Herzliya Conference Day Two

By Ted Belman

The morning started out with a panel Can the World live with a Nuclear Iran. Ms Daniella Pletka with the American Enterprise Institute started out. She essentiall said all the talk coming from politicians is BS. Nobody will do anything. Ephraim Sneh, Frm Deputy Min of Def and Ephraim Halevey, Fmr Head of Mossad begged to differ, vehemently. They said what they meant and meant what they said. Iran won’t get the bomb. Brian Katulis, Sr Fellow at the Centre for American Progress, agreed but not so vehemently.

Da’wa to Jihad:The Nexus of Indoctrination and Violence was the second panel. The star of this panel was Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She told it like it is and often clashed with the other members of the panel who seemed to want to paint a prettier picture. Judith Miller, formerly with the NYT and book author on two books on radical Islam was a typical leftist. I was particularly upset with Dr Boaz Ganor the Executive Director of the International Institute for Counter-terrorism who talked about the good parts and the bad parts without mentioning Abrogation.

Next came All our Eggs in One Basket? America’s Place in Israel’s Foreign Policy. Danny Ayalon, Dep Min of Foreign Affairs lead off. Other palelists included Malcolm Hoenlein,Zalman Shoval Fmr Amb of Israel to the US and Gabriella Shalev, Fmr Rep of Israel to the UN. All of them praised the relationship and believed in its durability notwithstanding different interests. The ties that bind, they said, were very strong and extensive. I agreed. The commenters on Israpundit, suggesting that Israel look elsewhere are naive or worse. They also agreed that America was not in decline and would continue to lead the world. Larry Summers, the day before, was of the opinion, that, the US would solve its debt and deficit problem and go on to a robust economy. They agreed. Shalev threw in the gratuitous reccomendation the Israel must make peace now.

The last Panel, The Broader ME Game was also interesting. The Keynote was delivered by the infamous Gen (ret) James Jones. He’s the guy that for years wanted to send an international force to Judea and Samaria and impose a peace. He didn’t disappoint. His whole talk, after he got done telling us how much he loved Israel, was on the need for Israel to make peace, for its own interests and security , for the interests of the region, for American interests and for the interests of whe whole world. I kid you not. He really laid a trip on Israel. So I was particularly impressed with the first panelist, Ms Mary-Beth Long, Fmr. US Ass’t Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, who came out strongly against Obama’s policy on the Egypt turmoil. She made the case , as good as anyone that I have read, for caution. She pointed out all the problems and probabilities in acheiving any semblence of democracy in Egypt and the ME generally. The process must proceed very slowly. And she gave all the reasons why.

In general, the conference and speakers were dedicatied to making the case for Israel to make peace.

February 8, 2011 | 26 Comments »

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26 Comments / 26 Comments

  1. julia coriat wrote: I believe Ed katz is a Laura type Christian antisemitic metrosexual in disguise. He/she is purely putrid.

    A lefty like you would know all about metrosexuals…you created them.

  2. Ed Katz:

    I believe that Abe Lowenstein is an Arab in disguise. He is disgusting

    I believe Ed katz is a Laura type Christian antisemitic metrosexual in disguise. He/she is purely putrid.

  3. This whole last bit is a lot of crap. Israel will not bend any further.
    She has learned some valuable lessons and America will not dump her either.
    Just because we happen to have a muslim in the White House, that will either
    end, or in 2012 his sword will be blunted badly. There are plenty of Jews
    in America who having voted liberally all of their lives have learned a
    valuable lesson. I thought for a while that I was the only conservative
    Jew in America. Now I have friends calling me and agreeing. Is it possible
    that those who helped him get in are going to be helping him out…..and don’t
    let the door hit you.

  4. Most of you are such far-right wingnuts that you probably think Mussolini and Hitler were Communists.

    Don’t have to be a wingnut (of any stripe) to know that Mussolini was actually a former SOCIALIST — so making the jump to Fascism wasn’t really such a stretch for him. (But don’t take my word for it; google “Mussolini + Socialism,” see what shows up.)

