7

The thinking of the majority of folks seems to have been turned upside down.
***
This upside down?? “ In the last days, good will be called bad and bad will be called good.”

I think we are there.


14 posted on 04/05/2009 5:28:11 AM PDT by briarbey b (There is nothing new under the sun.)
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To: MartinaMisc

The New York Times pronounced Lieberman’s remarks “blunt and belligerent,” describing the foreign minister as a “hawkish nationalist” who is “not known for diplomacy” and heads an “ultranationalist” party that is “seen by many as racist.”


Gee, what does the NYT say about Hammas?


15 posted on 04/05/2009 5:51:41 AM PDT by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: StatenIsland

“I voted against the Roadmap,” Lieberman acknowledged, but it was “approved by the Cabinet and by the Security Council” and is therefore “a binding resolution.” However, he insisted, it must be implemented “in full.” The Roadmap imposes specific obligations that the Palestinians must meet prior to achieving statehood - above all, an unequivocal end to violence, terrorism, and incitement against the Jewish state - and Israel will not agree to waive them in order to negotiate a final settlement.


He is right. The sacred “Roadmap” is always invoked by diplomats. However, the Palestinians have done nothing—only Israel is expected to follow the Roadmap to the letter.
We have been dealing with North Korea in much the same way.
I swear our current crop of diplomats are either stupid, insane, or both.


16 posted on 04/05/2009 5:56:11 AM PDT by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: Michigan Bowhunter
And what newspaper that wrote this article is on the verge of going out of business? Talk about mindless dribble......

Did you actually read the article?

If so, did you actually understand the article?

To what do you refer when you toss out phrases such as "mindless dribble"?

Do you understand that Jeff Jacoby is perhaps the only "sane", conservative voice at the Boston Globe?

Knee-jerk reactions should be the province of liberals only...

17 posted on 04/05/2009 7:27:38 AM PDT by Zeppo (Save the cheerleader, save the world...)
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To: briarbey b

This upside down?? “ In the last days, good will be called bad and bad will be called good.”

I think we are there....”

If we ain’t there, we are getting awfully close.


18 posted on 04/05/2009 8:12:24 AM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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To: MartinaMisc

Absolutely an excellent speech! AND, TRUE, TOO!

Avigdor Lieberman also frightens Gates. Because? Avigdor Lieberman intends to go to Moscow. Where he speaks their language. And, he has 3-million Israeli “settlers” who came from mother russia. They’re not religious. And, they’re very tough! Fool with them, and learn they “fool back” just like the mafia! They’re not brought up on AMerican “sensitivities.”

As to Obama, what’s he got? A teleprompter. And, a mediocre speech writer. He’s not able to slam anything out of the ballpark. (In other words? Where it counts, in football and baseball, there are no handicaps playing ‘black.’ There aren’t for Tiger Woods, either.)

But the trip to europe. You can put it into a basket case. Just because the queen, looking pretty in pink, was polite, doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. Doesn’t mean he went over big. Except with the Italian guy. Who screamed out his name during the G-20 photo-op. And, then headlocked O’barnicle, and the russian puppet’s head. Together. The queen was disgusted. As soon as the famous photo shoot was over, you could see this on UTube. The queen got up. Turned. And, into Berlusconi’s direction, said: “you don’t have to shout.”


19 posted on 04/05/2009 11:29:26 AM PDT by hihoherman
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To: SkyPilot

I don’t know much about guns, but in that photo of two arab terrorists, I’d swear the guy on the left is holding his gun “upside-down.” And, if he pulled the trigger could blow off his putz.

Not far behind, Obama is learning that “swell talk” doesn’t make you tough-talking. He almost has the “deer in the headlights” look that Mel Brooks captured in Blazing Saddles.


20 posted on 04/05/2009 11:31:55 AM PDT by hihoherman
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