    Nor need one be a wingnut to know that Hitler got many of his ‘best’ ideas from Marx’s writings (and is on record as having said so); his only real objection was to Marx’s notion of “class struggle” — Hitler felt that the German people (especially after the GreatWar) were hopelessly divided & that “class struggle” would only aggravate that division, when what was truly called for (in his opinion) was unity. So his use of the name “National Socialism” wasn’t entirely bogus. Think about it.

    The “dirty little secret” of the Left is that while it “talks the talk” of COMPASSION (and it’s sure-as-hell got the lingo down to a science), it “walks the walk” of….. power.

  5. I dedicate this song to you!

    Sorry, no sound where I am.

    Guess you’ll just have to find some other way to sing my praises.

    What a pity.

  6. “Things aren’t always as they seem; skim milk masquerades as cream…” [Gilbert & Sullivan]

    Most of you are such far-right wingnuts that you probably think Mussolini and Hitler were Communists.

    Don’t have to be a wingnut (of any stripe) to know that Mussolini was actually a former SOCIALIST — so making the jump to Fascism wasn’t really such a stretch for him.

    Nor need one be a wingnut to know that Hitler got many of his ‘best’ ideas from Marx’s writings (and is on record as having said so); his only real objection was to Marx’s notion of “class struggle” — Hitler felt that the German people (especially after the GreatWar) were hopelessly divided & that “class struggle” would only aggravate that division, when what was truly called for (in his opinion) was unity. So his use of the name “National Socialism” wasn’t entirely bogus. Think about it.

    The “dirty little secret” of the Left is that while it “talks the talk” of COMPASSION (and it’s sure-as-hell got the lingo down to a science), it “walks the walk” of ….. power.

  7. You tell ME, then we’ll BOTH know.

    I’m an illiterate, atheist, self-hating Jew, Arab in disguise.
    So what else ya got?

    Dunno — What else you got?

    Can’t help being curious, though, about just what it is that a “Liberal Israel Lover” loves about Israel.

    Perhaps you might care to elaborate?

    I mean, WHY do you “hope [Israel] doesn’t… fall”? — what’s it to ya?

  8. Most of you are such far-right wingnuts that you probably think Musollini and Hilter were Communists. I’m not going to comment
    on most of the tripe I follow on Israpundant, but I can tell you
    that Judith Miller is nowhere near being a typical leftist, whatever that is. Maybe you should follow her history. If Israel were to fall, which I hope it doesn’t, remember, when you point the blame on others 3 fingers are pointing back at you.

    And if you want to insult me, which you always do, I’ll tell you in advance, I’m an illiterate, atheist, self-hating Jew, Arab in disguise.
    So what else ya got?

  9. Make Peace, Israel, before it’s too late.

    If peace were actually obtainable this would be a different conversation. But since its not, keep your advice – its not worth the breath you invested in it.

  10. The American elites are all aware that Israel is more trouble than it’s worth now. It’s just a matter of time before Israel will have no one…..

    Your first sentence is probably correct.

    Your error is in assuming that the second sentence necessarily follows from the first.

    But that’s because you identify America with its elites. By that reasoning, without America’s elites, there’s no America.

    I suspect otherwise.

    So did de Tocqueville, incidentally, if you read, Sir.

    The truth is that while the elites may WELL regard Israel as a less-than-cost-effective, pain in the keister — the American people have a history of persistently ignoring the elites.

    Don’t go writing off the Tea Party just yet (even if you’d like to). Curtain’s just rising on the Second Act; Intermission’s over, and you won’t want to be late getting back from the concession stand in a darkened house (makes it hard finding your seat).

    Make Peace, Israel, before it’s too late.

    Too late for what, Sir?

    Who in heaven’s Name has — for the past hundred years of both pre-State and sovereign existence — gone further, tried harder, bent herself into a more impossibly intricate pretzel in the pursuit of peace than the Third Jewish Commonwealth has?

    And all those sacrifices in return for what, exactly?

    Screw that. Let the bad guys be the ones to do the suing for peace from here on out. And yes, boychik, “bad guys” IS what they are. [Sorry, it’s a fact — I don’t presume to make the news, only to report it.]

    As for “Peace” (since you obviously put a premium on it) —

    There are TWO, and only two, kinds of peace in this world (and they are mutually exclusive):
    The peace of truth, and the peace of the grave.

    Choose.

  11. Abe Lowenstein says:
    The American elites are all aware that Israel is more trouble than it’s worth now. It’s just a matter of time before Israel will have no one. Make Peace, Israel, before it’s too late.

    Sorry Abe, I’d rather have no one than Peace (Your Kind) at least. Kapish?

    Abe, May I offer you some sound advice: If you are American and choose to stay in America you are dead meat.

  12. the Israel US relationship will be important and will no doubt evolve. There is no one to take their place.

    Except the only one that matters in all this…Hashem!

  13. Ed Katz says:
    February 8, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    I believe that Abe Lowenstein is an Arab in disguise. He is disgusting.

    No need to go so far. We have no lack of self-loathing Jews.

    (Hymie, was that you again, you mad, impetuous boy!)

  14. There is no one to take their place.

    Take their place for what? It could be that for each reason that binds Israel to America instead of a single patron or dependency there could be multiple alignments each filling a specific need? That along with more independent reliance on our own abilities where possible, could more than make up for any perceived downgrading in the Israeli dependency (vassal) relationship that has developed over years and seems to exist today.

    If you want to discuss specifics? Like what do we really get out of our dependency with America that can’t be replaced?

    That said, I am not or ever was for breaking our bilateral relations with America only the nature of the relationship with all that implies.

  15. The American elites are all aware that Israel is more trouble than it’s worth now. It’s just a matter of time before Israel will have no one. Make Peace, Israel, before it’s too late.

  16. So the basic question is, Is the US in deline? But even if it is, the Israel US relationship will be important and will no doubt evolve. There is no one to take their place.

  17. I in no way endorsed what he had to say. On what do ylou base your erroneous allegation? I agreed with them that there is no substitute.

    Israel’s Post-American Future
    |

    The American Conservative

    When the U.S. hegemon leaves the Mideast, Israel will lose its client state status.

    It’s even more challenging for leaders of a dependent state to recognize that the great power they are relying on may be entering into an imperial twilight time,–that it’s not so great anymore. Inertia, wishful thinking and the power of vested interests explains why elites in the empire’s capital–as well as in the provinces–continue to share in the misconception about the hegemon’s ability to exert global influence–even as that influence is being eroded.

    But after a prolonged “recognition lag”–extending from the military fiasco in Iraq to the financial meltdown in Wall Street–it’s becoming clear to policymakers in Washington that the U.S. is facing the prospects of geostrategic decline.

    The Unipolar Moment is coming to an end and rising global powers are creating the conditions for the evolution of multipolarism.

    It seems, however, that Israeli leaders continue to operate under the illusion that the U.S. remains the paramount global power. Israeli ultra-nationalists delude themselves that the muddled U.S. policy the Middle East and the Washington’s tensions with Israel are temporary, reflecting Barack Obama’s temperament and biases. When the Republicans return to power the hegemon will rise again and together with its Israeli deputy will bring order to the Middle East–just like in the good, old days of George W. Bush.

    While the U.S. will not collapse with a bang a la the Soviet Union, it will cease being Number One and will start playing the role of first among equals. Traditional allies of the U.S. like Turkey, Japan and Brazil, are recognizing that and are hedging their strategic bets and diversifying their global portfolios. They maintain their close ties with Washington while also trying to form alliances with like-minded regional and global powers.

    There is no reason why Israel should not consider pursuing such a “hedging” strategy as it recognizes that U.S. military forces are going to disengage from the Middle East in the future and that the U.S.-Israeli alliance–a product of the unique historical constellation of the Cold War–is bound to weaken, a result of U.S. geo-strategic decline as of demographic changes, such as the drop in the number of American Jews and a growing non-European population.

    Read the whole essay

  18. You well know that I know all the details where Amnerica didn’t act in our best interests. Nevertheless, I agreed with them that there is no substitute. There is no one to stand in her place. We have very close lies in the military, in business and science. And the US has almost as many Jews as Israel. The relationship is not perfect, how could it be. But it is the best we will get. That is not to say that we should diversify where we can and argue for more independence.

  19. I in no way endorsed what he had to say. On what do ylou base your erroneous allegation?

    Next came All our Eggs in One Basket? America’s Place in Israel’s Foreign Policy. Danny Ayalon, Dep Min of Foreign Affairs lead off. Other palelists included Malcolm Hoenlein,Zalman Shoval Fmr Amb of Israel to the US and Gabriella Shalev, Fmr Rep of Israel to the UN. All of them praised the relationship and believed in its durability notwithstanding different interests. The ties that bind, they said, were very strong and extensive. I agreed. The commenters on Israpundit, suggesting that Israel look elsewhere are naive or worse.

    I was referring to the statement above!

  20. They also agreed that America was not in decline and would continue to lead the world. Larry Summers, the day before, was of the opinion, that, the US would solve its debt and deficit problem and go on to a robust economy.

    Lincoln quote : America then and America today!

    From Leftist Krugman:

    Economy worse than great depression: Krugman



    “When it comes to international trade, actually it’s not the Great Depression, it’s worse,” he said, presenting charts showing the decline in global trade activity falling much more steeply in the current downturn than during the Depression.

    In the immortal words of John Maynard Keynes, in the long run we are all dead.

  21. You seem to have a penchant for being influenced by the last argument made by those you consider VIP.

    I in no way endorsed what he had to say. On what do ylou base your erroneous allegation?

  22. I watched some of the addresses as well including Jones.

    As opposed to some past conferences and a quick glance at some of the financial sponsors, the list of speakers the confluence of message by virtually of of the participants should tell you more than their actual messages.

    Next came All our Eggs in One Basket? America’s Place in Israel’s Foreign Policy. Danny Ayalon, Dep Min of Foreign Affairs lead off. Other palelists included Malcolm Hoenlein,Zalman Shoval Fmr Amb of Israel to the US and Gabriella Shalev, Fmr Rep of Israel to the UN. All of them praised the relationship and believed in its durability notwithstanding different interests. The ties that bind, they said, were very strong and extensive. I agreed. The commenters on Israpundit, suggesting that Israel look elsewhere are naive or worse. They also agreed that America was not in decline and would continue to lead the world. Larry Summers, the day before, was of the opinion, that, the US would solve its debt and deficit problem and go on to a robust economy. They agreed. Shalev threw in the gratuitous reccomendation the Israel must make peace now.

    The naming of Jones to give the Keynote address preset the ideological and philosophical tone to the conference. You are right he didn’t disappoint, he tied the peace process and shrinking of Israel to every problem in the ME if not the world. All that was missing from his address were the anti-Semitic jokes of his past addresses and the threat of invading Israel and placing American or UN/Nato troops between Palestine and Israel.

    They also agreed that America was not in decline and would continue to lead the world. Larry Summers, the day before, was of the opinion, that, the US would solve its debt and deficit problem and go on to a robust economy. They agreed. Shalev threw in the gratuitous reccomendation the Israel must make peace now.

    larry summers and crew

    MONEY + INFATION + ECONOMIC COLLAPSE = [JAN 2011]

    American economic health?

    Every comment and address were made by those who have a vested interest in propagating Israeli /American political agendas and myths. I saw no serious speakers in opposition to their positions. In essence they were speaking to their own choirs, with little or no relevance to realities, facts and the history of our region or our relationships.

    Why haven’t you asked why Jones was even invited no less given the Keynote position? You seem to have a penchant for being influenced by the last argument made by those you consider VIP.